Cabling Cost VS System Cost

Hi all,

Just curious...how much do you spend on cabling compared to the cost of your system? Cabling here includes interconnects (RCA, XLR, Coax, optical, HDMI), power cable and speaker cable.

I did a little exercise here while waiting for the Bayern Munich VS real Madrid game tonight and this is what I got for my system.

In my system probably about 10%.

me around 15%, but if all cabling bought new, it would be like 30%...

i would said does the cable matches your system or not n not by the cost of the cable, some cable may cost a lot but it goes well with the system but sometimes even the cable cost more then the system n it may not sound right so we cannot put up a cost for this cable it various.

Mine about 15% El.

Bal

Its not a question about right or wrong. Some people just use the freebie IC that comes with the unit and still happy. Getting the matching cabling is very important but the determining and deciding factor of such match is actually your ears. And it cannot equate to any amount of $$$.

In adrian case, he is wise enough to get second hand cables which still gives the same performance but at a fraction of the price. We cannot say that the cables are then 50% less matching just because he paid less.

But getting cables that are more expensive than the system itself...now thats something new to me. I have never listened to such set up. It would be interesting to listen to one of these set ups.

it looks like so far 10 to 15% seems to be the range...

elhefe wrote:Hi all,

Just curious...how much do you spend on cabling compared to the cost of your system? Cabling here includes interconnects (RCA, XLR, Coax, optical, HDMI), power cable and speaker cable.

I did a little exercise here while waiting for the Bayern Munich VS real Madrid game tonight and this is what I got for my system.

Elhefe Dude, greetings and salutations. What are them 3 headphones i spot way back yonder among your hifi gear, all nicely strung up neatly?
Bal.

Bal,

I have the following:

1. Alessandro Grado MS Pro
2. Bose Over the Ear
3. Dr. Dre Beats Studio

Use the Alessandro Grado mostly.

Hmm,should start a new headphone thread soon...!

yes....head fi thread is one of the topics that I would like to see forummers indulge in....but so far ...not many kaki here lah ...

My cables is all used & it cost about 12.5% of my overall system. Never regretted spending on these as i always counted cables as a part of the component (the same like a CD player or an amp, without either one, the system would not be complete) in my system. About headphones, never regret buying the Shure SRH840 - absolutely good value & is my audio solution once the clock ticked past 12am.

I haven't calculated mine, but then, I haven't paid for some of the cables yet!

Some will tell you there's nothing like too much, the more you spend on cables, the better.

There's the case of a Penang guy who spent RM100k on his whole system, and RM72k on the wires ...

bassraptor wrote:
There's the case of a ..................... and RM72k on the wires ...

How to comment on these kind of people, reckon it'll only attract more cynics and critics than praise. Afterall anyone can spend any amount what they think is best for their purpose and intent. My cables are very likely less than 10% of the system, due to DIY which I place utmost importance at the source, especially the phono department,where I attempt to achieve the very least hum and best noise rejection. I always think good money is better spent on more music media.
Last but not least, I WON'T and never will buy some "Hospital Property" wall plug!..

Last but not least, I WON'T and never will buy some "Hospital Property" wall plug!..
[/quote]
Cmboy Dude, Akhtung dude. Heil Kittler. (snaps military boots together sharply, military style, while standing to attention and saluting Cmboy, Natz style).

Why not, your Dudeness?
Bal, in askence. Is it the red color of the plugs dude? Does it clash?

Bal, dude, get my name off that quote because it looks like I said it if you dont read it properly! I use Hubble-type plugs on my power cables...

Done. So these hubble types, they better than the hospital types?
Any reason?
I ask because i have hospital type on my pre amp and dac..

Bal

For my system,

300b poweramp > Ace hardware powercord @ 0.075% of cost of poweramp.
Type 45 preamp > Ace cable @ 0.15% Cost of preamp
Dac > AET SCR AC EVD @ 40%
Cd 99 transport > AET Evidance ( planing) 700%

Noodle,

Thats interesting. Low cost on amps/non digital and high cost cables in source/digital. Any particular reason?

Hi bal, those hubble plug or whatever us type plug has a major audiophile quality. That is, without fuse. Dangerous or not? Suppose this kind of plug isnt meant for 230v country.
But there r just too many crazy audiophile pull out of this type of plug. The sound quality it potentially possess is too hard to ignore.
The uk version is slowing doing their bits in catching up, the fuse always hamble whatever improvement squeezes out from the metal or damping part.
There is nothing wrong with the hospital property uk plug, it is certainly much better those unknown stuff out there. I use the non fuse 20a uk plug from my wall. Unswitch as well, i can pm u if u want know more. It violate human right and safety to post it in the open

noodle88 wrote:For my system,

300b poweramp > Ace hardware powercord @ 0.075% of cost of poweramp.
Type 45 preamp > Ace cable @ 0.15% Cost of preamp
Dac > AET SCR AC EVD @ 40%
Cd 99 transport > AET Evidance ( planing) 700%

Just do it and show hand.

Again i am humbled and learn so much from you guys. Many thanks all, for answering my silly queries.
I am re-looking at my post at Cmboy, and it may be taken wrongly. I am sorry if i said something i shouldn't. I am a cat and dog lover, and actually quite adore the look of the Kittlers. So no offense to any one i hope, and if there were any, my sincerest appologies.
Quick question, are the old MK wall plugs ok for audiophile quality? The old brass points, white curvy body ones...
Bal

bal,
u can get MK plugs from any electrical shop and MK plugs from hi-fi shops. the difference is that the MK plug from electrical shop costs around RM9 while the hi-fi shop will charge u RM40 or thereabouts. the hospital grade is even more expensive. the cheaper one is made in china (by MK factory) and the more expensive ones are made in UK.
but if u look at the quality of the plastic and prongs, there is no difference. the fuse is also the same. i hv been using the cheaper MK plug and found no diff in sound quality.

Yes, i do believe there isnt much differenit in sound amongts the mk plugs. The hospital grade is the best of the mk. The built quality. Russ andrew has some of tthis grade upgraded with full silver coating. I believe there is also a cryo deep freeze version.
If u seriously need to hear differences it make, u need to run fuseless.. Haha, that doesnt happen in uk plug. Except one, that dated back long ago, and slowly phasing out now.
I think it is hubbell, not hubble we were talking about.

coming back to cabilng cost vs system cost...

i think 10-20% is fair.

but i hv heard of people who spent more on speaker cables than the speakers.

elhefe wrote:Noodle,

Thats interesting. Low cost on amps/non digital and high cost cables in source/digital. Any particular reason?

Hi Mr. Moderator, I just use what suit my system.
Both the pre and poweramp come with the Ace power cable, they are voice using such cable. Many pole of filters have built into the amp. I have tried to replace it with factory terminated powercord that cost more than RM 4k but not very successful.
That's why I save up more money to buy better powercord for digital.

I use entry level system. But my cable cost 40% of my system.

Unfortunately among all the common plug only UK one have a fuse inside to protect the cable in case there is a mishap. If you using standard electrical-board or even hospital-approve item, the QC will normally be emphasized upon the plug and not the fuse as the fuse suppose to "die" if required. In fact the plug and fuse came from different manufacturer and "assemble" subsequent.

There is still the Furutech version of the UK plug. Supposely to be better and match with Audiophile fuse from Furutech, Hifi Tuning "supposely" to lift listening pleasure to another level as per the brochure. Of course this came with higher cost involve compared to all those "treated" MK or whatsoever with silver, gold, platinum or such. There is also the Supra make of Uk but they also do Euro that seem to look better compared to their UK stuff.

For cable, think most saving came from buying used, compared to new. Also, used cable are not that prone to high wear and tear as its a snake and can be examined easily compared to equipment and source. Finally, cable if work would work fine and not that easy to be subject to undetectable damage like equipment. Once plug-in if work fine should be ok and wont die off on you say after the warranty period is over......

noodle88 wrote:

elhefe wrote:Noodle,

Thats interesting. Low cost on amps/non digital and high cost cables in source/digital. Any particular reason?

Hi Mr. Moderator, I just use what suit my system.
Both the pre and poweramp come with the Ace power cable, they are voice using such cable. Many pole of filters have built into the amp. I have tried to replace it with factory terminated powercord that cost more than RM 4k but not very successful.
That's why I save up more money to buy better powercord for digital.

Aiya....dont be too formal lah. Call me El....

This is actually what I like...no rule...just trust your ears... If it sounds good...then it is good...regardless of the price tag..... Thats how I go about.

My system is: equipment - 55%, tweaks - 20% & cables 25%. Almost everything I bought used. For power cords, from wall I use UK plug (SINE Platinum Cryo treated MK plug), the rest are US plugs (come with cables).
Do u guys change the plugs for your power cords? Some say plugs is more important than cables.

kkthen wrote:I use entry level system. But my cable cost 40% of my system.

Sometimes the 40% spent on such tweaks in cabling can give more satisfaction then spending 100% more to replace the hifi kit.

Sometime its matching issue. You wont want to use cheapo RM3 plug on a RM1k power cable. Also, in some cable, the plug are hard wired, fully enclosed to the cable to prevent tampering and to protect the manufacturer secret recipe.

Of course, better plug will do justice to better cable as the illusion say, you wont use a 1k Sony HT system with a 103" Projector screen on a Full HD Projector in a purpose-built HT Room.

I used made in china gear and speakers. But my cables are mostly made in Japan. whether got nuclear residue, I do not know. but the cable costs are 100% system and 500% of speakers.

[quote="cmboy"
Last but not least, I WON'T and never will buy some "Hospital Property" wall plug!..
[/quote]

I had a few hours this morning, it being labour day, and i didn't have to go in to work. And i could not help thinking that perhaps i should investigate this red hospital plug thing. I have one on the power cable that leads to an isolation trans, that then feeds my pre-amp, dac and transport.

I listened for a couple of hours, and swapped power cables around so i could make out the subtle differences between them. When my ears were thoroughly familiar with the music i was playing, i swapped the MK red hospital property lug for a much better made (all brass pins, with solid brass connectors holding the fuse in ) UK plug.

God my jaw dropped. Seriously. The bass was much cleaner and more extended. And the sound stage was slightly more open (not by much, but if i could hear it, then you probably will too, i don't have very good hifi ears) and the highs were a little more extended. The whole music presentation was much better focused. And more foot tapping, much easier for me to follow the bass lines, and flow of the music.

I'm not sure if the positive attributes are due to the better nature of the new plug, (i forget the name, it's plugged in as i am still listening to music as i write this, but if anyone wants to know, i will unplug and post the name later), or to defects in design of the MK red hospital property plug. I do see that the MK hospital plug has a different metal (silver coated?) on the live pin inside, but i am not sure if that is the reason. Just an observation.

So ya, Cmboy, i agree with you now after my own simple observations, that probably the MK hospital plug is not the way to go.

Happy labor day to all those working hard to make a living and provide for our families (and our hobby!!)

Bal

Bal,

Thanks for sharing your little experiment. Little but insightful mini review. Keep it coming. But more importantly, enjoy your day off.

[quote="bal"]

cmboy wrote:
Last but not least, I WON'T and never will buy some "Hospital Property" wall plug!..
So ya, Cmboy, i agree with you now after my own simple observations, that probably the MK hospital plug is not the way to go.

Awww!.. Allow me to clear some bad air if ever there was. My comment was purely my own stance about some things that I feel is not worth it...simple and general reason for one. It does not and never aimed at other people who coincidently own or use the item for whatever purpose they feel is justified and may lift the performance of their system.
Should I publish that I don't like, hate and never buy some overpriced German car, that others are likely blardy fools to own it? Of course not!
That hospital property plug is too pricy for my shallow pocket. Believe it or not, I use "used" 13A plugs picked for RM2.00 (not made in PRC plugs) at IKEA "As Is" department. I scooped up more than a dozen of them long ago that I felt could be spares and used around the home in future. I been using them for various power tools, my CDP, DAC and multiple times better than those found at some hardware stores, possibly even surpassing a particular model of MK plug. Its not made of flexible plastic, but a white bakelite and terminals that are sturdy and resemble the MK plug. My UK Prestige hot water kettle doesn't complain?..it came with a worse plug.

Thanks for kind understanding.