Quote Originally Posted by Ajani
A reviewer (from Stereophile, I think) once said that he never reviewed cables because he regarded them as just expensive tone controls...

Personally, I am deeply suspicious of what is actually in the box...
So am I, especially when it comes from MIT.

Back when I was a weee little boy, I had a subscription to Stereo Review. They did a big test on expensive cables that I thought was very enlightening. One cable belong to MIT had a little box attached to the cable, and when they cracked open the little box(see the trend here), they found a few cheap little parts in this big empty box. When they measured the response of the cable, it did all kinds of screwy things to the signal, and didn't sound as good to the listeners as a MUCH cheaper cable. Boy did Stereo review lay MIT over the coals on that one. Its funny that the same description of that cable(it took years of R&D, and is made by the finest well tested components) is the same description for this cable.

I do not think I have had the same respect for MIT since then.

I also have to agree with Ajani on his basic point. Nobody can place judgement on another for what they spend their money on. Every works within the constraints of their revenue.

I pay insurance to cover over $2 million dollars worth of audio, video and recording equipment spread out over 10 different properties that I either own, co own, or share with my friends. Some would say this is excessive, and that the money could be better spent. However, I went to work to buy this equipment, so I choose how much I want to spend for it. I can definitely afford to spend 35K on wire if I choose, but I know that it does not cost that much for good wire that does all of the things that E-stat mentions in his post. I can get those same bennies for far less money than 35k. But the fact is, somebody is going to buy that wire, and really nobody has a right to judge that person negatively because he does...it's their choice. Now can we take a stick and poke at them, sure, that's fun. But nobody decides for me what is worthy of a price if I am foolish enough to pay for it.

In saying that, I would still pick up my little stick and poke fun at them for buying this questionable wire LOL I just couldn't help it, I wouldn't be able to hold myself back.