Best Cables for around $500

Hmmm....Electro - don't think I can do an A/B with the Stagers vs the Columbias.  The Columbias are XLR as are the inputs to the Taranis amp.  My pre is not balanced so I'm using a male/male XLR/RCA adapter on the Columbia coming out of the pre amp.  The Stagers are strictly RCAs.  I'm looking through my listening notes, trying to confirm I had the Stagers on the Gungnir DAC originally.  The Gungnir took a LONG time to break in and initially sounded pretty rolled off.  I might have got them to help with upper freq on the Gungnir but eventually went with Morrow Audio MA-4s in that spot.  The MA4s (especially bought used or during one of their frequent sales) are worth checking out, in my O-pinion.  He allows an in-home trial period on new, though not on used.  

Follow up to my 12/2 initial comments about the AQ Columbia XLRs:
These are very good interconnects in terms of clarity and detail without harshness or edge.  HOWEVER, for me, after a few listening sessions I found myself wondering where's the bass? and with further time, where's the magic??  Sonic characteristics mentioned 12/2 remain true but the tighter bass seems to have been accompanied by a slight but noticeable reduction in bass response and extension (I initially attributed this to better bass control compared to the Cabledynes); the clarity accompanied by a loss of mid range warmth and heft in the sound.  So - the Reference Copper Cabledynes went back in the system and immediately all became right in my little audio world.  Haven't made up my mind whether to keep the AQs (they really are very good) and see if I can find another application for them or return them.  

I own a pair of 1.5m xlr Crimson Musiclinks that I put in my system occasionally and they always sound good.

 Currently, as opposed to the Op date of 2011, I would add Silnote and Wywires. I have interconnects from both and Speaker cables from Wywires and consider them excellent quality and value. The benefits of being a one man band without a massive marketing budget.

Transparent should be added to this list.