Good, Neutral, Reasonably Priced Cables?


After wading through mountains of claims, technical jargon etc. I'm hoping to hear from some folks who have had experience with good, neutral, reasonably priced cables. I have to recable my entire system after switching from Naim and want to get it right without going nuts! Here is what I'm looking for and the gear that I have:

Looking for something reasonably priced-i.e. used IC's around $100-150. Used speaker cable around $300-400 for 10ft pair.

Not looking for tone controls. I don't want to try to balance colorations in my system. I'd like cables that add/substract as little from the signal as possible.

Looking for something easily obtainable on the used market i.e. that I can find the whole set up I need without waiting for months and months. I guess this would limit you to some of the more popular brands. Without trying to lead you, here are some I've been considering:

Kimber Hero/Silver Streak
Analysis Plus Copper Oval/Oval 9
Cardas Twinlink/Neutral Reference (Pricey)
Wireworld Polaris/Equinox

Here is my gear:

VPI Scout/JMW9/ATML170
Audio Research SP16
Audio Research 100.2
Rotel RCD 971
Harbeth Compact 7

I would really appreciate your help on this. Thanks, as always.
128x128dodgealum
Psychic: I don't what to say about your theory of building a system around a series of passive components ( cables ). In fact, i think that someone joked about this in a thread a while back i.e. "I have Brand X cables. What components and speakers would go good with them?". While I can understand how / why someone would joke about something like that, i truly can't understand how someone could consider wire more important than the active components within a system. This is especially true when you have hundreds of traces / solder connections / pieces of wire running inside of each component.

Sounds like a planned trip to hi-fi hell.... Sean
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i would strongly suggest staying with a "mainstream" know used cable. if it doesnt work in your system, you can always sell it for what you have into it.

i dont mean to sound pompus, but i have yet to hear a well rounded, neutral cable for less than $500 retail. i thing the audio world is waiting for a killer $200 - $300 retail cable that is neutral, but i am not holding my breath.

if a manufacture has one, i am very interested and would write a honest review (check my feedback here and on ebay- over 225 positive transactions). i would love to run across a reasonably priced neutral cable, but they dont exist- small cable manufactures please accept this a gentle challenge and prove me wrong. btw, i consider my system to be a "real world " system:

Audio physic libra's
classe cam mono 350's
pse hl-1 signature / bat vki-30
marantz sa-8260

the au-24 is the $500 retail cable that is reference quality that i have run across and i have heard it in all audience wired system ( audience has a very generous auditon policy) it has been compared to the vahalla and other cables costing 2x-4x the cost in both written and online reviewers and found the reviews to be spot on. btw, the audience power cords are friggin amazing.

there are other neutral cables out there, but they cost alot...even used. the xlo signature II and the upper end synergistic line come to mind.

hope that helps.

best regards,

mike
I'VE USED MANY CABLES RANGING IN COST FROM $25/METER TO THOUSANDS/METER. RCA & XLR. ALL ARE ALTERING FREQUENCY RESPONSE IN SOME WAY TO ACHIEVE STATED CLAIMS.
PRESENTLY, I'M USING SYNERGISTIC RESEARCH DESIGNER SERIES,
THAT SAID, MY BASELINE REFERENCE FOR ANY CABLE COMPARISON IS THE MOGAMI CABLES. IT IS RIDICULUOLY CHEAP (I PURCHASED CUSTOM MADE PAIRS (1M & 3M OF AES/EBU 110 OHM GOLD -IT HAS LOWER CAPACITANCE THAN THEIR MICROPHONE CABLE.
IT OFFERS A CLEAR VIEW OF THE ACOUSTIC & DURING EVALUATIONS REVEALS WHAT OTHER CABLES ARE DOING. THIS CABLE , ALONG W/THE MOGAMI MICROPHONE CABLES ARE IN RECORDING STUDIOS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
MOGAMI AND REDCO HAVE INTERNET SITES.
Sean: it is not *my* theory--and I offered to send you my cables. The offer still stands, since I'm moving and won't be setting up my stereo for who knows how long. You REALLY need to experience these cables. It will be a paradigm shift. I have two (1m) sets of MSE Gen I & three of Gen II, two (30 inch) sets , one (1m) set.

Again, I hold strongly that cables go first. If I would have known what I know now, my system would have been simpler and with even better cables. The current mini monitor/stereo subwoofers/electronic x-over system takes up quite a bit of space. I should have had a Rowland Concentra integrated with a standalone, modded belt drive CD player + Creature on Steroids and a couple decent three way monitor speakers with Poiema cabling throughout. It's too late for that now. I'll have to stay complex.

Deano says, "Never pass up an audition.".

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Mikesinger: there are cables under $500 that are neutral and will outperform Audience: Ridge Street Audio and VenHaus DIY silver (they both are cotton insulated). Here's a testimonial of someone who has AU24 and built the VenHaus:

http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/viewtopic.php?p=108426#108426

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