interconnect suggestions

Yeah, I think now’d be a good time to see what better interconnects can provide, and I think you’re going to hear some tangible improvements given your system (nice system BTW).  How much to spend is such a relative and personal question I don’t have an answer, but what I can say is a quality used interconnect that you can turn around and sell if you’re not impressed would be the way I’d go.  In fact, I’d highly recommend trying a used pair of Acoustic Zen Silver Reference (l or ll) interconnects as they’re very neutral and transparent yet refined with very good tonal properties (especially for silver) and excellent imaging/soundstage.  Compared to your current interconnect I’d strongly suspect you’ll just hear more of everything that when added up will yield a significant improvement.  These interconnects retailed for about $1000/pr. but can be had used around $300 that I consider to be a huge bargain for what you’re getting (IOW, I think you’d have to spend considerably more to get meaningful improvements).  There’s a fluid used market for AZ wires so you should be able to sell them fairly readily for about what you paid if they don’t work out, but I’d be pretty shocked if you did.  They’ve stayed in my system for 15 years despite several challengers, and they’re definitely additive so as you add more pairs you hear more benefit.  Anyway, that’s what I’d do FWIW.  Best of luck. 

BTW, you don’t mention speaker cables, power cords, or power conditioning, or room treatments but obviously at this point they’re well worth some attention as well. 

Just get the same cables only shorter. Don't develop cable neurosis.

You will get every answer from "cables don't matter" to people advising you they are the most important part of the system.

So here's my take: I have been quite happy with BJC and Mogami cables. When I have compared to more costly ones, the latter seemed more colored.

IMO 4 ft cables are not terribly long for an interconnect. So go shorter if you want to neaten things up, don't bother if sound is the only consideration.

Cables matter just as much as every other component. This is very easy and obvious to demonstrate and prove. This does however require a fair amount of time and effort. Many find it a whole lot easier to opine than discover and learn. I know for a fact that when I upgraded speaker cables to Synergistic CTS that was almost as big as upgrading my phono stage from ARC PH3SE to Herron VTPH2A. Considering the used cables cost half the new Herron I'd say that's pretty good evidence cables are equally essential components. I have lots more examples like this. Ask the ones who think they don't matter how many comparisons they have done like this. I have yet to meet one who gave it any serious attention without coming away convinced of the value of good wire.  

The big problem with cables is as with every other component the vast majority aren't all that good. Instead of being good across the board they have all kinds of glaring faults, largely in terms of emphasizing one area of response over another. This is how they get the reputation of being expensive tone controls. An awful lot of them that's all they are. This is true for way more brands and at way higher price points than anyone cares to admit. Its true whether they admit it or not.

All this by the way is equally true for all other components. Or maybe you noticed all the speakers you heard were equally perfectly tonally balanced, and sounded all the same, and all got incrementally perfectly better as you went up in price. All the amps too. And CD, cartridges, etc. I rather doubt it. I would bet money you noticed all these components had a rather nasty habit of sounding pretty bad in one area or another, and so you bought the ones that didn't sound that way and instead sounded pretty good to you.

Well, its exactly the same with cables. Except for whatever reason people think its cool and acceptable to dump on cables as if they're different. When there is in fact no evidence whatsoever they are any different. They're not. They're just as important, make just as much difference, are just as hard to find the good ones, and are worth the effort just as much too.

Now as for how much to spend that is one you will just have to figure out for yourself. If you are smart and listen to some Synergistic odds are you will start to understand why they are worth a lot more than you thought.

+1 on the Audio Envy. Just got a new loom for headphone system and liking them alot.

I like Audio sensibility cables. They provide a better value for your money.

https://audiosensibility.com/blog/

+2, Audio Envy.

Start with IC you’re seeking and let your ears guide you.  

Thanks everyone for your input.  It's been very helpful.  I feel like this is the most difficult area of this hobby to find value, i.e. price to performance ratio.  I will look into your suggestions.  I am going to get some new interconnects, I just want to make an informed decision and as always, you guys have really helped in that regard

Cerious Technologies Matrix cables are all I use.

ozzy

Thanks everyone for your input. It’s been very helpful. I feel like this is the most difficult area of this hobby to find value, i.e. price to performance ratio.

You’re not kidding! The best-sounding cables I’ve tried have been among the cheapest, models by BJC or Mogami or fabricated to order with Mogami cable and Neutrik connectors.

In my most recent experiment, a pair of well-known boutique cables, MSRP $2200, sounded notably colored by comparison to Mogami W2549 with Neutrik XLRs.

Try these first as they’re very affordable and hear for yourself for little money if cables make a difference or not. I think they’ll be more open and disappear a little better than the Belden. If you don’t like you’ll only be out $40 and you can give them to a friend still using stock cables. Give them some time to settle in before making a quick evaluation.
If you like the Canare IC’s, they make wonderful speaker cable too.

https://www.amazon.com/Foot-RCA-Cable-Pair-Interconnect/dp/B01I34662U/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?dchild=1&ke...

Raven Audio's Soniquist XLRs at $170/meter can't be beat.

The belief espoused by some that there is a large enough difference in cables to warrant spending many hundreds to thousands of dollars is purely psychological. If you BELIEVE you hear a difference you will. However, a good signal going through pure copper with proper shielding is all the magic there is. Simply put, there is a difference but only with regard to poorly made vs. properly, and properly made can be had for less than $200. Comparisons to audio equipment is a false equivalence. An amplifier for instance is made from many components and much more complex, therefore an increase in cost has a provable effect. A basic conductor, as stated has bounded limits due to its relative simplicity.

Ever wonder why people argue about cables but not physics, math, and engineering principles? Hint, one is 'subjective' and the other is established science. Remember the old saying, a fool and his money are soon parted.

Clearly never studied physics, math, or engineering any more than audio. Or psychology. Or electronics.
A basic conductor, as stated has bounded limits due to its relative simplicity. Clearly have no idea what a capacitor is, or how its made. Transformer, ditto.

I agree, you clearly haven't. Opinion and anecdotal evidence is fine for junk science forum posting but reality has a higher bar. I don't engage in credentials pissing contests because it's a waste of time, but more so because I don't need to. Although it's fun for laughs seeing the crazy things people believe and will spend money on.