Long RCA ICs - which ones fit this bill?

Nsgarch, your old Maestros were 8m long? How would you cahracterize their sound? What equipment did you use them with?

Tony, check this thread concerning MITs. I found that the long MIT cables were about as good a value as possible in the <$1k range.

Tony, they were connecting an ARC SP-14 pre with a Bryston 10B active x-ovr which was driving (for low end) a Levinson 23.5 and (for high end) a pair of ARC triode monoblocks M300 MKIIs. I was using pairs of 1.5m Magnan Vi ICs between the x-ovr and the amps. I was also using two pair of Maestro speaker cable.

The Maestro is one of those products that have held up over a long time, both in performance and (more and more when purchased used) in value. Sort of like SME tonearms, or SOTA turntables -- dependable, reliable and predictable. Their sound (freq.response) is very neutral (flat), and they are very resistant to picking up noise and hum. Compared to the latest advances in cable design (Purist, Transparent, Siltech, and many others) they are a bit, oh, reserved -- meaning a little softer on the attack, slap, slam, and lack the abundance of shimmer some of the newer high priced stuff allows through. But you'd have to spend at least 3x more (used) to do better. Remember, this was Straightwire's top cable for about 5 years.

I still use mine to connect my Levinson pre to my ML Depth sub.

Jfox's recommendation of the MITs is a good one also. I don't know how they compare pricewise, used. My last experience with MITs as my primary ICs was with the original 330, which got replaced with Straightwire.

At that time how would have compared the 330 to the Straightwire?

330 v. Maestro? Maestro has has a bit more of everything that made the 330 so popular, but most noticably in improved image/soundstage. I guess it does a bit better reducing time smear.