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Shopping for Interconnects

Now that I am building two, two speaker stereo systems in my home, I will need some more IC's.  Here are the pieces of equipment I will be using.  Unsure yet about how to pair the amps to speakers but will try both with each pair of speakers to see which sounds best with which pair.

Denon PMA 520  Integrated amp circa 1989
Yamaha A 500 Integrated amp circa 1984
Yamaha S300 CD player.  Two years old.
Onkyo TA-RW311 Cassette Deck.  circa 1997
Carver TX 11a Tuner.  circa 1986

Budge for a pair of IC's is under $100 for each pair.  Will likely buy two.

Currently have Audio Art IC3's which are nice.  Going to still use them.  Also have a pair of Blue Jeans Cable LC-! which I plan to keep.  

Any suggestions?  Not exactly sure how to shop for cables of this nature since each manufacturer seems to claim different sonic characteristics for each cable.  


will62
sumaato
100 posts
 
I'm very happy with Virtue Audio Nirvana interconnects (within your budget):
https://store.virtueaudio.com/product-p/vrtu-ic-nrv.htm
Previously I had a mix of Audioquest, Kimber and Bluejeans,
I recently re-cabled my whole system with these, including phono, to good effect.
Warm-ish, clear, with excellent rca connectors, and a good price and service from the makers.
will62 OP
177 posts
 
Thanks for the additional suggestions.  I will research these as well.  Since I plan to buy three new pairs this year, I will take some time before buying the second and third pairs while I research other cables.
ediver
29 posts
 
No one mentioned PBJ????
You might also look at Kimber Kable - note: Amazon has a lot of fakes https://www.kimber.com/counterfeits. Ray Kimber will take old Kimber in trade.  That's when many found out that the stuff they have is fake, so buy only from a legitimate dealer or direct.
PBJ interconnects are classic (pun not intended), and with a very slight discount would be in your range, and you can customize them as to length, connector, etc..  If you have any local dealer, you could expect a better discount as my understanding is that the margins on cable are higher than other audio gear. Tonic is well within your price range. Here's a review, and on page 2 there's a link to Dudley's Tonic review. https://www.stereophile.com/content/entry-level-18
I have used PBJs in the past, and thought they were quite good; nothing outstanding; quite neutral. There are hundreds of reviews of PBJ all over, and they set the benchmark for good budget ICs - for > ten (20?) years!. I upgraded to SilverStreak.
Ray also has do it yourself parts- very high quality- the same stuff he uses: https://www.kimber.com/series/diy 
chrisr's avatar
chrisr
543 posts
 
On the list should be:
Canare lv-61s (detailed and punchy to my ears)
Canare LV-77s or BJC LC-1 (fuller, more laid-back)

The Belden 89289 used to be on audiophiles' top list also.
Ordering from Bluejeancables guarantees the best connectors (Canare), same with signalcables.
gdnrbob
4,444 posts
 
My budget pick:
Zu audio, you can buy their older models at a discount on Ebay.
My preferential choice:
Audioquest.
B 
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