The Best Cable??

I guess giving cable advice opens one to critiquing from the general population---but; hey I'll only live once so here goes.
I think the AU24's at not much money; used of course, will better everything you mention. Further; I think staying with one brand allows all the cables to work together doing the same things.
Now for the flame retardant.

"Best" is always in the eye/ear of the beholder.

Hello this is an article from a popular mag on the subject on exotic speaker cables. I just took out the names..read it and smile,knowing that for a few bucks you to can have highend sound.

Okay, but I wanted to hear the difference myself. At a Manhattan audio show room the manager Albert agreed to play a favorite tune through the shop's $140,000 Wilson speakers, first using $15 generic cables and then a pair of $25,000 speaker wires from high-end cable maker MIT. Could I tell them apart? They both sounded fantastic, but it was hard to hear the $24,985 difference. Albert patiently explained what to listen for: a tighter, deeper bass; more separation between the instruments. We tried again. I took a guess: Was the $25,000 sound a little more...spacious? Albert smiled the way you would at a toddler reciting the alphabet. "That's a very, very good way to describe it!" he gushed. I had passed the test.

Thanks for the advice. You're absolutely correct, "best" is what you like. I guess my real questin would be how much of a difference will the AudioQuest King Cobras make as opposed to the Monster Cables? Will it be dramatic? I was wondering if anyone made such a swap.

I too had a set of king cobras. I replaced my monster cable with the king cobras and they are much better in every way. That being said I have replaced the cobras with fusion audio. Better yet but not as big of a difference as when I upgraded the monster ic's. I would say you should be very happy with the AQ's. Give them a good 100 hrs to open up.

This is an article from a popular Mag with a writer listening to exotic speaker cable and generic cable. The article should make you sit up andsmile knowing that for a paupers fee you to could have the ultimate sound.

Okay, but I wanted to hear {writer} the difference myself. At a Manhattan Showroom manager Albert agreed to play a favorite tune through the shop's $140,000 Wilson speakers, first using $15 generic cables and then a pair of $25,000 speaker wires from high-end cable maker____? Could I tell them apart? They both sounded fantastic, but it was hard to hear the $24,985 difference.Albert patiently explained what to listen for: a tighter, deeper bass; more separation between the instruments. We tried again. I took a guess: Was the $25,000 sound a little more...spacious? Albert smiled the way you would at a toddler reciting the alphabet. "That's a very, very good way to describe it!" he gushed. I had passed the test.

That's good to hear. Since the BCD-1 is only 3 days old, it should be opening up about the same time as the AQ's. Now I just need a new set of tubes for the CJ and I should be in business.

Yes! It should be dramatic! More inner detail, more dynamic, more extended highs, more extended tighter bass and faster. It won't be warmer than the Hero but may make you want to try different wire where the Hero is.

Hazard - I had AQ King Cobras XLR. It used to be called Python before AQ moved production to China and renamed cables lowering prices to stay competitive. King Cobras are pretty good with natural/balanced sound (more refined than Diamondbacks). I wanted a little more refinement and looked for Acoustic Zen Silver Reference II that runs less than $400 used (since I have AZ speaker Cables) and ended up with used Acoustic Zen Absolute - $600 was an offer I could not refuse. How would I describe difference - a little bit of everything better. Same balance but amazingly clean and slightly snappier. I would be happy with Silver Reference II, but as I said, I could not refuse.

Hazard,
Get rid of the "Monster"!

Hazard, start with a run of Kimber Select 1021 from your source, will be a huge improvement and the hero won't hurt it...

Read up on double blind testing and how it proves that price doesn't equal 'best'. Yes, people do hear differences between cables, but 'best' is a very subjective matter. Be of the 'loaner' school, trying before buying any cable.