Also consider Harmonic Technology Magic IC and Pro-9 speaker cable. These no-nonsense cables sound wonderful and are resonably priced on the used market. I've used HT with ARC, BAT, Parasound etc. and have never been disappointed or felt like "something was missing".
I used Audio Magic cables accross the board with my reference Audio Research set-up and it worked great. The Audio Magic line-up is similar to the 'silver litz' cables that Audio Research use to sell except that they are updated and more refined.
Over the years, I have seen ARC products using AudioQuest wire frequently in shows and demonstrations, especially with Vandersteen speakers. The largest ARC dealer in the world for several years carried AQ almost exclusively and sold me on them. They are hard to describe other than transparent or neutral. If that is what you are after, give them a try.
AQ King Cobras are warm, full sounding, and have nice detail. Also fairly cheap (around $140 used for 1m pr XLR). They are a big step up over the other non-dbs cables in the AQ line. I wish I had started with them instead of "climbing the ladder".
I have owned ARC amps, pre's, players and dacs, and have been loyal to the brand for near 30 years. I have tried many cables, including ARC's orginals to the many types of Toshiba, Van den Hul, Cardas, Kimber,Nordost and have settled on JPS Aluminata for interconnects, JPS Aluminata for the amp & phono power cords and Nordost Brahma for pre, and c.d. power cords. The cables which JPS produce seem to that special synergism with tubes amplification.
My neighbor uses Cardas in his AR system. Neutral Reference, Golden Reference are the main ones but also has Golden Presence, Golden Cross. Sweet sounding system.
Buy a used pair of Cardas Golden Cross. They worked well with my Audio Research preamp. They will provide good soundstage and detail are somewhat cooler than the Cardas Cross which I think you would find to be too warm.
Most AR stuff needs something warm and a bit colored so I agree with the MIT,Cardas Golden,Transparent. Stay away from some of the revealing cables Stealth,Nordost,etc as they will enhance the leaness and congestion in some AR stuff
I agree with the MIT suggestion for ARC but I do not consider them (at least the "terminator" serires that I use) to be warm sounding at all nor particularly colored in any special way.
I recommend IC Synergistic Tesla Apex from DAC to pre and Tesla Precison Reference pre to power. Speaker cables I have used AZ Absolute. (ARC Ref 3 and Ref 110)
You must have a verified phone number and physical address in order to post in the Audiogon Forums. Please return to Audiogon.com and complete this step. If you have any questions please contact Support.