XLR cables for high-end multichannel system

Mogami Gold XLR would run in average $100/pr are very hard to beat. With slight improvement going with AudioQuest or Kimber, you'll spend thousands of dollars more. Used wires might be the best bet, but still at the higher price point than Mogami.

Have to agree with Marakanetz, the Mogami in star-quad configured XLR is a tough deal to beat especially for H/T use which would generally be a little less revealing and demanding than a straight two channel rig. Good enough for high end studios....good enough for me....for now

I'll third the recommendations of Mogami Gold Studio, especially given that you don't yet have a finalized set of components in place. Whether or not the cables you select will behave in a "fairly neutral manner" depends to a significant degree on the impedance and other technical characteristics of what they are connecting. So I think that making a major investment in cables at this point would be premature.

Based on both anecdotal reports I've seen in the past and on technical considerations, IF the Mogami's were to deviate from neutrality to a perceptible degree with the components you end up selecting it would probably be in the direction of providing a slightly more relaxed, non-aggressive presentation than is typical of many of the more expensive cables.

Also, keep in mind that cable differences will typically be less pronounced for balanced (XLR) interfaces than for unbalanced (RCA) interfaces.

Regards,
-- Al

Thanks for the responses. Much appeciated. I shall look at the Mogami Gold and Morrow. In terms of the Mogami cables, I am currently using a set of Blue Jeans balanced cables which are at a similar price point. Would the Mogami Gold be a significant upgrade from the Blue Jeans cables, at least at this stage until my system if complete?

Bryon - which particular cables from the Morrow line did you have in mind?

Ronald - I'm using Kimber 4TC for the surround speakers. For fronts I use Russ Andrews Crystal 24 (an upgraded version of Kimber 8TC). Your point about the surround speakers has me thinking that, should I decide on a more expensive set of cables, I could opt for a cheaper pair of interconnects for the surround speakers.

I've read some good things about the new Shunyata Ztron range. I'd be interested in any personal experiences with these.

Thanks again.

Would the Mogami Gold be a significant upgrade from the Blue Jeans cables, at least at this stage until my system is complete?

If the Blue Jeans cables are the ones that utilize Canare L-4E6S, I would not expect much if any difference.

If they are the ones that utilize Belden 1800F, the Mogami has significantly higher capacitance but significantly better noise rejection. That would include rejection of noise at ultrasonic and RF frequencies which may not be directly audible as noise, but may have audible consequences due to intermodulation effects. Although the balanced input circuits of the amplifier presumably should cancel most such noise anyway.

The higher capacitance of the Mogami, compared to the Belden 1800F, may result in a very slightly more relaxed upper treble, if driven by the 500 ohm or so output impedances of the Onkyo and the DSPre. The magnitude of the difference will increase in proportion to the length of the cables.

Other differences, if any, are probably not predictable.

Regards,
-- Al