whats the very best sounding cables for realistic money

You could always try building your own.

I assembled my Low-Inductance braided bi-wire design based on the work I found here:
http://diyaudioprojects.com/Power/Low-Inductance-DIY-Speaker-Cables/

I am pleased with them for the $200 or so I have invested in two 12ft runs of bi-wire/bi-amp capable

http://i.imgur.com/oydXxGV.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/iZP4z0j.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/1yYzYFT.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/PBSX4mH.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/6Ojdycn.jpg

Finished cables
http://i.imgur.com/oTpp6OI.jpg

I’ve compared my shorter (.5 meter) silver SP/DIF cable to a 1 meter version and found the above claim of 1 meter digital cables not working as well to be baseless. This may be in issue in theory, but at least in my attempt at testing it by actually listening to music, it’s simply nonsense. I really tried to test this theory once I heard it existed, switched the cables between a streamer and a CD transport back and forth over days…zero, and I mean zero difference. Maybe my modest DAC has astounding re-clocking abilities or something, but still…

After using the cable services to demo many different speaker and ic cables it became apparent that Straightwire Maestro was the best performing speaker and ic in my system.  I think cables are very system specific.

mains
geoff, are the Anti Cables very good?

mains, you tell me. Best of Show etc., etc.

http://anticables.com/reviews

hi there

is there realy a need for "special" cables?
When the amp must deliver over 200 W you can try it.
Remember:. at 5 Amp at 8 Ohm then you need just 1.5 mm2 (200W RMS)
Thats all you need.
No fancy cables are needed.

regards
Ton