whats the very best sounding cables for realistic money

Geoff.....Geoff....really?  Your usual posts, though I typically disagree with them, are usually polite, well written and of some use.  This one above is just an attempt to suggest that vtvmtodvm's opinion, which you quote at length, is elementary, useless and boring. Is this really you?  

Mains, as you have realized by the dozens of posts, there is no such thing as a 'perfect cable' regardless of cost or that company would soon run out of customers and fold. Even within the top cable manufacturers, it is onward and upward even few years, so lets just remember: nothing in our system is perfect. NOTHING. Not the cable, amp, preamp, tonearm, zip cord.
That said, decide how important it is for you to hear Eric Clapton's guitar technique, Beverly Sills' coluraturas, Yma Sumac's off-into-the-wild-blue-yonder high note, or Tina Weymouth's bass (Talking Heads), Ray Brown or Bela Fleck, or Ella Fitzgerald or Frank Sinatra or Lady Gaga and find a cable that is a revelation  to most the music you own.
If you want a full tonal, musical balance: MIT, Transparent, Shunyata, Crystal,  (although I don't think Crystal cable does ANYTHING "reasonably priced"). Others will have other cables.  I go for for tonal balance (so either "thin" or "technicolor" are out), a see-through midrange with good extension at both ends; all the ambience intact; and a sense of airiness, particularly in the bass regions.
 Oh, and killer sound staging and imaging. Hence, my suggestions, which can all be bought at the pricing you provided initially.
For power cords, I'd go Shunyata - but only the Alpha HC. I had that AND the Sigma and after 10 months, sold the Sigma. Not that it wasn't fantastic, but it was overkill. I gave myself plenty of time to decide that for myself, and then kept the Alpha HC for my PS Audio line conditioner. I will have another and some upper-level Nordost as well, but this does great. Nordost's line is good, but you have to watch for a slight upper bass/lower midrange suckout in the Alpha Series. MIT is the richest without being even remotely euphonic; and Transparent is stately and majestic, perhaps just a little "stiff" at the top (unless, who knows, you have their $40K Opus cable (or whatever it costs these days). 
Perhaps the other posters can say what their musical diet is, because asking for pricing without knowing what somebody listens to is having incomplete information. Those who listen to Megadeath are not in it for the tonal balance, you best believe that. 

Used older replaced models of Cardas, AudioQuest, Kimber, Synergestic Research - and get the lower mid to mid level stuff used and it's still half ok and not expensive. Power cords miss and match as you go and grab a semi ok - sort of decent one here and there or spend a fortune - start like we all did with a couple $100 Synergestic AC Master Couplers and a coupe Cardas this or AudioQuest that and use your best one on the source then pre then amp. Upgrade each one as you go selling the old one as you go so it only cost you the price difference. This will not get you great cable but it's not Cat5 or Homedepot extension cord cable either it's competent - well built - well engineered stuff that should always be worth right about what you pay for it as long as your smart about it. As you upgrade you can get all / most your money back. You might even like some of the older stuff especially if you haven't heard the newer - better stuff. Newbie cable Aphile 101. Then give yourself a treat for this conservative and displined approach and pick up a single set of Darwin interconnects - any version - the most expensive the better but all are good and place it right after your source. It will make your entire system a 1000 better and peel off layers you had no idea that were there but then it will also show you the impact that much improved cables can have so maybe don't do it. You will love the huge bump in performance for semi cheap money so do it but it very well might send you down the rabbit hole of chasing the bump and that gets expensive and usually starts in earnest when a cable knocks your sox off like the Darwin IC will surely do when used Amin these other modest yet competent less expensive cables but the good thing is the next bump will never be as large unless you spend a ton of doe so go for it and overall it's still a very cheap overall cable way to go. Then start getting better pc's from a $100 - $150 a pop to $300 to $350 one a time peice mail and sell your old one, your getting the picture. It's the only way to outfit your rig with semi ok cable that isn't total crap and is as cheap as humanly possible and still getting semi-useable cables. I would take a very good but older one of these brands over some value dirt cheap eBay cable any day. Good luck but there are no short cuts and this gets you a bit of the way there at a time. I mean no offense but anyone that's says cables don't matter are either totally clueless or their system sucks so it doesn't matter anyway. It's either one or the other... 

I use these....

http://image99.net/blog/files/d048bbacfce9bcad4a025be804771d9a-76.html

http://image99.net/blog/files/be8de0c383c5434907610d6b55049e69-75.html

http://image99.net/blog/files/4127b5fe2694586e383104364360373b-74.html

The IC design can also be used for Digital IC’s, but you do not need to use the silver signal conductor - copper will do nicely (after all, it works for computers so why go silver)

Everybody that has heard them are amazed at the level of performance - neutral, dynamic, controlled and spacious, with superb imaging and clarity

Want a second opinion! - ask Agon member @toddverrone

Regards...

WireWorld ICs