First Foray into XLR

I found a pic online that appeared to show a jumper from RCA input to XLR, and given other warnings here and elsewhere, I’m sticking to RCA.

so, for a first-timer stepping up from cheapie interconnnects, what do you need to know from me to make recs that are financially easy to swallow given my doubts, but good enough to be worth the step up. I know that’s throwing chum in the water, but I really have no idea where to star, and by default would just use what I already have...

FYI, RCA-terminated unbalanced cables constructed with the same Mogami 2534 wire that is used in the Gold Studio balanced cables can be obtained here:

https://www.markertek.com/product/msc3rr/mogami-neglex-quad-audio-cable-rca-male-to-male-3-foot-blac...

Also, keep in mind that most cable parameters and consequently most cable effects are proportional to length.  So the relatively short length you require is likely to make your choice of cables less critical than it would be in many other circumstances.

Good luck.  Regards,
-- Al 

I think chum is an apt analogy. Good luck!
BTW: May I suggest The Cable Company lending library?

I had a thirty year professional carear in the television broadcasting and audio recording industries!
What, might I ask, are your technical credentials?

Impressive, what did you say your credentials are tweak1?

sisyphus, your background makes your lack of knowledge as to why one would use XLR over rca in a typical < 3m audio system (where all components in the signal path are tre balance/differentially balanced even more disturbing