Choosing new cables


I am looking to upgrade my current cables.  This should be my last system as I retired a few years ago and most of my components have been seriously updated in the last couple of years.  I have been in this audio hobby for about 50 years and have always have great sounding musical systems.

My current cables all work and sound great but are 15 - 20 years old.  So updating is what I need.  I am budgeting around $10k - $15k for all new cables.

I have always felt the i/c's were the most important cable followed by the speaker cables and the power cords.  However I am now leaning towards spending more on the power cords followed by the speaker cables and last the i/c.

  I know all cables are very important but how would you prioritize the cables?  Any suggestions on any brands would also be appreciated!

 

bobheinatz

One line of cables not often spoken of on these forums but worthy of serious consideration is Purist Audio Design.  They are not glamorous looking and come in a canvas bag.  You can audition them through The Cable Co.  $15k might not be enough depending how far up their line you are willing to go.  Based on my experience I recommend this:  Start with Power Cords.  They have the most impact and then speaker cables.  Interconnects (balanced) can fill in that last little bit of gain in sound.  I'm at the middle grade of Purist Audio Design cables.  I find them detailed and open but very clean with no sibilance or irritating harshness in the highs.  I heard a big change switching from their lower grade to mid grade power cords.  Their digital power cord was like an upgrade to my DAC.  Just know that once you hear them- there is no going back.

At your budget a mistake could prove really costly, audiophile1's advice is a good one. Now i am more inclined to Japanese thinking of cables so if it was for me i would chose cables from, Kondo, Acoustic Revive and Furutech. I believe The Cable Company has some of these brands.

Before you change cables I would check out Add-Powr products which upgrade the actual signal in your cables and your gear. Might as well start at the source. Does @cohsystms have any suggestions?:

 

Given the high quality of your components I would recommend either Transparent or high level Cardas. Nordost must be high in their levels… so those will cost you… I don’t find lower level Nordost that good.
 

Definitely an AudioQuest Hurricane or Dragon power cord for your amp. This could easily be the biggest difference you hear.

 

Definitely try these… the differences will likely be subtitle but very important. The Cardas even at the highest level will be slightly warm… this could add a touch of musicality your system needs or not. Take your time. I’m retired as well. It took me well over a year to slowly zero in on perfect… positioning, cables, interconnects, and power cords and room treatment… worth every moment. My system sounds sooo. Much better in comparison to how it started it is astonishing. You can see my system under my ID. Put yours there and we could probably be even more helpful.