Choosing new cables

Signal cables first.

@bobheinatz

you are getting some good responses, now that folks see what you have in place currently in terms of gear and cabling - excellent system btw! 👍

that the responses are all over the map is to be expected, but i think i am seeing a developing convergence of opinion among the more experienced folks here

i have actually never heard jade cables in my own system despite my extensive travels in the hobby but i do remember they were held in high regard as a small maker

i would say try some well reputed power cables first (amp first, then sources) given that yours are presently low-tier ones as you state (you might still name them for us to know), whereas your signal cables are jade, and you know they are good and you like them

after figuring out the upside from ac cables, then i suggest trying other interconnects from your most used source, trying different well-reputed brands via demos or loans, then go from there - i concur with user support given here so far to purist and cardas, not cheap, but excellent and lean towards musicality as opposed to unearthing more detail

i would not say modern cables are much of a leap over what was top tier stuff from back in the day... more different than better in my view (and just stupid expensive)... my favorite ic’s are still straightwire maestro, purist dominus/colossus, and cardas golden helix and 5c ....and vampire silvers when called... have tried much new stuff... but always go back to my faves above

have fun happy auditioning...

Might as well throw in Hemingway as a viable contender for that budget. Z core Alpha cables would come in around or a bit more than your budget. Lot of interesting cables through Gestalt though…

I think the obvious thing to do is spend the entire 15 grand on one cable (pair, unless it's a 15K USB or something), as it would sound SO good as it would lift all the more pedestrian cables up.

You could buy so much music and get some decent cables (that don't make any difference anyway) for a lot less  money. But hey, you do you, as they say.