XLR cables for a reasonable price?


I've seen lots of threads where it is stated that balanced components are "insensitive" to cables.  Does this mean that spending a lot of money on XLR cables is probably unnecessary, as it offers no sonic benefit over cheaper XLR cables?

I would like some recommendations on reasonably priced XLR cables that give excellent sonic performance.  Thanks for your replies.

hifinut51

Just received my Atma-Sphere Class D amps.  They’re fantastic right out of the box but I won’t dwell on that since there are enough Class D battles (threads) going on.  Already tried my $2,000 Cardas Clear XLR cables and my $100 Mogami XLR cables between the Class D amps and MP3 preamp.  SQ is the same with either cable.  As I said above, put your money to better use somewhere else in your system.

That's quite remarkable. marco1, do you think it means that the Mogami is so good or that the Cardas is incredibly overpriced?

Anyway, by all means please tell us about those amps, how they sound in your system. I remember that you currently don't have analog source, this is important too.

Amps just came in today so much too soon to evaluate them other than like I already said they sound real good right out of the box.  I actually bought them as summer amps to replace my Atma-Sphere OTL amp when it gets too hot at my beach house. So I have plenty of time to break them in before next summer 😎. Your right, as I already mentioned in another thread, I sold all my analog gear and now using strictly digital as my source.  But it’s pretty good stuff ( Aurender N200 and Denafrips Terminator Plus DAC) so quite frankly I’m not missing playing records one bit.  Regarding the cables I think the answer to your question is neither.  With the fully balanced preamp and amplifier combination, the XLR interconnects just do not make a difference.  It’s not a question of one sounding better or worse than the other or the price of the cables, they just sound the same, at least to me, and from what I understand many other people as well.  I’m basically a Cardas guy.  Just love their cables after trying many other brands.  They continue to give me the flavor I like and while not cheap, imo are worth it.  I use their Clear or Clear Beyond for power cords, speaker cables, usb and interconnects. Everywhere but the connection between A-S preamp and amp.  I even use Clear RCA’s when I put in my single ended Conrad Johnson amp where there is a definite improvement over the Mogami RCA interconnects.  So the only thing I can conclude, and as Ralph Karsten continues to preach, when using balanced interconnects between a fully balanced preamp and amp the interconnects do not make a difference.  Go figure.  

Yes, I heard it from Ralph and some others. Usually, Mogami is what these people use. This is good because you don't have to think much about cables, it can be a real pain, not to mention cost. I only use Wywires Diamond and various Purist cables, so far don't seem to need to experiment more. I would like to try Japanese Hijiri cables, though, as recommended by Audiogon member, but can't find them used.