Need Opinions for Different Cable Manufacturers/Cable Designs


I have a McIntosh 200wpc receiver [MAC7200] and Focal Sopra 3 speakers - and am using low-grade cables. I'm looking to vastly improve my system with a complete cable upgrade. I like a warm sound with lots of clarity and detail and naturalness. I have been reviewing tons of literature and am intrigued by Cu/Ag and Cu/Ag/Au combinations. I will probably buy used, and look at offerings in the midrange to lower high-end range of products. Cannot afford the best each manufacturer has to offer. Looking to spend up to $2,000 for 3m speaker cables and up to $700 each for RCA and XLR cables. Again, I hope to buy used.

 

I am interested in opinions on the following manufacturers:

AUDIENCE

DH LABS

PURIST AUDIO DESIGN

SILNOTE

SNAKE RIVER

Please feel free to offer your opinions on these and any other recommendations you may have. I really appreciate your time and advice!! Thanks!

kinarow1

Great cables in your list OP. I have had them all at one point and I am currently using Purist Audio Designs PC and Speaker and Analysis Plus IC. Works well for my system. 

I like a warm sound with lots of clarity and detail and naturalness.

You may have competing goals here. Warm and natural is one end and detail is another. I have heard your speakers and they are excellent and very detailed.

My suggestion - get a Schiit EQ and tweak the balance the sound to your satisfaction.

Like just about all of Hi Fi equipment, there’s good & less so for every concept & design & this is very subjective anyway. I really enjoy Triode Wire Labs products & sound excellent in my system. They’re hand made by a small company in NY, not crazy expensive & should be within your budget. They’re worth a look. 

Earlier this year I replaced my speaker cables and all of my interconnect cables with Audience Front Row pieces. A close second for me was Audioquest Thunderbird.  This all replaced the Tellurium Q Ultra Black I had been using for the past ten years.

Your comment "warm sound with lots of clarity and detail and naturalness" were the words I used in the journey to find IC's and speaker cables for my Marantz/Focal setup. Started with AQ (need to go very high in price), then DH labs (great value, however the Be tweeter reproduced a graininess in HF), now with Cardas Clear Reflection. Made a significant difference - detailed, yet full and without any grain or roughness in the sound. Made listening to the music, not the system, more pleasing. Yes - with your sytem cables will make a difference.