Considering switching to XLR cables,


Currently have Kubala fascination RCA  IC cables between my Aqua Lascala DAC, ARC Ref6 pre, Pass 350.8 into Maggies 20.7.  ARC recommends XLR iIC.  Considering

Audioquest Water

Zavfino Arcadia 

Audio Envy Mk ii

Triode Wire Labs

Looking to say in the relative price range.  Not sue they are an improvement.  Appreciate any experience and/or comparison with  the above.

 

salc

I like the positive lock of XLR connectors

I never heard a quality difference, and I never had an interference issue, or long runs: however I did get more quantity, i.e. slightly stronger signal out of XLR opposed to same unit’s RCA outs (not always).

You might get both the locking feature and stronger signal advantage using an adapter to use XLR out of a unit to go to a unit without XLR in, they come in all kinds. Of course cables with xlr/rca/variations exist, adapters let you use an existing cable. 

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=xlr+adapter&crid=2PWKIC6WCC7VJ&sprefix=xlr+adapter%2Caps%2C119&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

 

I have an Audio Research Reference 6 preamp, I used to have a Pass x350 amp... and my speakers used to be Apogee ribbons.

When I got my new Audio Research equipment (Preamp, DAC... and before amp) I had Transparent single ended interconnects (after choosing from half a dozen brands). So I bought a single Transparent balanced pair of interconnects and compared them. I couldn’t tell the difference. I attributed this to Audio Research putting the R&D time into converting to single ended from the internal component topology) I did not spend a couple weeks carefully listening... it was a fairly quick comparison. But any difference was small. I am sure if I spent a couple weeks I could find some subtle differences. But typically XLR can be up to twice as expensive. I finally replaced them all with XLR just to be safe... since the audio world is going that way. If I couldn’t have afforded it I would put a premium on the quality of the interconnect over the kind of connection. 

On the brand. I recommend Transparent. They are exactly that. For Audio Research and Pass equipment that is what you want. I don’t know of any brand as neutral and quiet. I have tried many. If your equipment isn’t up for them then that can be a problem. But your ARC and Pass is. Transparent has decades of research and each generation has achieved better and more transparent / reduction in noise. This is why for instance, there is a known synergy between Sonus Faber, Audio Research, and Transparent.  

What specific improvements are you looking for?  Without that critical info this is just a total crapshoot. 

Don't toss your RCA's. Sometimes and in certain positions lower voltage is called for.

Honestly I don’t think you’re going to hear a difference between RCA’s or balanced other than the fact that the balance are going to sound a bit louder without increasing the volume. If you were going to try balanced, I would recommend from the selections you listed above the following;

 Zavfino Arcadia