Best $200 speaker cables for overall performance?

depending on length...look into: Naim NACA5, Nordost Blue Heaven, AuidoQuest BedRock, among others. Good luck.

Yeah a Matching center channel and a subwoofer.

Cables make almost no difference with your current system and I thought it was a Sony receiver?

$200 for cables in your situation is a waste of valuable $$$

My "stock" recommendation for speaker cable in your price bracket is Kimber Kable 4TC or 8TC. They have both been positively reviewed in many audio mags, and have proven compatible with a very wide range of systems. I can attest to their good performance having owned both for types for many years.

The other choice that is well worth considering is Alpha-Core Goertz MI2. You can learn more about these fine speaker cables from their Goertz Audio web site: http://www.goertzaudio.com/

Second the Alpha Core Goertz MI-2 Veracity. Hard to beat at it's price point.

Yes, I also had heard great things about the Alpha-Core MI2, but there is some concern about impedance of the cable being a problem for certain amps. I don't know if this would likely be any problem for a standard receiver.

D_edwards,

This is for an extra A/V system in the back room of the house. I am using it for some stereo music listening, and it currently has some old Monster speaker cables with what appear to be hundreds of strands, which I believe to be "smearing" the sound.

As to the Nak receiver, first, I am not in a position to replace it, and, second, it previously was used in the front system with the Legacy Signature IIs, connected with Tara Labs RSC speaker cables, and sounded quite nice. That is my rational for thinking I can improve my sound significantly with some better cables.