Blue Collar Cables? The great debate

I've tried a lot of cables over the years, Speltz are the best cost conscious cable I've heard. My problem with them is the lack of shielding, not as good as the higher price spread with shielding. I suspect the lack of shielding is why they sound so good, all dialectics have a sound. I'd like to hear the megabuck vacuum shielded Tara Zeros.

You can't get any more blue collar than building them yourself. Some Mogami shielded microphone cable and Vampire or Canare RCA's, half an hour with a soldering pencil and you're in business, with a couple of burned fingertips to show off to your buds.

Riley's advice only makes sense if the more expensive cable actually out-performs the budget cable. Otherwise it's just audio jewlery, or spending money to feel good.

I am not saying to spend 10k, a pair of cables, but buy something cost relative to the rest of your system.

I would suggest that you make sure you can tell the difference before dropping more money on cables. The point of diminishing returns comes MUCH faster with cables and dramatic markup for R&D, advertising, and custom materials sometimes, is can be rather extreme. I wonder how many who blindly follow such a formula and the idea that "you get what you pay for" could actually tell the difference blindly between their cables of choice and a pair of Anti-Cables, for instance. I'm not saying cables don't make a difference, I believe they do. If you're willing to put a bit of time and effort into your decision you could use the Cable Company's lending library for the cost of shipping, or you could buy and sell used (though the latter in these times may be more risky). You will always find folks on both sides of your "great debate". I'd find out what side you're on by listening rather than by asking others. As far as suggestions for cables in that price range - I'd agree with many suggestions that have already been given here: Anti-cables, Signal Cable, Blue Jeans, Canare...I'd add to the mix used Harmonic Tech Truthlink at just over $100 for a meter. DH Labs also makes some nice cables in that price range on the used market.

Haven't heard all of the cables mentioned, but the Anticables is an excellent choice. Most of us have been down the road before of assuming more expensive = better. Heed the concise and well stated advice of jdombrow.