Low-cost I/C's

Keep in mind that the short length you are specifying will minimize most cable effects and cable differences

This is a good point. So probably getting a good terminal like Eichmann would be more important that the I/C itself?

I think Signal uses Eichmann. Perhaps standard or as an option, I don't recall.

I second Bluejean Cables. They are great cables and value for the money. I compared them to a high end cable that I owned and heard no difference so I switched.

Check out Monoprice.com. I've bought cables from them before when I've been experimenting, or to get temporary cables for a system reconfiguration before buying 'better' cables, and in some cases I never bought the 'better' cables because the Monoprices' were just fine.