Best Cables for around $500

The following will lose me street creds on my audio skills but just found out during my break in of the W4S STI500 and DAC2 when reaching around the back of my equipment, I had switched my Xindak digital cable off of the DAC2 and replaced it with identical looking Xindak audio cables (the difference was only a small band around one end of the cable). I had been connecting my Netgear 9150 system to my DAC2 with an audio cable!

The results were very interesting with tipped down treble as mentioned in my last post but rock music actually sounded pretty good! The sound was much more diffuse which seemed to work well with rock but took all the life out of the classical music. I was in the break in phase with the STI500 and DAC2 and had just used the ISOTEK CD conditioner. I was beginning to think I had screwed up my system using the conditioner CD!

Highs are back using the Morrow MA1.1 XLR cable and sounding very detailed. Will listen for a week or so with the Morrow Cable to get a fix on the sound before purchasing new cables.

Owned #'s 1,4,5,6 and 7. AQ Columbia wins in all categories. I would suggest MIT AVT1 cabling however, as it is more dimensional and allows for a more vividly realistic portrayel of the sonic event. Online prices are 50% msrp FYI:O)

Dave_b - amazing that you have experience with 5 of the 7 cables that I am looking at! Just curious, but what other equipment do you have?

I noticed that you singled out the AQ Columbia. I can get the AQ Colorado XLR normally $900 for $450-$500. Any thoughts on that vs. the MIT AVT1? Looked up the MIT AVT1 and for the XLR it goes for $699 retail.

You mentioned that "online prices are 50% msrp." Other than the AQ Colorado's, I did not see any prices at 50% off for the other cables.

Owned the colorado XLR's as well...very clear, harmonicaly complete but a bit hard sounding. The MIT's will give you everything the Colorado's offer, but add better texture, fullnss, dynamic swing and 3D palpability as "you are there in the same room" feeling. just got an NRG-10 PC new from a dealer in CA for 50% off (negotiate price). Call Joe Abrams at equus audio for free information and assistance as well as best deals on available options. He's been my go to cable guy for over 10 years. My last big system was Maggie 3.6's, Krell FBI, Sony Modwright 5400 and MIT Magnum M3.3 cabling wt MIT AC2 PC's.

Dave_b - looks like the cable he sells is demo or trade-ins. Would like to purchase new. What do you think new MIT AVT1 1 meter XLR's should go for?