02-26-12: Grannyring
Well based on these comments I made a set of Mogami 2534 xlr cables. I compared these to two other cables in my system. One that costs $1100 new and the other $400 new. I paid about $40 to build the Mogami cables.
Don't laugh, but the Mogami sounds best thus far. The other two cables are very well respected and I have had great luck with them single ended in the past. I keep going back and forth as I can't believe this is the case, but it is!
I for one am not surprised.
Although in fairness it should be pointed out that comparing RCA cables to XLR cables is apples vs. oranges. In changing cable types you are also changing the interface circuits that are being used in the components, as well as the design principles upon which the operation of the interface is based. And based upon technical considerations as well as many experiences that have been reported here and elsewhere, balanced interfaces will in general (although certainly not always) tend be less sensitive to cable differences than unbalanced interfaces.
Best regards,
-- Al