Best interconnect between pre-amp and CD player??

One thing that might help to reduce the degree of randomness and the amount of trial and error in the process would be to search "virtual systems" for the specific make and model of the two components that are being connected, and seeing what kinds of cables other people are using to connect those specific components.

I would suggest focusing particularly on the make and model of the CDP, because to the extent that cable differences are dependent on external factors, they are likely to depend more on the component that drives the cable than on the destination component.

Regards,
-- Al

I suggest using a balanced cable whenever possible, quiter and more secure. I bid and won Audio Metelurgy cables and found them superior to Kimber Heros. Now all my cables are theirs, and they are nice folks, too.

"How to choose the best sounding interconnect between pre-amp and CD player" Without getting on the IC of the month club merry-go-round where you could/may spend thousand of dollars looking for the smoothest, most accurate, and most musical, how can the selection process be made easier.??

Unfortunately, I don't see anyway to get around personal listening. You'll probably get plenty of reco's, but no one can tell you what will work best for your tastes with your equipment. Especially since you don't even seem to know what you are looking for. From my experiences, musicality and accuracy are mutually exclusive, meaning that as you gain more of one you lose more of the other. Are you looking for more warmth and musicality OR more speed and resolution? You can try to balance them the best you can, but you lose one as you get closer to the other end of the tonality spectrum.

If you are like most others, you are looking for a cable that balances accuracy with musicality with your equipment and your ears. You can try any recommendation that you get, but you still won't know if it's the "best sounding interconnect" unless you try them all. Call The Cable Company, they might be able to help get you started in a general direction.

Here is part of SunnyJim's issues. He's got a nice system to me and I feel for the guy. Seems like he's been fighting the good fight for some time and making little headway.

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ddgtl&1342820257&openflup&6&4#6

Sunnyjim,

Here's my 2 cents worth. Try a pair of Mapleshade Excalibur ICs.
http://shop.mapleshadestore.com/Clearview-Excalibur-Analog-Ribbon-Interconnects/productinfo/EAIC%2DST/.

I found an old pair in a box of cables I had and just for the heck of it, tried them.
It was like throwing open the window. Night and day, difference, etc. My system has gone through a couple of permutations and I hadn't used them since I began this hobby years ago.

I should have never taken them out.

You can read the testimonials on their site and check out what some say here as well. There is a 30 return policy if you don't like them. Just don't use anything to quicken the burn in process. The ones I have use different terminations than the ones they use now. Progress I guess. They look hand made but people don't seem to mind.

Hope this helps you hasten your journey so you can sit back and enjoy.

All the best,
Nonoise