I need help picking cables for my new system

Cables
1

Its amazing how many choices there are in cables, and how expensive these things have become.

I plan on buying the full PS Audio system (DS DAC, BHK pre, BHK monos) with Focal Sopra 3 speakers.

Therefore, I need two sets of XLR cables and a set of speaker cables.

I would love to find ones that:

  1. Aren’t ridiculously expensive - not sure what that means.

  2. Sound very good.

  3. Look good - I know this sounds shallow but they are going to be in my family room and I promised my wife that there wouldn’t be a whole bunch of ratty looking wires running all over the place, so looks matter.

  4. Something that I can buy online without a whole lot of trouble.

Any good ideas?

David

2

I am using cables from Morrow Audio. They have a range of options, from the very affordable to the very expensive. Looks are normal for audio cables, which is to say a black jacket. The sound is really excellent, but do be prepared for a long break in period. They offer a generous trade up program, which makes their more more expensive cables easier to purchase; that’s what I did. They also have sales from time to time. You have a 60 day in-home trial so it’s easy to see whether the cables work in your system.

3

I love VooDoo Cables. I think the Evolution line and on up are great sounding and looking cables. More affordably I’ve tried WireWorld Oasis 7 cables and they are nice-sounding, clever geometry they use, and they are not raggedy looking,

4
Dschamis said Look good - I know this sounds shallow but they are going to be in my family room and I promised my wife that there wouldn't be a whole bunch of ratty looking wires running all over the place, so looks matter.
Not a shallow concern, audiophiles care a great deal about looks. People even argue about silver v. black, etc.

What is a rattly looking cable? Is black mic cable ratty? If so, there are cable sleeves and snakes she may find more acceptable.

Probably the place to start is tidy cable dressing so that the installation appears tidy.

5

I have a vote for Silnote cables in terms of price/performance. I find their Morpheus Reference II Series II line to be excellent (although the name, not as much). I have the XLRs and phono cables and I find them on par with the more expensive Nordost Red Dawn XLRs and nearly as good as Belden Iconoclast OFHC, which I have in RCA. The owner and CEO Mark Williams is very responsive and will accommodate special requests. You may be able to get them a little cheaper through Audiogon, BTW.

6

I vote for DIY Mogami 2534 XLR interconnects. Just made and installed a 12 foot pair preamp to amp for less than $100 and could not believe the sound of these cables. Extended and articulate bass, clear highs with no glare or harshness, and very nice mids. Wide soundstage with a presence that is neither forward nor back, just right in the middle with depth of soundstage. In the process of making another 1m pair for DS to preamp.

More information about making these interconnects at a PS Audio site http://www.psaudio.com/article/how-to-make-a-50-high-end-xlr-interconnect/. If you are not into soldering they can be purchased at Take Five Audio https://www.takefiveaudio.com/products/1227-mogami-2534-balanced-xx-series-deep-cryo-treated/ and they are deep cyro treated at very reasonable prices. Also, the Mogami 2534 XLR ic is often for sale on Audiogon and US Audio Mart at very reasonable prices. For a very nice review of these interconnect cables go to http://www.10audio.com/5_xlr_cables.htm. Hard to beat the performance of these XLR cables, especially for the price.

7

Yes, pro mic cable is great. And this cable comes in a bunch of colors if you find this amusing. Pro Audio LA and Redco are great sources for custom cables.