Best $200 speaker cables for overall performance?

Mtrot, I have some first-hand experience with some of the mfgrs you're inquiring about. Based on massive research from Audiogon threads I decided to check out Audio Horizons and Reality Cables.

Audio Horizons
Met Joseph Chow. He invited me to his home on a Saturday morning to listen to his pre-amp and DAC. I think he makes good equipment, and I liked the way his equipment sounded -probably the most articulate sounding pre-amp I've heard. At the time, I chose not to purchase his gear, but my decision was based on his ability to support the product given the growth stage of his little company (fledgling) at the time. But Joseph seems like an honest and respectable guy, and I absolutely would do business with him. I listened to his cables (balanced and unbalanced) in his system, and they were good. As I haven't listened to the cables in my system, I really can't give you a good reference point. But I do think his cables positively contributed to the overall sound quality of his system. I can give more specifics in email if you like.

Reality Cables
Based on audiogon threads, I had truly high hopes. I ordered interconnects and speaker cables based on blind audiogon faith. These cables completely took the life right out of my system. I had multiple sets of both interconnects and speakers cables. All performed equally poorly. Gregg sent more cables (burned in, SS specific, balanced, etc). Same result. Terrible performance. I tried every imaginable combination. Same result - terrible. I sent everything back.

It took months to get most of my money back, and to get Gregg to honor his "20 day money back guarantee."

Terrible experience.

Email me if you want specifics.

Trialed a pair of name brand cables from my local high-end hi-fi dealer -viola!

At least I'm not losing my mind.

I went with the JPS Supconductor FX. A dealer just loaned me a pair. I knew absolutely nothing about them -never heard of them before. I trialed one pair of interconnects for a weekend, and they sounded fabulous -and not that much money either. So, I ordered a pair. I played them in my system for a month, and decide to order a second pair. No regrets. I know my ears. These cables sound fantasic, and I found the prices to be quite modest. And I accepted the first pair without burn-in.

I played Gregg's cables for at least 100 hours -no improvement. Then he sent me well burned in cables -no improvement. I tried numerous permutations (I was a test engineer 20 yrs ago, so I'm very methodical about isolating a problem). Same result - no improvement in sound. I was thoroughly depressed, and slightly disgusted. I had $800 worth of cables in my living room, and couldn't get one set of cables to sound good.

I even spoke live with Listener57 recently. We discussed possibilities as to why I believe the cables didn't perform, but came to no definitive conclusions.

The net: I know what sounds good in my system. And I have a fairly discriminating ear. For whatever reason, the Reality Cables didn't perform well in my system. And, believe me, no one was more disappointed than myself. You are the folks whose threads I read about these cables, and thus the primary reason for my initial purchase of Reality Cables. Trust me, I read every single one of your threads prior to purchase. I usually find the collective wisdom of the audiogon population to be generally right on the mark. In this case, we simply have a strong difference of opinion.

The net: I moved on and found some other cables I like more -and still at a reasonable price.

Lesson learned: never buy a large quantity of anything like this without first-hand experience. That was my fault. I ordered four sets of cables with no first-hand listening experience. Next time - order one set of cables, evaluate, and take it from there.

My system is big planars and all tubes (pre, monoblocks, CD). I appreciate alot of air in my system. The old stuff was 15 year old Monster Cable ICs and Kimber speaker cables (black and grey twine), and some more recent Supernal biwired speaker cables (unshielded). The system presented alot of air around instruments and voices. I did come to notice that the cables also presented some unwanted noise -maybe not so much noise.... rather a lack of crispness and clarity.

The Reality Cables immediately took the life right out of my system -first IC, second IC, then rolling in the biwired speaker cables. The system seemed completely dead. I thought something was wrong. I checked circuit breakers, etc. I checked the cable direction. I checked and evaluated dozens of different test cases. I rolled the cables out of the system in reverse order. The life came right back into my system. I thought perhaps the cables needed burnin, so I ran them round the clock for a week. No difference. Gregg then sent balanced ICs as well as SS ICs for evaluation. Same result - no life. After almost two weeks, I finally gave up.

I think that maybe there is some electrical uniqueness that presents itself between the VTLs, the Maggies, and the Reality gear that simply doesn't make for a successful combination. Listener57 conjectured that maybe Gregg was using this certain noice reducing film (sorry, I can't remember the name) that caused everything to sound so deadened. At the end of the day, I don't really know why the cables didn't perform. But I felt like I did everything in my power to give the Reality gear every chance for success.

For me, the JPS gear (purple sheath, RCA jacks - the cheaper stuff) was quiet, crisp and clear. I felt that many reference tracks I listen to (typically jazz, vocal, instrumental) for evaluation came to life in a refreshing way that I hadn't heard before. Maggies can play highs very high. I noticed that the JPS helped tone down the excess noise in the highs. And I felt that the JPS made hard rock sections a bit punchier or full bodied.... which I like as Maggies are not necessarily known for deep, heavy bass sections.

I'm sure there are better cables than JPS. Over time, I might like to try the Red Dawns or other loftier gear just for grins. But at this time, the JPS seems to be hitting the mark with my system. This experience has taught me just how much difference that cables can make in tuning a system.

Jp1208, it's interesting that the characteristics that make for a shortcoming in your system makes for a benefit in mine.