Best interconnects from preamp to amps, within budget

I would go to Blue Jeans Cables and pick up a pair of their standard interconnects. They are well-made and will get you up and running just fine. Under $100 for what you need. My advice is to get set up and listening to music. You will have plenty of time to worry about expensive cables later on. Just FYI, many people here think it’s a total waste of money to buy anymore expensive. If you insist on spending more, check out Signal Cables. The Silver Resolution cables are very good at $220 for an 8 foot pair.  They are a bit thinner and more flexible than Blue Jeans, if that matters to you.  Enjoy. 

I would look at Kimber Kable PBJ Interconnects. Should be able to get 2m length for $200 +/-

At a $200 price point strata, it’s largely distilled down to a “ just pick one of ‘em” exercise.

As you've had good experience with AQ, why not try their better cables? You'll need the non-paired versions for your monos. Look at the Red River at around $250 for a 3m pair. Search for the best price.

At a $200 price point strata, it’s largely distilled down to a “ just pick one of ‘em” exercise.

^This^

Or get the wire and ends. Plus a soldering iron, and solder.
and then make them yourself.

it is a lot of cables based upon the gear list.

I usually made them because I need then shorter or longer than what is easy to buy, or I need some XLR to RCA, etc.
Now I just have a spool of the wire and the ends, so I can walk to the shed when I need a new set.

But if the AQs are to your liking, then just use those?
Have you revisited the 30 year ones again?

1. BlueJeans 

2. Mogami Studio Gold

3. Audience OHNO

4. Zavfino - a lot of good feedback on these pages. I’m about to try their Arcadia between phono stage and preamp. Using BlueJeans there now. 

At that price point definitely go to Audio Envy.  Best bang for your buck.

Mogami 2534 Quad wire. I purchased 6ft made by World's Best for about $70 on Amazon. 

Go to "Mogami Ave" it has EVERYTHING you need on budget.

Mogami makes great wire. It's what many of the pros use. Either get the "gold" series premade or have some cables made for you.

Well, at least nobody has suggested the guy needs $5,000 cables yet.

Blue Jeans.  Use them for all connections to my Harman Kardon HK3490 receivers.

Cheers

pine tree audio also offers a broad selection of good sounding well made very cost effective cables

Go to "Mogami Ave" it has EVERYTHING you need on budget.

@czarivey one still needs the Neutrik ProFi or XRL ends ;)

Mogami 2534 Quad wire. I purchased 6ft made by World's Best for about $70 on Amazon. 

Many places can made a bespoke length, if one is adverse to using a soldering iron themselves. And that same 2534 can be used for XLRs.

Hello toddsyr!  Choosing the "right" cble is like finding the "right" life partner. You have to try out a few before you can make an informed decision. Used Cable.com will let you try out cables. Used cables are broken in and much less money. Suppose you tried out three new cables and kept the best one. You wouldn't know how it will sound in 30 days! That's part of the appeal of used cables. By the way, equal length on interconnects is no big deal. Speaker wires? Yes. Happy Listening.

Many places can made a bespoke length, if one is adverse to using a soldering iron themselves. And that same 2534 can be used for XLRs.

Yes. My Mogami assembled by World’s Best Cables through Amazon came with gold-plated Neutrik XLR’s made in Japan. Very pleased with the quality and transparency of these cables. Using between preamp and amp. 

Nobody can tell you what you are going to like best in your vintage system.

A good cable choice can dramatically improve the SQ of your system, so choose 3 or 4 brands - there were good ones suggested above - and order complete sets from vendors who give you at least 30 days to evaluate.

Cables have to burn in for 100 to 200 hours before they are at their best, so as you receive the cables, put them in your system and let it play round the clock for burn in.

Then pick 5-10 tracks that you find to be very revealing and start critical listening for highs, mids, bass, transients, dynamics, detail, tone, soundstage and, most importantly, emotion. Avoid quick A-B comparisons on single tracks.

When you find one that makes you not want to stop listening, you’re there.

I really appreciate all the input here folks. Not just the specific brands mentioned, but also the guidance in general.

I ordered a set of 12' Mogami Gold interconnects. The name was mentioned the most and I really like what I read about them. The 6' cables would have been too short. I just hope 12' isn't too long and I lose signal strength. If that's even possible. Again, most of this is new to me.

I am always willing to listen and learn from those who know about these things.  I will get a couple more different brands to see their differences. Probably Blue Jeans and Audioquest.

Todd K Stearns

I ordered a set of 12’ Mogami Gold interconnects. The name was mentioned the most and I really like what I read about them. The 6’ cables would have been too short. I just hope 12’ isn’t too long and I lose signal strength. If that’s even possible. Again, most of this is new to me.

You will not loose signal strength, so don’t even worry about that.
There is no current looking into a high impedance input, and no power without current and no signal loss without current.
(but you could measure it if you wanted to.)

If you later get stressed about length, then just mark them… and have a local electronics person cut one end and make them shorter.

I usually put ends on the (150’) cable, lay them out, and cut them… then do the other end. That 150’ is now about 60’, but your 12’ cables will be similar in concept.
They may end up being 8’ or 10’ or some other goldilocks length.

And sometimes that 2’ remainder comes in handy elsewhere.

I am always willing to listen and learn from those who know about these things.  I will get a couple more different brands to see their differences. Probably Blue Jeans and Audioquest.

Ideally you do that later when you can A/B against your Magomi ones.
Also the AQ cables, should be “more different” than the BJ cables.

OP, sounds like a good choice. I will be honest, Blue Jeans to me were no better than the ones that came with budget equipment. I would enjoy your new cables and your system. Then, if you choose, think about upgrading your components… if you want to. I would not spend a lot of time comparing interconnects and cables at this level of components and interconnects… unless, of course you really enjoy it… which is completely appropriate. If you like learning about nuances in interconnects and cables… great. If you are interested in achieving the best sound you can achieve. Then look towards upgrading your components.