I'm using HomeGrown cables as well (2 pairs, along with Nordost and MIT cables) and while I wouldn't characterize the HG SuperSilver as "reference quality", they're excellent cables at very attractive price. The same could be said for the Nordost Blue Heavens and MIT's that I'm using in other parts of the system, although they tend to run a bit more, and have very different characteristics (which in their current configuration works very well).
There's a lot to be said for building your own cables as well. While this isn't exactly what the neophyte necessarily wants to get involved with when first setting up a system, but its a good way of getting excellent cables for very little money. I second the suggestion of looking at www.diycable.com and giving one their cables a whirl. All of the recipes they offer are well traveled and very well respected, so its hard to think that you'd go too far wrong. If you ever get seriously interested in DIY cable projects, there are a number of recipes and vendors out there that you can avail yourself of.
One thing to keep in mind is that cables are as much a part of the system as any of the electronics in so much as they impart their own characteristics to the sound (they're not supposed to, but in reality they do). Some experimentation will likely be required to find the very best match for your components and tastes, and as such I'd advise starting off on the low end (price-wise) and giving yourself an opportunity to play around a bit without breaking the bank. There are *many* used cables available here on Agon, so its a pretty good place to start shopping.
Have fun,
Ken
There's a lot to be said for building your own cables as well. While this isn't exactly what the neophyte necessarily wants to get involved with when first setting up a system, but its a good way of getting excellent cables for very little money. I second the suggestion of looking at www.diycable.com and giving one their cables a whirl. All of the recipes they offer are well traveled and very well respected, so its hard to think that you'd go too far wrong. If you ever get seriously interested in DIY cable projects, there are a number of recipes and vendors out there that you can avail yourself of.
One thing to keep in mind is that cables are as much a part of the system as any of the electronics in so much as they impart their own characteristics to the sound (they're not supposed to, but in reality they do). Some experimentation will likely be required to find the very best match for your components and tastes, and as such I'd advise starting off on the low end (price-wise) and giving yourself an opportunity to play around a bit without breaking the bank. There are *many* used cables available here on Agon, so its a pretty good place to start shopping.
Have fun,
Ken