Another under $25 or so DYI cord is Audioquest AC-12 in bulk from any parts source (like Michael Percy in Inverness, CA) and some hospital grade plugs. I made a pair, it didn't take an inordinate amount of skill, and it works nice and plays nice. It would be worth comparing that to a $250 cord. I haven't, but my guess is it would be pretty competitive. We are talking small differences in the scheme of things. Probably $200 worth of room treatment would net more improvement than $200 in cords.
