Comparing some mid-line interconnects - thoughts?

Yes, I'm sorry - that's true the Cheetah's are on the expensive side.

I should have worded my inquiry differently:

"What ICs in the ~$300-350 used price-range would compare favorably to the AQ Cheetah?"

These will be used between DAC and (integrated) solid state amp, approx. 1 meter length altho .5m might also work.

Far as copper/silver, shielded/not, I can't say - I'm more interested in what delivers the goods, in that price range, opposed to specs, I think.

I realize there's some subjectivety to this and I'm willing to try a few; I'm basically trying to build my "short list" of ones to check out.