I have an Audio Research Reference 6 preamp, I used to have a Pass x350 amp... and my speakers used to be Apogee ribbons.
When I got my new Audio Research equipment (Preamp, DAC... and before amp) I had Transparent single ended interconnects (after choosing from half a dozen brands). So I bought a single Transparent balanced pair of interconnects and compared them. I couldn’t tell the difference. I attributed this to Audio Research putting the R&D time into converting to single ended from the internal component topology) I did not spend a couple weeks carefully listening... it was a fairly quick comparison. But any difference was small. I am sure if I spent a couple weeks I could find some subtle differences. But typically XLR can be up to twice as expensive. I finally replaced them all with XLR just to be safe... since the audio world is going that way. If I couldn’t have afforded it I would put a premium on the quality of the interconnect over the kind of connection.
On the brand. I recommend Transparent. They are exactly that. For Audio Research and Pass equipment that is what you want. I don’t know of any brand as neutral and quiet. I have tried many. If your equipment isn’t up for them then that can be a problem. But your ARC and Pass is. Transparent has decades of research and each generation has achieved better and more transparent / reduction in noise. This is why for instance, there is a known synergy between Sonus Faber, Audio Research, and Transparent.
