Looking For 90% of the performane of the super expensive cables for much less money

No, I can’t help.  But I did already help the OP with the wire he should use.  

I know you are but what am I?

grannyring, I have no idea what you’re referring to. Can you give me some hints?

are we helping the OP ?

Well gaps and speculations. There’s a whole lotta faith going on in what we term science today. No way around it as it is a natural outcome of our imperfect and incomplete human condition and wisdom. A clear thinker such as yourself must understand this to be the case in some instances? 

grannyring" The “science”of the earth’s age, earth’s formation and creation, Big Bang etc... all have major gaps that require “faith”

It is probably safe to assume that within this group quite a many of us understand the conflict that exists for you from peer-reviewed science based research, measurements, and mathmatics and the fairy-tales that exist in your Big Book of Truth. 

Whoa! What? What major gaps in science are you referring to? I don’t like gaps. Gaps and Geoff clash. Whatcha got, grannyring? Anything? 

Actually we do have examples of faith based notions that are presented to us as science. The “science”of the earth’s age, earth’s formation and creation, Big Bang etc... all have major gaps that require “faith”.  

elizabeth"Science is not faith based. It is the opposite of faith based."

Elizabeth of course you are completely correct however you must understand that those who insist and cling to faith-based beliefs and  convictions must as a means of supporting their beliefs equate them with those which have been established through the scientific method because if they did not do this they would not be able to repeat, defend, and promote their beliefs they must achieve an "equality" between their faith and science or otherwise their faith based beliefs are revealed as the fantasy, fabrications and woo that they are! 

pbnaudio
@geoffkait

Well finally you admit you don't have a system powered up - oh wait - let me guess your system works on teleportation power and signal transfer ?

>>>>I’ve already said too much. 

schubert"I have been to over 2, 000 live classical concerts in the last 50+ years .I DO know what I say is so .You do not .'

This statement is based on blind conviction, faith, and belief you can not possibly know anything about me at all because I have protected my right to anonymity hear so you can insist that you're knowledge, experience, and pronouncements  here are superior to that of others but the truth is you have no data, substantiation, or even casual observation to support your cherished beliefs at all but you are welcome to feel as smug and self-righteous as you like especially as you make Christian-based observations about the behavior of others here which you know nothing about. 

@geoffkait 

Well finally you admit you don't have a system powered up - oh wait - let me guess your system works on teleportation power and signal transfer ? 

Good Listening

Peter

I have been to over 2, 000 live classical concerts in the last 50+ years .I DO know what I say is so .You do not .

Is Classical Music elite ? Yes it sure is  .ALL claims are faith based to include science , especially science .

elizabeth
Geoff, Do you have a favorite cable brand? Mine is Kimber, with a helping of Cardas. (I tend to dislike AQ due to some failures of insulation on some Midnight years back, and then a AQ record mat that became a goo record killer if any LP was left on it for more than an hour..) the rest I know nothing.. nothing.. So you see I have a slight hold back on anything AQ.. Hurricane included.

>>>>>Comments accepted without comment. Would you believe I don’t have a favorite cable brand. Actually, to be perfectly up front, I don’t use cables or power cords.

schubert"Classical is FAR more demanding of a recording than rock’

That is a wholly mistaken, misinformed, and elitist pronouncement completely lacking in any evidence, substantiation, or reference it is a broad, sweeping, and unsupported generalization based on a completely confused, sociocentric belief and conviction rather than actual observation, data or research. It is actually a faith-based claim.

OBVIOUSLY , the cable can not . Classical is FAR more demanding of a recording than rock or small group jazz in many ways .Sound Stage and definition of 90 musicians at a time for starter.

Interesting and as always controversial thread.  On the cable/interconnect thing, I have two opinions......and little practical experience to back either up, so take that for what's it's worth :)

While I do believe that different cables, IC's etc. can sound different in different systems, I think the cost of many of the "boutique" stuff is absurd. Ultimately, it's wire with some nice connectors. You can twist it, shield it, comb it, braid it, cryo it, use different dielectrics, play with the gauges, but in the end...........it's still wire.

Perhaps if I had deeper pockets I could and would play that game, but I'm of the mind that any properly designed cable, interconnect or wire, should get you at LEAST 90% of the way there...............better ways to spend your money..................Maybe I'll try some 12/2 romex just for fun. :)

schubert"Audio Art is the most value for money on the market .If your listening is primarily rock, Anticable will do fine"

That is amazing how would any cable designed and intended for use in Music Reproduction Systems possibly distinguish on its own the genre, style or orchestration of the music signal that it is transmitting at any single point in time?

I've tried most all cables mentioned here in last 40 years .Audio Art is the most value for money on the market .If your listening is primarily rock, Anticable will do fine , not bad on jazz either .

I’m just having fun guys. And yes, packman was a ton of fun in the 80’s

kjl1065 .....If you want a really,really great pair of top notch IC’s..the Gabriel Gold brand will deliver in spades!!! I have a full loom in my system and they are the real deal for the money spent. I would highly recommend them to anyone that has an ear for high end,high quality sound...on a not so high end budget.

What’s with all the left-over 80s dudes? There isn’t really any controversy any longer but I have to admit it’s a real good opportunity to play Sniper, Stalker and Whack-a-mole, you know, games like that.

Try Triode Wire labs cables. 30 days return. Pete is a great guy to deal with - always responds fast, delivers on time and his cables are very well build, flexible and sound great. I have the top of the line obsession and in my system its better than the Shunyata sigma HC. The TWL digital bested the latest Audioquest tornado power cords ion my system.

The capacity of humans for self-delusion is unlimited - Mr.Spock

The studios that record the music you love use the cheapest cable they can find when they are building. A $10000 cable will sound the same as a coat hanger dipped in rubber.

spend money elsewhere.

FYI for those interested:
https://www.dagogo.com/audio-blast-schroeder-method-interconnect-placement/

Related forum threads are here: https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/new-teo-audio-ics-who-has-them 
here: https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/anyone-try-teo-gc-jr-interconnects-yet
and here:
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/doug-schroeder-method-double-ic

It’s generally applicable to any cable. Review the threads. 

Schroeder uses clarity Cable 

For IC’s running between sources and your preamp, try doing the Schroeder Method of parallel assembly. Check at least 3 cable threads for details. 

Audioquest.....
RV who invented your model 5 supplies AQ wire with his model 7 power amps
yes there are other fine wires also
i would take a well executed copper wire over most silver any day
i am getting excellent results using some very affordable Kimber and Shunyata wires in our condo system w Vandersteen Treo
the Reference system uses AQ Wild and I think the law of diminishing returns splendidly illustrated @elizabeth is right 
BTW
properly setup IMO few speakers at any price rival the 5
.....
enjoy

Mr. Vandersteen uses Audioquest in his setup systems.  If you like solid wire, Audioquest makes some pretty nice equipment.  No, I am not affiliated with them.

Check out Silnote. I’m extremely happy with their entry level XLR-to-XLR and XLR-to-RCA interconnects. They only sell direct. Middleman margin is quite substantial. My dad is also a big fan of Wireworld.

I was going to say..  90% is really easy.  99% is harder.  Beside that, just call The Cable Company and borrow some cables.  It’s cheap and easy.

https://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/audio/indexmob.htm

98% performance for 10% cost 

Good Listening 

Peter

rewire to Mogami and Kimber.

Kimber 👍🏻

I bought expense cables...Heard no magic and returned them.

Used Tara Labs RSC ic's and speakers cables.  Wonderful for from $150 to $400.

http://www.bluejeanscable.com
Interesting company.

They've done all my cables, and I think I'm at least at 90%.

Three more ways to improve the cables you have.

1. Send them to the cryo lab pronto. Even if they were cryod at the factory, which most high cables are.

2. Establish which direction is the best direction.

3. Burn them in on a burn in device or a burn in track on a test CD. Even if they’ve been in your system for years this will further improve them.

Regarding the phono cable, if perchance your EVO III cartridge is the high output version you will want to keep in mind the following statement in the cartridge’s manual:

Note: If your receiver or pre-amp has capacitance loading capabilities, a Sumiko high output moving coil cartridges should be loaded with a value no higher than 200pf, and ideally below 100pf.

According to a review I’ve seen in "Soundstage" the Thor TA-3000 phono stage (if that is the model you are using) does indeed provide a selection of four different load capacitance settings.

You would presumably want to use the lowest of those four settings, if I’m correctly assuming that the numbers in their statement refer to the total of wiring capacitance plus phono stage input capacitance. But given that the tonearm cable and the connectors that are involved will probably present a load capacitance in the area of 20 or 30 pf or so, keeping the wiring capacitance in itself in the area of 100 pf will not be possible with many phono cables.    ***And that has no particular correlation with price.***    For example, the Purist Genesis phono cable has a capacitance of 45 pf per foot, while the far less expensive Signal Cable Silver Resolution phono cable is 18.9 pf per foot.

If your EVO III is the low output version, though, while cable capacitance would be considerably less important, minimizing it would still be preferable. See the information provided by Lyra cartridge designer Jonathan Carr that is quoted at this link, which is based on test results with a low output moving coil cartridge having the same output voltage rating as the low output version of the EVO III. And note the conclusion:

Comparing the simulations of the 3 cables shows that higher capacitances in the tonearm-to-phono stage interconnect cable demand lower resistor values at the phono stage input to control the resonant high frequency peaks. This in turn reduces the cartridge’s dynamics and resolution, and can also worsen tracking ability.

Good luck. Regards,
-- Al

The audiophile’s dream.

I built my own out of solid silver cables with silver plated XLR connectors and never looked back. 

https://www.partsconnexion.com/CONNEX-66070.html

I mean, yes, I could play the cable game, or I could be satisfied with something that sounds great, is inexpensive and uses materials it would cost hundreds of dollars if bought retail. 

Best,

E