Need Opinions for Different Cable Manufacturers/Cable Designs


I have a McIntosh 200wpc receiver [MAC7200] and Focal Sopra 3 speakers - and am using low-grade cables. I'm looking to vastly improve my system with a complete cable upgrade. I like a warm sound with lots of clarity and detail and naturalness. I have been reviewing tons of literature and am intrigued by Cu/Ag and Cu/Ag/Au combinations. I will probably buy used, and look at offerings in the midrange to lower high-end range of products. Cannot afford the best each manufacturer has to offer. Looking to spend up to $2,000 for 3m speaker cables and up to $700 each for RCA and XLR cables. Again, I hope to buy used.

 

I am interested in opinions on the following manufacturers:

AUDIENCE

DH LABS

PURIST AUDIO DESIGN

SILNOTE

SNAKE RIVER

Please feel free to offer your opinions on these and any other recommendations you may have. I really appreciate your time and advice!! Thanks!

kinarow1

Showing 1 response by larryi

I haven’t done a lot of cable swapping, but I have heard enough to have a general impression of certain brands.  I like Audio Note cables—warm, harmonically rich and smooth sounding.  To get the kind of clarity you seem to want, their silver cables might do the trick, but the price is quite high even if you can find used cables. I use both their interconnects and speaker cables.  
Another brand with a similarly rich sound is Acrolink.  There copper cables have a bit more top end than Audio Note.

Of the brands you listed, I have heard, and like, Snake River.

For speaker cables, the Silversmith Fidelium cables sound very promising—detailed, but not harsh or thin sounding.