Recommended AES/EBU cables under 800 dollars

Second the Photon/ Cyberlight . If you want something a little softer and with more weight, the CRL/ FIM Gold and Stealth Sextet are awfully nice too, as is the Sonoran Lambda, JPS Aluminata and Concierto Violin. But my fave is definitely the Photon with the new battery pack.

Steve3859 -- yes you are right. The HT website has it at "$3000+" but it must be a typo because Tweekgeek and Needledoctor sell it for $1500. Given all of the improvements, it seems the new version would be the one to try once one comes along used although the MSS deal on the older was pretty amazing.

Actually, the list on the Photon is $1500. You just missed a 2m at MSS Hi-fi for $395

Harmonic Technology Cyberlight AES/EBU digital cable 2m XLR $395 (MSRP $1300) SOLD to Asia!

mit proline digital reference. it is a $1500 cable but you can get it in your range from joe abrams.

Buy the $30.00 BJC XLR cable.

Then put the $770 towards acoustic room treatments, more music, going to live concerts, personal savings, Roth IRA, charity, a little personal vacation, SLR digital camera, new pipes for your motorcycle, pay down mortgage, or whatever else that might provide enjoyment for you.

Thank you all very much for your responses, and thank you also to those of you who e-mailed me separately.

Sidssp -- of course this is the old debate on this forum that has occupied many, many lines of text about whether you get what you pay for in audio gear, and also whether expensive cables are worth the money versus Blue Jeans or similar budget cables.

Since you asked my opinion on this controversy, I'll answer by saying that in my experience in audio, more money doesn't always mean better, but it often does, and especially before you get to the extreme tail of super-expensive stuff.

As I noted in my post, I've tried some of the mid-priced cables and haven't thought much of them, whereas the $1100 Sogon, priced used at $750 sounded better to me. But note, that "under $800" can include anything under $800. So I don't think that I even stated that I believe more money equals better.

I've recently seen several Kubala-Sosna XLR Emotion digital cables listed here on the 'Gon in your price range. IMHO: This is one of the better digital cables out there and I have tried many.

Why do you think more money equal better?

if you could ever audition a van den hul "the second", i would say give it a go.

while i have never actually heard the second as a digital interconnect specifically, most of my digital connections are now van den hul's "first", which is the single-ended version of the second. and i use some seconds as analog interconnects and they are amazing in some applications.

as a digital interconnect, the firsts are "pry it out of my cold, dead hands" good.

Kimber Illuminations Orchid(at least 1 meter long).

IMHO, it's worth giving the Kimber Select Series a try. You might be able to whip up a pair of KS-116 or possibly even 1126.

I think the HT Photon is a $3500 cable. Hard to see, even used, how that would end up in the sub $800 range, but thank you for the suggestion.

Harmonic Cyberlight Digital Link (now called Photon)