Suggestion on XLR Cables

contact Benchmark Audio

Canare Star Quad L-4E6S is the best you can find, much less than 1K.

I would contact Ralph at Atma-Sphere. 
He can give you great information regarding balanced cables and can provide you cables, as well, at a super price point.
Bob

Shadorne   +1 on the Canare - unbeatable for the $ 

Available terminated form Blue Jeans Cable

https://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/balancedaudio/index.htm

Good Listening


Peter

Go to this pro audio site   https://www.markertek.com.

You will find Canare and Mogami Pro XLR cables.

Cheap and SOTA..... IMO.

All you need.

I  live in Mpls MN and just visited Paisley Park studio last weekend . It was quite the experience getting to see studio a, b and c . Lots of cables hanging on a wall in one of the studios . They were a brand i have not heard of , Livewire . Also many without the brands name on them .

If you are willing to experiment read my thread regarding Tchernov cables.
And forget all this pro junk, they use them because they want to save a lot, that's all. Ralph, at least at times, uses Purist Audio cables for shows, no matter how much he might talk about Mogami. He is doing business here not socializing for the sake of it.

Audio quest for me

High Fidelity or Transparent

Canare might be what Benchmark sells...

use that 'extra' money on room tmts.

Livewire is a brand sold at Guitar Center, an "economy" version of Mogami and Canare. Really, really cheap.

I've been using a pair of Cerious Technologies XLR cables for a while now and am happy with their performance. Won't break the bank either. Extensive thread on these at the gon.

https://btpa.com/IC8402XLR-XX.html. Best sound I have found in an interconnect. They will make them with RCA using the same Belden cable also. I sold all my high price name brand wires and went to the Belden 8402 for ever interconnect.

agree on the Cerious Graphene, as well as the previous Cerious Nano which can often be very inexpensive...

Canare Star Quad L-4E6S is the best you can find, much less than 1K.

+1

@shadorne 

I think this is cause for celebration, as it would appear you and I can actually *agree* on something :) 

@gdhal   

It is also ok to disagree. I respect differing views. Your points are always valid and presented logically - unlike some of the more crazy assertions made around here (mostly by Geoff 🤪 but I still enjoy many of his comments)

@shadorne 

Thank you.

@shadorne 
@gdhal 
@pbnaudio 

Do you find the Canare Star Quad L-4E6S has a consistent sonic characteristic?  e.g., ., full bodied and warm vs lean and neutral?  I don't have an opinion having never used this IC so looking to your experience with it.  

Thanks.

@inna 
I found the Tchernov site but it looks like they might be Europe only.

@ghosthouse 

I would categorize the quality/sound characteristics as full bodied and neutral (not necessarily lean or warm). I think one of the key characteristics in the design of the cable is the "Star Quad design". I've also used straight wire musicable II (level 1) which I believe is the same type of cable design http://www.straightwire.com/interconnects.php and also sounds great.

However, I think the version of this type of cable from blue jeans cable is preferred and perhaps "better" because of the connector (Neutrik NC3-B) https://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/balancedaudio/index.htm

I think the key ingredient here is the star quad design and the fact that you shouldn't have to spend thousands or even hundreds to obtain it (assuming the length is 3 feet or so per cable, and 2 are needed).

Thanks, @gdhal 

ghosthouse, no, they can ship to the US from Berlin. I talked to them a few times. But this is not the best option, I guess. The best option is to deal with the Canadian distributor. He doesn't have everything in stock but he would order what he doesn't have from them quickly enough. I first got Tchernov Classic MK II RCAs a few weeks ago and liked it so much that I just ordered the Reference MK II. Both Tchernov people and Jim from Canada assured me that the Reference MK II would be on a totally different level. We'll see. If it is not I can return it, no problem.

I recently changed my CD player / preamp cables from balanced to single ended and the improvement was stunning . That said , I would contact The Cable Company and try different ones to see what you like . You can buy them at a discount as they are used . If you need more highs , Nordost or Tara . More warm , Cardas or Gabriel Gold . Good luck .

You need balanced cables, not tone controls. So no "more highs or mids or lows". If you think that you need this, your equipment or component synergy is not good.

The Canare I recommended above is a very high quality cable and if bought from BlueJeans Cable comes expectedly terminated. A balanced system is not nearly as finicky with cable choices as a non balanced one. IMO the Canare has no "tonal" trait, its neutral.

I do not buy into the "Cable Craze", I however believe in solidly engineered and manufactured cables and probably much more important connectors and terminations.

For a economy RCA cable I recommend and use, albeit I do not have much unbalanced equipment, the BlueJeans LC1

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

For an example I have a client in Los Angeles area with a very nice high end system whom had terrible a hum situation, he used high $ cables from a well known manufacture. Installation of the LC1 through out in his system completely cured this with much improved sound as a result.

Good Listening

Peter

I've seen some Synergistic CTS (used) at about $1000.  Cable's got great reviews and I like their power conditioner.  I'm not high on another AC connection (for the active piece of the cable).  Audience SE (1m) available around $1000, SX about $1250.

I've heard some of these "giant killer" cables.  I'm not saying they don't punch above their weight because a # of them do but they are bettered by some others I mentioned.  Now are those worth the price differential, that's up to each person to decide.  BTW, I've got Duelund's in the system now. Don't know what the fuss is all about. None of their wire (made into cables) sounded good in my system. Not as XLRs, not for speaker cable. Maybe it's a synergy thing.  Always too bright for my ears.

By the way, Mogami Gold cables are terminated with Neutrik XLR's.

@bradluke0

Just yesterday I had a very similar experience. Won’t bore anyone with the reason for doing it but changed out AQ Columbia XLRs between DAC and Preamp for Cardas Parsec SE. Was very surprised by the improvement heard. Both pieces are fully balanced and from the same mftr. Does the improvement reflect a difference in wire quality or (in this instance) an advantage of single ended vs balanced? I’ll have to try a Parsec XLR IC to decide.

@inna
I pretty much agree with bradluke though differences in wire are more complex than "more highs" vs "more warm". As system performance has improved judged by the intelligibility of vocals, separation of multi-tracked voices and instruments, increased stage depth and clarity of micro details (a partial list), I’ve found the effect of wire choices on the overall sound of the system to be more evident. Just like equipment components can be unhappily or happily combined resulting in that magical "synergy" from the most fortuitous combinations, it makes sense to choose wire that enhances the sound however you describe the sonic attribute it brings.

ghosthouse, I treat cables as components, no less no more, and I have found that the higher you go the more performance you extract from the same set-up without changing anything else. But I do not try to adjust the sound, only bring out more of it. I believe, that sound manipulation should be done at the level of speakers and maybe cartridge and table. The rest is 'wire with gain'. Our active components are really often better than they seem. No, my Redgum integrated will not sound as good as Gryphon with any cabling, there is always a limit, of course, but signal transmission importance is obvious to me.

"I treat cables as components...."

@inna - Agree 100% with that part of your statement; however, I see each link in the chain as an opportunity for "sound manipulation" with the ultimate goal being, as you say, "more of it", i.e., more music!

ghosthouse, I generally categorize audiophiles as belonging to two schools of thought - school of realists and school of dreamers or romantics. I mostly belong to the former with elements of the latter.
Also, I view speakers as both devices and even more as instruments.
Two equally good guitars may sound very different. When choosing speakers I choose the instrument first, device second, but both are important. The question of turntable and cartridge is a complicated one, but I would say that I choose more a device than instrument here.

Cables do have their own sound and can be used to fine tune systems. I was floored when I replaced the balanced Tara for a single ended Tara ...night and day . This is between an ayon 2s player and a Carry slp-05 preamp , so you are talking excellent pieces here . BTW.... nobody "needs balanced" connections . It was my buddy that told me to go back to single ended , he was right.

"nobody "needs balanced" connections" which is why they are NEVER used by professionals!

Home users don't need balanced. Didn't know I was on a pro site.

Just to be clear.... Home systems with normal runs don't need balanced. Jeesh...lol

It depends on the equipment and length, and you always should compare if you can.

Some electronics made for home/audiophile use are recommended by their designer/manufacture to be used in balanced mode. There are other reasons for balanced operation than merely to drive long runs of interconnects. Ralph Karsten of Atma-Sphere is quite adamant on the subject. 

Goertz Sapphire Silver is the best (Silver conductor)
Even new is way below 1k
You can buy new here:
https://www.thecableco.com/sapphire-silver-xlr.html

Just to follow up ....I spoke with Ayon  as I wanted to know about the "amp" switch on the back of my CD player . I mentioned my experience switching between balanced and single ended between my Cary and the Ayon player . He said " balanced wont sound as good , that Cary has  crappy balanced circuitry ". So I looked up the Stereophile review ....sure enough , the balanced tests were bad but great in single ended . You never know , lol .

Yup - that can happen 

I wonder if Cary used some cheap op-amps that caused that?

I don't know what they did . Its like a $7 or $8k preamp so there shouldn't be anything cheap in there . Its a good thing my F6 amp only has single ended inputs otherwise I probably would have used balanced there also , it would have sounded doubly wrong . The only reason I removed the balanced cables and tried single ended as it had a ton of gain and I could only use about 1/4 of the volume knob , now I can use over half . Glad I tried them as it sounds mo better .  

So I bought a pair of KLEE Acoustics TruBalance Interconnect XLRs that arrived today to use with my NAT Audio Magnetic Preamp. I got that preamp about a month ago to replace a PS Audio BHK. I like the NAT better but thought I could use a cable upgrade. I’m running Duelund wire XLRs from my PS Audio DSD to the NAT and Audioquest Columbia XLRs from the NAT to my PS Audio BHK amp. Not that it matters for my question but my speakers are Wilson Duettes.

Anyway, I swapped the Duelunds for the KLEE cables and switched on my system. Hmmm. More like hummmmm and volume ~6db lower than with the Duelunds. Put the Duelunds back in, everything’s back to normal. I called the dealer who was really cool about it. Suggested I put the Duelunds back and swap the Klee for the Audioquest(running NAT to Amp). I was feeling lazy but plugged the Klees into OUT2 of the NAT, disconnected the Audioquest from the amp and plugged in the Klee there. Still low volume issue and hum. Put back the Audioquest (NAT to amp). Low volume still exists, same for hum. Weird I think. Until I remember Klee cables are still plugged into OUT2 of the NAT (though not plugged into anything on other end). Unplug the Klees from OUT2 of the NAT. Volume back to normal, hum gone. Plug the Klees back into OUT2 (unconnected at amp end). Hum and lower volume issue return.

Either a) something is seriously wrong with the KLEE cables (left & right) which I doubt (as does dealer) or something about the KLEE really upsets the NAT. Almost like the NAT is shorting out though obviously not fully. Dealer has been a prince and offered to take the KLEES back but I’m curious if anyone that has a lot more knowledge in this area than I do has any idea what’s going on.

Thanks in advance.

High Fidelity Reveal XLR
magnetic have beat out all I have tried. They are $1k. Their RCA IC’s for $700 are just as good. 

My recommendation in your budget would be HiDiamond 2 XLR’s. Very open and musical sounding, very good bass. Punches well above it’s weight, besting some cables at twice the price. Well constructed and reliable.

Shadorne & pbnaudio +1 on Canare Star Quad L-4E6S,  unbeatable for the $

As you pointed out Blue Jeans is one source, also Cable Solutions

https://cs1.net/products/canare/L-4E6S_balanced_audio.htm

The High Fidelity Cables Reveal XLR is worth a trial! It worked so well that it eliminated my Absolute Sound class A rated preamp. The Reveal XLR cable goes from my DS DAC to PS Audio M700 mono blocks. 

I thought that XLR cables, since they were originally designed for runs much, much longer than usually found in home stereo systems, were the least quality dependent of all the ICs.

That being said, I recently upgraded from Belden/Neutric generics to Zu Missions because I could get them for a fraction of the original list. I haven't done a side-by-side yet. The Zu's take 400 hrs to break in. ;^)
I will say that I was not blown away when I made the switch.

...I will say that I was not blown away when I made the switch.

@2channel8

I would say that is normal and should be expected. However, were you able to detect *any* difference at all?

Curious,
I am a long time reader, first time poster.  What are those mid to high end cables (RCA or XLR) made out of to warrant such premium prices (few hundred dollars per cable)?
I make my own cables using Mogami pure copper bulk cables and Neutrix gold connectors.  They, in my opinion, sound great and cost around about $20 per cable.