Suggestion on XLR Cables


I’m looking for a suggestion on reasonably price high-end XLR cables. By reasonable I mean <=$1k. I prefer pre-owned cables because I hate paying retail, especially for cables.

The rest of the system is

PS Audio DMP Transport
PS Audio DSD Dac
NAT Audio Magnetic Preamp
PS Audio BHK Stereo Amp
Wilson Audio Duettes
Synergistic Powercell 10 UEF Conditioner
Acoustic Revive RTP-2 Power Distributor
(2) Acoustic Revive R-777
3 Furutech Flux 50 Power Filters
Various Furutech Power Cables
Dueland XLR interconnects
Acoustic Revive Speaker Cable

Most of what I listen to is Jazz, Vocalists (Diana Krall, Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald) or Pop/Rock (Eagles, James Taylor). Occasionally classical but then mostly solo piano.

Thanks in advance.





ihmeyers
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.
@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.