BEST INTERCONNECT FOR $25 EACH?

The mogami 2549 sound really good, you won’t be disappointed, just put on nice connectors and your set. 

I’m still up in the air and starting to watch videos to build my own. If I buy some Duelund wire and make it unshielded, how do I add a drain line?

Are the Duelund makers in this post not using a drain wire?  

Years ago I purchased cables from Innersound $50 per meter pair.  If you can find some used I'd go for it.

The manufacturer explained that all that is needed for them to sound good is a have good wire (he used Belden) and a solid connection to the plug.

Innersound was a high end electrostatic speaker manufacturer.

You can probably get pretty good cables if you check your local vendors and find someone who will build them for you.

Why use unshielded cables? You're going to have all those IC's next to power cords (which may or my not be shielded), transformers, and the AC lines into the receptacles. Possible RFI and EMI.

@tls49 

The shield should be connected to the component with the most robust ground, which is often the amplifier. Some phono/pre are even battery powered, whereas amps are not. Hence the suggestion.