Opinions on Straght wire?

I've been using their lower end stuff for years in my midfi type gear (Rotel, B&W Matrix etc) with excellent results for dollars paid. Now that I've moved up to better electronics there are better options out there. But for sub $100 cables for midfi gear, it's a good value.

I didn't particularly care for the Encore II interconnects, especially when compared to the PS Audio xStream Statements (sale price).

However, what works for me may not work for you.

I don't have much experience with other
cables, but I really like Straight Wire
Crescendo and the less expensive
Serenade. The Maestro II is pretty nice
too.

I think the Maestro and Maestro II (very similar except for a thicker outer jacket on the II) are one of the great bargain sleeper cables in audioland, both for ICs and speaker. I used them for years (years, because I couldn't find anything better in their price range.) I have different cables now (although I still run a pair of Maestro ICs to my sub) but they do more things right than any other cable design in their category. I even A-B'd them with the more expensive Virtuoso, both IC and speaker, and the Virtuosos weren't really all that by comparison.

I have tried 2 straightwire speaker cables and interconnects. The Serenade is a nice cable for the money and very forgiving of system deficiencies. Straightwire Virtuoso is not so forgiving of deficiencies and was harsh when used with a Citation amp and Denon preamp. When I switched to an EAD preamp/amp combination the Virtuoso became one of my favorite cables with strong mid bass charachter and resolution. It was far better then the Serenade when used with the EAD components. I biamp my speakers and prefer Audience AU 24 or Stealth PGS for the treble and the Virtuoso for the mid bass.