Gemini, with the usual YMMV caveat, I'd have to say that Music Metre cables have been extremely satisfactory in my system ( Assemblage 2.7 Platinum dac fed by Cambridge CD4se, Music Reference RM5 tubed pre, Belles 150 hot rod power, Maggie 1.6's.) I replaced Music Metre III's (which were excellent) with their Calibre's and everything improved even more. Very smooth but revealing, nothing edgy or glaring. Dynamic, well extended bass. See Audioreview.com for opinions that concur with my experiences. They are frequently auctioned on this site for prices within your budget and well below retail.
best interconnect for less than 100???
I have a decent system: Totem 1 (biwire version) on dedicated custom-made stands (weighing more than 30lbs each stand!), Sonic Frontiers SFL-1 preamp with NOS Telefunken 12AX7, Kinergetics Research Chiro C-200 amp, and an Ultech UCD-100 cd playback. My speaker cables are Audioquest Indigo plus, interconnects are Synergistic Research Mark 2 from preamp-amp, and Straight Wire Chorus from the cd player to the preamp...I am looking to replace the SW Chorus... This is a very budget cable that received high priases particulary from British magazines...However, as godd as it is considering that it only retails for $40, I find the midrange a bit shut in and wanting in transparency. Any suggestions on a pair of either a .5m or 1m interconnect for my Ultech to the SFL-1...My budget is very limited: less than $100 for a used pair....I really don't beleive in spending a lot to get good sound from cables.....HELP!!!!