Audioquest ICs - polyethylene or polyethylene foam, or polyethylene foam in oversized tubes, Teflon, Teflon foam, Teflon foam in oversized tubes. Metal can be very pure but standard oxygen free copper has still thousands of crystals per foot(impurities reside between crystals) while the best metals have one crystal being made in hot forms that allow to cool metal slowly preventing crystalization (Ohno Continuous Cast).
My interconnects are 0.5m XLR Acoustic Zen Absolute (silver in oversized foam Teflon). While typical cable capacitance is about 30pF/ft - Absolute is 6.1pF/ft
How does it sound? It is more refined than previous 10x cheaper 0.5m XLR AQ King Cobra. Everything is a little bit better. Sound is slightly smoother, faster, cleaner with the same neutral balance. Is it worth paying 10x more? Perhaps not (for my system), but I got very good deal (and it is going to stay forever). It is for me point of diminishing returns. Even with better system and better room my ears are still the same. This point of diminishing returns is different for different people. Some are satisfied with lamp cord and it is great - saves a lot of money.
My interconnects are 0.5m XLR Acoustic Zen Absolute (silver in oversized foam Teflon). While typical cable capacitance is about 30pF/ft - Absolute is 6.1pF/ft
How does it sound? It is more refined than previous 10x cheaper 0.5m XLR AQ King Cobra. Everything is a little bit better. Sound is slightly smoother, faster, cleaner with the same neutral balance. Is it worth paying 10x more? Perhaps not (for my system), but I got very good deal (and it is going to stay forever). It is for me point of diminishing returns. Even with better system and better room my ears are still the same. This point of diminishing returns is different for different people. Some are satisfied with lamp cord and it is great - saves a lot of money.