1. Make sure whatever your choice, make sure that the cable is a TRUE balanced design and not just a coax with XLR connectors. For exaMPLE, THE Cardas Golden Reference has a different implementation in XLR vs. RCA mode, as it should.
2. I would start with an Innersound balanced cable. Short money. Then, when your tastes become educated, you can upgrade to a higher priced cable. That's part of the fun!
3. You may not find an advantage running the SONY player in balanced mode. It implements its balanced connection rather poorly unless of course you have one of the modified units.
4. You might consider Cardas Golden Reference as an upgrade option. I would also run this in RCA mode with the Sony into the X0.2. I'd also look at the Empirical cable -sound engineering and great sound.
2. I would start with an Innersound balanced cable. Short money. Then, when your tastes become educated, you can upgrade to a higher priced cable. That's part of the fun!
3. You may not find an advantage running the SONY player in balanced mode. It implements its balanced connection rather poorly unless of course you have one of the modified units.
4. You might consider Cardas Golden Reference as an upgrade option. I would also run this in RCA mode with the Sony into the X0.2. I'd also look at the Empirical cable -sound engineering and great sound.