Interconnect recommendations

they were my weakest link until I changed to locking connectors and other methods to assure system balance.

now when I mess with any cable, nothing inadvertently moves which can cause a slight imbalance of a single source, or the whole system.

I bought 2 sets of component video cables with 3 rcas with both ends locking, peeled them apart, and ended up with 3 pairs, color coded which is also helpful.

I bought locking connectors from parts express and converted my existing

https://www.parts-express.com/Locking-RCA-Plug-Solder-Type-2-Pair-091-1270?quantity=1

the XLR’s I use have locking connectors (not all do).

not always, but often XLR gives a slightly stronger signal strength than RCA, which, for the same volume, will use a lower position on your preamp’s volume control, many think the 12 o’clock position is best. just another factor when choosing xlr or rca for home systems with short runs when xlr is not truly needed.

and, the jacks on my vintage McIntosh mx110z tube preamp were corroded and undersized, audio-classics replaced them all with new gold plated rca jacks, I sleep better!

@signaforce not sure what you mean by budget is open but TMR has a used Mola Mola Tambaqui and there’s a used dCS Lina on USAM. Both satisfy the small footprint requirement. Here’s the good news…both DACs may eliminate the need for your streamer with Lina’s ability to be controlled via dCS Mosaic and Roon for Tambaqui. So that’s the price of the dac minus aurender and usb cable which will help pay for portion of the DAC. Potentially…after you compare and evaluate. 

You should be aware (and maybe already are) that the May DACs are not currently available new. I consider that a shame because I have a May KTE and I'm very pleased with it.

As far as interconnects, my go-to's in the past have been the Zavfino Fusions, and I still consider them to be excellent. They were, however and in my opinion, outdone by a bit of a sleeper cable, the Xangsane 4N pure silver. I also bought quite a few various knockoff AQ Dragon cables. I like all of them except for the connection between the May and the Bliss headphone amp (I'm an all-XLR guy). The knockoff Dragon's sounded smeared and a bit sloppy here so I went back to the Xangsanes and the clarity was immediately restored. I still use a knockoff Dragon XLR between my pre and power amps and it sounds much better there but I'm tempted to try a Xangsane there, too. I also really like all the other Dragons I bought (mainly power cords plus speaker cables and some HDMIs). 

The suggestion to avoid silver may indeed be a valid one but the Xangsane's would allow you to see for yourself without breaking the bank ($250/1M). The reason I tried them in the first place was because of a glowing report here at AG about one of their power cables. 

I started this thread thinking I would spend $1-2k on a couple interconnects. You have all convinced me to buy a DAC first. 

I am absolutely doing the DAC first. The question then becomes which is next: expensive interconnects or amp replacement with lesser or my current interconnects? Which would be the greater impact. My guess is DAC, then amp, but there are greater minds than me out there. 

Hopefully I was more clear. 
@audphile1 I would very much like your thoughts on this since you have owned Coda & Pass and are very familiar with my Moon.

Thanks!

One more question for all, if i upgraded all my cables to just the Transparent Super (let alone the Ultra) that would be $10k.
I know I need a new DAC, but would I be better served upgrading my amp to something like a Coda #8 or Pass Labs & keeping my cables or upgrading to lesser cables like the Zavfino or Verita(s)? 

I am not so sure the "lesser" Zavfino or Veritas sound inferior to the Transparent Supers. Are you implying this because they are less money? Keep in mind you can double the price of the cables you buy direct as there is no dealer charging 50% markup. Most of the time one gets what they pay for, but not always.

I can’t speak to any comparisons to the above brands regarding speaker cables or interconnects, but my Zavfino Silver Dart power cords are not out of place alongside my Shunyata Alpha V2 or Audioquest Hurricane in my system, and I think it would compare quite favourably against any Transparent power cord under $3000. I did own Transparent Plus speaker cables a long time ago, and Transparent of course have updated their line many times since then, but for what its worth the Silversmith Fidelium’s I have now which replaced the speaker cables that replaced the Transparent Plus’s are much more "transparent", natural, and less hifi sounding.

But after the DAC upgrade, all the above cable companies will allow you to trial their offerings- Transparent through the dealer of course- so try them all and decide which suits your tastes best at no risk other than shipping costs. Are you in the US? Try the cable company.