the eternal cable question

@meambler , Mark, since you asked, I am using High Fidelity CT-1E interconnects from my VPI Prime to my Allnic H1201 phono preamp AND from my Allnic H1201 phono preamp to my ARC Ref 5 line preamp. Probably out of your price range though.

I have also owned the Cerious Technologies Graphene Extreme and Amadi Maddie Signature interconnects. Of those two, the Amadi probably works better in my current rig, to my ears.

However, if you are having troubles with grain in your system, silver (Amadi) may not be for you. The CT GE are much warmer and fuller sounding, though too dark for my system/tastes. I don't think you would find the CT GE would sound grainy though.

Unfortunately, yes, counterfeit  Audioquest are indeed a big problem. I'm sure that many for sale on sites like Audiogon are fairly safe, but markets like Ebay tend to flood the market with fakes, and AQ, XLO, and Tara Labs are high up on the list of counterfeiters.
Small manufacturers like CT and Amadi are not really picked on by counterfeiters.

To update this thread...

I went with a pair of Teo Game Changers and I'm very happy with the sound that runs through them. Miles better than the Amadis, CT Graphenes, Morrows, Gabriel golds, and the Cabledynes

FWIW,

I've found a "lesser cable" of any brand with eichman connectors sounds better than a higher level one with RCA's .

I can't sleep at 5 AM on a Saturday so I'm trying to be coherent writing about cables! ugh

My take on cables has always been to try the out-of-the box designs because trying a .99% copper vs. a .999% copper from different companies seemed like the Chevy vs Ford thing and there really wasn't enough improvement to bother.

I liked silver for years and just like Cu they can be implemented well or poorly. Silversmith silver was the most profound silver cables I ever used. Gave me goosebumps when I installed the IC's and more of them when I added his speaker cables. Jeff does not build power cables. I assume his Palladiums are even better. They are silver ribbon versus silver plated Cu. Regardless, these are over your price range

HFC with their magnetic technology are really onto something, but if you knew they actually run the signal through the magnet and not inside the magnet before you tried them you might avoid them. Again, a different technology versus "just wire". And to many, a pleasing result.I own 3 pairs of their RCA adapters and often move them in and out of the system.

Morrow does something ingenious that some others do and he avoids the skin effect of signals jumping from wire to wire by using very small silver plated wires all individually insulated form one another. I still have a pair of MA-5's hanging in the room if I ever need another IC because they are very good for the money. Not a cheap cable to just hang around and not be used but a good cable if you need it.

On the different technology path I tried all the pieces of the Cerious Tech graphene extreme series. This is adding very fine highly conductive graphene fibers to traditional wire wrapped up into something different from the rest of the herd. I use their power cables and have not found a speaker cable to replace theirs. The best SC's for full body and weight I have ever tried. Highly recommend their SC's.

Staying with the different technologies theme, I tried and still use the Teo liquid metal Game Changers IC's. Completely different thinking and gratefully, a completely pleasing sound. They really lit my fire for truth in sound. Instruments sound like real instruments.

So you can see that my set-up is now comprised of liquid metal, graphene fibers, and sometimes, magnets. And if I have to use traditional wire, it is configured to avoid some common pitfalls of wire touching wire.

Having said all that, the biggest improvements I get are still with the electronic pieces. I never saw the benefit in spending more money to get someone's .999999% wire in some crazy weave they call proprietary. I am sure they sound fine but I like the designs that solve technical issues with creative solutions.

Mark, I think you can easily better the BJC's without breaking the bank. There are some nice suggestions here but be careful not to just incrementally move up with your dollars. You might not get a significant improvement over the BJC but only different sounding results.

There is only one way to know how any cable is going to perform in your system. Try it!

Go to THECABLECOMPANY.com and access their lending library.  

Also see JPSLABS.com, their cables are superb.