budget Cables / Interconnects recommendations?

Wire may or may not be a factor based on the rest of your system and the acuteness of your hearing.

The NHT Super Twos are really excellent speakers (I own Super Zeros and Super Ones in my Home Theater), however I question if they are resolving enough to enable you to detect differences in wire. They may.

The big question is what preamp you will use. I'd suggest selecting the preamp and then trying some different wire by purchasing various examples used on Audiogon and reselling what you don't like.

Here's a tip. The Mogami interconnects sold by KAB Electro Acoustics (www.kabusa.com), are really good and very inexpensive. I own a pair of the "Blues" ICs, which cost about $25 for a two meter pair. KAB specializes in modding Technics SL1200 turntables, but their accessories are also excellent values.

I have owned and used many different cables and interconnects in the past 33 years. IMHO from my experiences, except for a couple brands, most of the interconnects between active components (pre-amp, power amp, CD player, etc.) sound pretty much the same, especially in short length (1-2m). Their effects are so insignificant that you won't hear a difference during normal listening. The only place an interconnect can make a significant difference is in between a MC step-up transformer and a phono amp. There is absolutely no need to buy expensive interconnects. You will get better results investing that money in other areas.

And now, this thread will follow the usual path traveled by all wire discussion threads.

Some poster will adamantly defend audible differences in wire.

Other posters will adamantly defend no audible differences in wire.

Never the twain shall meet....

ha! I fully expected that to happen. I just did it to start fights! But seriously, thanks for the help. One comment that struck me was to pay attention to the cable between my phono-pre for a low ouput MC and the pre-amp itself. Are there cables that are better for such things than others? Another concern is that the Rega has attached interconnects- There seem to be many options for replacing these as well, and since I will be using a farily low output cart is this somethign I shoudl consider?

Mr Bean,

I'm wondering I'f I'm missing out.

Very few dare question the consensus wisdom of the "extraordinary" differences available from changing cables. Even Best Buy emphasizes that it is essential to purchase high quality accessories/cables when you buy components. Plenty of advice on what to buy is available everywhere. Just like fashion magazines tell you what to wear, what is "in".

I have a question for you. Could all this be making you energized more by fear/desire/conformity than practical benefit?