If you go for Van Damme, try and find someone who uses Neutrik Profi-plugs - they really do make a big difference for not too much more money. Most V-D stuff is adequate, the one big standout are their Silver Series ‘Lo Cap 55’ cables - they’re what I use in my own system for unbalanced connections, and I use Neutrik Profis on them - but the plug covers need filing-out to accommodate the wider-than-usual cable. Good luck finding someone making these into RCA pairs…
If you can scrape the cash together (£60/1m pair), you’d do well hitting-up Mark Grant. Neutral, well-made, and bullshit-free. They’re what I’d use if I didn’t know how to make my own…
If you need balanced, the best cables I’ve ever found are also hilariously cheap - Hosa Pro microphone cables (you’ll need to order x2 to get a pair). I have foo balanced cables here up to ~£300, and these are comfortably better than any of them, and the longer the run, the more obvious the difference. You’ll find them on ebay.
Protip: cables are a Belief System with two main sects - one lot desperately trying to convince themselves their £10,000 USB cables makes a huge difference, and the other lot desperately trying to convince themselves their shitty Amazon 99p jobs are just as good. Both are equally delusional - reality is nuanced, but decent materials, design, and build matter.
Thanks @Mrs_Maureen_OPinion and @thebiglebowski. I meant to mention Mogami as I’d seen them recommended too. Will take a look once I’ve sorted out the annoying brats home from last day of school
FWVVLIW, Cheapskate audiophools wank like petshop-monkeys over Mogami, it’s a minor cult, and it beats me why - like most of Van Damme’s offerings, they are very, very average.