Expensive cables are Pretty, but that is about all they are. I can see some value to the lower end of high end cables, but above the low end of high end, it is hard to justify the price.
While I restrain myself on high end cables, equally I would not recommend the cheapest cables you can find. In the mid-range of consumer grade wire and cable, you will get pretty much every thing you need.
Generally to stop the endless and pointless circular debate on wire and cable, I say budget about 5% of the total system cost. When it actually come time to buy, you can go more or less as you please, but 5% at least sets some restraint on the budget. And is pretty consistent with what people actually do. Most are in the 3% to 4% range, varying greatly with the details and nature of the system, so budgeting about 5% is pretty reasonable.
Using a USA site simply because I know they have a wide range of
AudioQuest cable; the
AudioQuest Golden Gate 1m RCA-RCA are about $68. The
AudioQuest Sydney 1M RCA-RCA are $178.
The truth is, the Golden Gate actually look nicer. The Golden Gate claim
"Perfect Surface Copper", if the copper is so good in the Golden Gate, then what more could the Sydney possible offer? Yes, the Sydney make claims for
"Perfect Surface Copper PLUS", but cable with less than Perfect Surface would work just fine.
So, while I would have no problem paying the considerable $68 for the Golden Gate, it seems insane to consider the $178 Sydney models. What could they possible offer, when you consider common £15 to £25 cable are just fine? So, I would accept that the Golden Gate are about $40 ego and $20 performance. And, I'm OK with that.
I won't tell you what to do. Buy expensive cool looking cable if you want, but stay restrained. Above the low end of high end, there really isn't much there but ego and hype. In reality, most will be completely satisfied with the mid to slightly above mid-end of common consumer cable and wire.
As to XLR-Balanced to RCA, as others have indicated, it is pointless. If you can't go XLR-to-XLR than just stick with RCA-to-RCA connections. The best benefit for XLR is on slightly longer runs. But most runs for Audio Cable that you are likely to encounter are well within the working range of RCA.
The same with AudioQuest Ethernet cable. If you are willing to buy AudioQuest over common CAT6 cable, fine. But don't be taken in by the hype. Stick with the lower end AudioQuest cables. And in reality common but high quality CAT6 pre-made cable would serve you just as well.
A quick check indicates that the
AudioQuest Vodka is about £700 for 5 meters, that's very excessive. Beyond all reason and measure.
AudioQuest Vodka RJ/E Ethernet Cable 5m - Audioquest - AudioVisual Online - Home Cinema and Hifi Specialists
That is more than £100 per meter, there is just no way to justify that expense.
One would expect this to do just as well, while looking slightly less cool (Forest 5M £85) -
AudioQuest Forest RJ/E Ethernet Cable 5m - Audioquest - AudioVisual Online - Home Cinema and Hifi Specialists
Also note that the longer connectors on the Vodka are going to put more strain on the Connector that they are plugging into.
The reality is, you will probably get perfectly good service with this cable - Value Line CAT6 10m (£10) -
Valueline CAT6 FTP Ethernet / Network Cable 10m - Ethernet Cables - AudioVisual Online - Home Cinema and Hifi Specialists
Or this QED 5m Ethernet cable (£30) -
QED Performance Graphite Ethernet Cable 5m - By Brand - AudioVisual Online - Home Cinema and Hifi Specialists
Even the
AudioQuest Cinnamon is massive overkill at 8m for £189 -
AudioQuest Cinnamon RJ/E Ethernet Cable 8m - Audioquest - AudioVisual Online - Home Cinema and Hifi Specialists
I have nothing against generally expensive cables, but you need to really exercise restraint.
So, should I win the lottery and start to put together a more expensive system, I would be governed by two rules -
1.) Budget roughly 5% of total system cost for all wire and cable, and use that as a guideline to restrain my spending.
2.) Keep it under 3-digits (£100). It is hard to justify £100 for any cable, so as long as you stay under that, you will not get too excessive in your spending.
But of course ... that's just my opinion.
Steve/bluewizard