Signature Series Balanced XLR Interconnects

$2,064.25

Length

Shielding Standard build (unshielded) Mamushi (magnetic shielding)

Connectors

XLR ↔ XLR

Curing

Professional cable curing is included at no additional charge. Yes = please cure my cable for the recommended 200 hours before shipping. No = please send my cable as soon as it is built.

Yes No

"I thought love was only true in fairy tales...............................then I found the Snake..............now I'm a believer"
Connected a 1984 NAD 5120 TT (modded) and a 2023 Black Ice tube pre-amp PLUS
a 2005 Wilson Benesch Full Circle TT and a 2025 Sutherland Mini Loco SS pre-amp THRU
a Pathos Aurium Headphone amp (allows multiple connections) TO
a Pathos LOGOS 1 integrated amp by means of the Signature Series Hybrid XLR cable.......................RESULTS = Totally Bitchin!

Today I put a new pair of Snake River Signature XLR cords between my PS Audio Stellar phono preamp and my Hegel H190 integrated amp, in place of an Audience Front Row RCA pair.
BIG WIN for the Snake River interconnects -- more air and space, more natural images set in better-defined 3D space, beautiful tonalities, more lifelike ... breathtaking!
I've now gone all Snake River in my systems, replacing much more cost Audience wires. The difference is astounding, and it's been corroborated by a couple of friends who have very good ears.

This cable brings tremendous power and depth to my music. There is a new incredible layering of the soundstage — the stage now feels wider and deeper and taller. The low end resolution and clarity are impressive, and the highs are all present while feeling balanced with the rest of the frequency spectrum. Tonally, my music now has body and roundness — I don’t have to pick between resolution or tonality — I get BOTH. And the music sounds more real and present — there is a richness that feels immersive. Also, these cables are beautiful and it feels a shame to hide them behind my components!

This was the first Snake River cable I tried in my system and was instantly impressed by the improvement over my existing very well reviewed and similarly priced interconnect. Additional weight at the bottom end without boom, more detail at the mid and top end and a superb combination of added clarity without harshness and more compelling involvement with the performances, across the full spectrum of my musical tastes. Absolutely superb cable and I would recommend it to anyone. I' ve since changed my entire cabling loom over to Snakes and the improvements only get bigger as more cables enter the system.

Derek S, 01/10/2015

I have to admit that I have not been an advocate of cables in the past, however I have had a minor conversion in the last 5 years, where I have experienced a sizable improvement in system performance due to a change in cables. This has been both educational and somewhat humbling since I dismissed cable technology for so long as, ah.. Snake Oil.

So why did I volunteer to review the Snake River Audio cables when offered the opportunity? Maybe it was because the company is homed in Idaho and I have always liked Idaho; or maybe it sounded fun and I did not know what I was getting into. For whatever reason, I received a full complement of cables to review: a power cable, interconnects – both XLR and RCA, and speaker cables.

I realized that I needed a methodology to follow with this review so I decided to start with my phono stage using the XLR interconnects and then add the power cable to my phono stage as a two step experiment. I would later add the speaker cables to produce a total Snake River Audio solution. As a second phase, I would move on to digital, using the RCA interconnects and then add the power cable. I also selected a group of six albums to serve as my reference as I switched the cables in and out.

Phono
My phono stage is a Simaudio LP5.3, without the optional and separate power supply. It has both RCA and XLR outputs and I usually use the XLR for most listening. This offers the opportunity to compare the RCA directly against the XLR cables. In this scenario you are obviously comparing the amplifier design, differential vs single ended, as much as the cables. I happen to own both RCA and XLR version of the Nordost Blue Heaven interconnects and have spent a considerable amount of time comparing between these two outputs before deciding that I prefer the more detailed sound of the XLR over the warmer sound of the RCA. What would the result be from switching in the Snake River Audio interconnects?

Snake River Audio makes three levels of interconnects all named after snakes: Adder, Cottonmouth and Mamushi. I reviewed the Mamushi interconnects which are their high end model. All of their cables are handmade in the USA and are of high build quality. The Mamushi cables are finished in a jacket that is of a vibrant blue and purple color and they definitely stand out. Connecting the XLR into my system was easy. The cables are not the most flexible cable out there but they are not the stiffest either and you get an impression of a solid connection when you push them into their proper positions.

I listened to my first two albums, Grover Washington’s - Mister Magic and Fleetwood Mac - Rumours, both albums I know fairly well. The sound seemed more fluid and a bit more relaxed. There was nice high end detail and tonal balance. The drum strikes had more sharpness and definition and there was better inner detail for the instruments. This was not a night and day type of a change but it was a definite improvement. On the Rumours album, the song – The Chain, the bass was great. I’m kind of a picky bass person but if you have heard the tonal texture of a good bass you recognize it and this was it. Lastly, the sense of space, meaning the three dimensionality of the sound was improved. I don’t get great imaging in my system but it was getting better with the Mamushi interconnect.

I moved on to Heart - Dreamboat Annie and had more of the same experience: great bass, improved inner detail. Previously when I had opted to use the differentiated output over RCA I gave up some warmth in the sound but now the warmth was back and I had all the detail to.

At this point I deviated from my planned listening material to play Nazareth – Close Enough for Rock ’n’ Roll, a high school ‘ish rock LP which I’ve always liked. It sounded great with drums, cymbals, distorted guitars and vocals. I then switched back to my Nordost Blue Heavens and replayed the LP. The sound was noticeably flatter and while the bass was still good, it was not great. Also I noticed that the music seemed lower in volume when going back to the Blue Heaven. I’m careful about keeping my volume control consistent but with the Mamushi, the dynamic impact was improved and it gave a sense of louder volume.

By this time I had a couple of hours of listening under my belt and the sound seemed to be improving. It might be that I was just getting used to what the Snake River interconnects could do but I think there may have been a modest amount of settling-in that the cables were achieving. I can’t explain it but the more I listened, the sound was continuing to improve.

Add A Cottonmouth
So now it was time to add the Cottonmouth power cord. In all the world of electronics, the improvements made by power cords have to be the hardest to explain. To say I’m skeptical is an understatement but as I stated at the beginning of this review, I have witnessed the positive effect they can have. I plugged in the 2M Cottonmouth which is a substantial hunk of cable and prepa...

Signature Series XLR interconnects

The Signature Series XLR interconnects represent the award-winning foundation of the Snake River Audio design philosophy. Deliberate conductor balance. Disciplined geometry. An uncompromising commitment to musical realism.

The Signature Series combines pure silver, pure 24k gold, and high-purity OFHC copper in carefully considered proportions. Silver brings speed, clarity, timing, and pinpoint imaging. Gold adds musicality, weight, and harmonic richness, expanding the soundstage with bold character. Copper reinforces foundation and authority, anchoring the presentation with stability.

In a balanced XLR topology, symmetry and stability become even more important. Two signal legs must track each other precisely while rejecting external noise. The Signature Series architecture maintains that balance, allowing the benefits of differential transmission to be fully realized.

The result is music presented with composure and natural flow. Clean edges without glare. Full body without thickness. Space that feels open, yet images remain locked in place.

Balanced. Refined. Proven.

Mamushi (shielded) version

The Signature Series RCA and XLR interconnects are also available in our Mamushi configuration.

In this format, the conductors are sandwiched between strips of medium-strength multipole magnetic material. This magnetic structure provides an additional layer of EMI and RFI mitigation without introducing heavy shielding or excessive capacitance.

The conductor recipe inside the cable remains exactly the same. The Mamushi version is not re-voiced or altered in balance. It is the same Signature Series performance, with added environmental protection for systems that benefit from it.

Same sound. Additional shielding.

REVIEW!
Read the review on the Signature Series cables
in July August 2022's The Absolute Sound.
Click here to check it out!

The Absolute Sound July August 2022 Cover

Proudly Made in the USA | Veteran Owned

Built by hand, by someone who gives a damn. From my shop in Idaho, straight to your system.

Built by Hand, One at a Time

At Snake River Audio, nothing is mass-produced. Every Snake River Audio cable is custom-built from the bare wire, raw materials per order. No shortcuts. No outsourcing. Just real craftsmanship, by me and my team, one cable at a time.

Want a specific length or connector not listed? Shoot me an email, we’ll make it happen.

Lead Time & Curing

Once your order is in, it goes into the build queue. Refer to the Build Queue indicator on our website for the current turnaround time. Once its turn comes up, we’ll hand-craft your cable and, unless you opt out, run it through a 200-hour curing process before shipping. That means it’s almost fully cured, or "burned in" and ready to perform the moment it hits your system. A little bit of settling time is always suggested, but for the most part, they're ready to go!

Build queue is typically about 8–10 business days, and including curing, most orders ship in about three weeks. But please refer to the Build Queue Indicator for up-to-date reference.

You’ll get automatic email updates from the website throughout the process, including tracking once it ships. If you don't see them, check your 'spam' folder. Be sure to mark these emails as "not spam" to ensure future updates.

30-Day Trial. In Your System, On Your Terms

I get it, you need (and should) hear it in your room, not some showroom or hotel suite at an audio show. That’s why we offer a 30-day risk-free trial. If you're not blown away, return the cable in like-new condition and get a full refund, (minus shipping and processing fees). Read more details about our return policy here

Less than 3% of our cables are ever returned. In fact, over 40% of our customers come back for more. That says more than I ever could.

Trade-In Program

Got a Snake River Audio cable you want to upgrade from? Let’s make it easy.

We can accept genuine Snake River Audio cables for trade-in. Just contact us first at SnakeRiverAudio@gmail.com. Once received, we’ll evaluate it based on condition, age, and type, and assign a fair trade-in value, usually 50–75% of original retail.

We list used cables at near break-even, so your trade-in value will reflect actual resale (minus payment and shipping fees.)

I am currently working on a process/partnership to be able to accept non-SRA cables as trade-ins. If you have cables that you don't need any more, even other brands, email and let me know what you've got. I'll need make, model, brand, length, terminations, age (if known), and a couple of pictures to be able to give you a close estimated trade-in value.

Please note: During sale periods, trade-ins are discretionary and handled case-by-case.