Originally Posted by Mike Halloran
I live in an electrically noisy environment in the middle of the Silicon Valley. All of my cables are star-quad from SESCOM via Markertek including TS and RCA.

The bottom line on star-quad: If you can hear the noise reduction, you need them. If you can't, you don't. I do and that makes them worth every penny.

Sescom Audio Cable Canare Star-Quad 1/4-Inch TS Mono Male to RCA Male
Though star-quad only deals with RF/magnetic pickup, not electrical noise originating within the, e./g., laptop itself.
FWIW, most of the internal noises I personally have had have been when the laptop/tablet has been on charge. If desperate, unplugging the PSU often cleans things up. YMMV.

I wish I'd known about star-quad fifty years ago when I lived close to and line of sight of the Crystal Palace TV transmitter in London. I can't now remember how much of TV and FM it transmitted 20MW or so, I think. Mind you, it used to get right into the phono cartridge, so may not have helped that much anyway. crazy

Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful.
AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11
BIAB2025 Audiophile, a bunch of other software.
Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts
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