doug,
i can't really say which is better, the 39 dollar price tells me they are not exactly a performance wire, carbon with fiberglass? not what i would use.
here is a very informative site about wires. it seems there are a few flavors of conductors being made, most suck. good wires will be priced.....well....let's just say you will get what you pay for.
http://www.magnecor.com/magnecor1/truth.htm