Kimber Kable 4PR & 8PR Speaker Cable Review

[admin]

Overall I am a big fan of the Kimber 8PR speaker cables and I plan on utilizing my review samples in my reference system quite heavily not just because they perform well but because the package as a whole is of excellent quality and design. I fell in love with their banana terminations and wish that their competition would go back to the drawing board and make more cost effective cloned solutions. If you are on the market for high end exotic cables and your goal is transparency over glorified tone controls, then I highly recommend the Kimber 8PR speaker cables. It’s refreshing to find an exotic cable vendor that discloses all performance metrics of their products, doesn’t wrap them in snake oil and delivers a reference level performing product that scores high in pride of ownership. Highly recommended!




Discuss "Kimber Kable 4PR & 8PR Speaker Cable Review" here. Read the article.

[Smackrabbit]

To me, the focus on the WBT binding posts doesn't seem to be a big deal to recommend the cables. WBT posts are available easily from a lot of retailers, and you can easily terminate your own cables and install them yourself. Since, aside from the quality of the WBT connectors, the Kimber 8PR didn't seem to offer much, if any, benefit over the 5T00UP cable from Blue Jeans, it seems the best value proposition for someone would be to buy their cable from Blue Jeans, buy the WBT connectors from someone else (WBT also sells crimping sleeves and tools to install the connectors yourself more easily), and make your own high quality cables. Since so many other companies sell their cables with WBT connectors as well, to focus more on the Kimber specific aspects of the cable would be more useful to me.

[westcott]

I bet if you asked real nice, Kurt would even terminate the WBT connectors for you. May cost you a little extra, but I am sure it would be more cost effective than paying the Kimber retail price for same.

Heres the link for more info on termination pricing and current connector offerings.

http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/speaker/index.htm

The only real factor for good sound quality from a speaker cable is low resistance and high conductivity. 10 gauge 5T00UP cable should provide all the attributes necessary.

[foeth]

By placing a review on speaker cables including listening tests for products which are obviously a form of a commercial (can you try not to type Axiom in a review?), the credibility of Audioholics and the author is degrading and the reliability of all your articles suffer as a result. I find it somehow disturbing that it is refreshing that no snake-oil statements are made by the vendor. Is that the new norm? Wow, we weren't even scammed?

[Haoleb]

By placing a review on speaker cables including listening tests for products which are obviously a form of a commercial (can you try not to type Axiom in a review?), the credibility of Audioholics and the author is degrading and the reliability of all your articles suffer as a result. I find it somehow disturbing that it is refreshing that no snake-oil statements are made by the vendor. Is that the new norm? Wow, we weren't even scammed?

I know, lets all petition that someone else offering a free "service" not ever review anything besides old extension cords hacked up for speaker cables and never mention the amp they happen to be using because we're so damn tired of all the subliminal evil messages anything other than that would include.

[foeth]

Well, you're either objective, or you're not. Mentioning the amp you're using (and your sponsor) is fine by me (I suppose readers of this site generally realize this). Audioholics can go any direction they please because it's their site and all that. However, would be a shame considering it's one of the few sites without the nonsense seen on so many other sites. If that's just my problem, well, I guess it is

[bandphan]

By placing a review on speaker cables including listening tests for products which are obviously a form of a commercial (can you try not to type Axiom in a review?), the credibility of Audioholics and the author is degrading and the reliability of all your articles suffer as a result. I find it somehow disturbing that it is refreshing that no snake-oil statements are made by the vendor. Is that the new norm? Wow, we weren't even scammed?

2 posts and this is your input Im not really one for speaker cable reviews, but if esthics and termination are important to some, who am I to complain. Contribute something to the thread or move along and dont read

[foeth]

Actually, it was my first post. I've been reading the site for years but felt the need to push the reply button. Doesn't matter, the argument on the number of posts adds or detracts nothing to the argument and a critical view is not at all at conflict with a contribution.

There is now a review on this site from a company that says on its website

"The notion of power cables offering improved system performance has become a hotly debated topic. The interaction between a power cable and a component has often been misunderstood or dismissed. Research and experience have shown us that this interaction should not be underestimated. A power cord has direct correlation to the musical signal."

(The second sentence is true, however. The interaction is misunderstood or, when understood, dismissed).

About Audioholics: "This site is a direct result of what happened when a group of Engineers got frustrated with marketing gimmicks in the Audio Industry and took it upon themselves to pursue the truth and educate the masses."

[CraigV]

I have been using Kimber Kable products for years in my system. Yes, there is a difference, even if not all people can perceive it. I only wish I could afford the 8TC wire to bi-wire my speakers.

Heresy? Placebo effect? No, I am one of many who readily notice a real world difference in all components, and frankly I grow tired of the bashing to be endured by saying so. Several members have extolled the virtues of buying high-end gear in posts without reprisal, which in all fairness is how it should be for everyone.

If you believe there is no difference, that is accepted. Why should believing the opposite be maligned?
Disagree & debate, yes. Telling people they’re wrong, crazy or buying into hype, no.

[FirstReflection]

I've no problem at all with reviewing products of all price brackets. I've also no problem at all with scoring the performance highly if, in fact, the performance is good! It seems totally believable to me that these Kimber speaker cables perform very well. The measurements back up the performance claims.

But to score them 3 out of 5 for value is misleading IMO. Such a score can be interpreted in one of two ways:

1) We compare these Kimber cables to other cables costing the same price. If that is the comparison, then they ought to score higher in value because these cables actually do no damage to the signal and the connectors are of high quality. Many other esoteric, over-priced cables act as a passive EQ and alter the signal and/or use ineffective connectors. If we're comparing these over-priced cables to other over-priced cables, then these ones are a higher value because they actually perform well.

2) On the other hand, if we are comparing these Kimber cables to ALL speaker cables that are out there, then they are a TERRIBLE value. Do they measure well? Yes. Sure. But so does the bulk speaker wire from Bluejeanscable. There is no magic here. Nice, thick copper speaker wire will measure well and transmit the audio signal as close to perfectly as possible. Outside of aesthetics and the connectors, the only other reason for the high price is pure mark-up.

But a 3 out of 5 score for value basically says that these Kimber cables are about average, which is totally out of whack.

If the performance is good, then the performance is good. Simple as that. But the price here is ridiculous. So either you are paying way more money because you are misled to believe that these Kimber cables perform better than much much less expensive wires, or you are determined to spend a lot of money regardless, in which case - at least these do no harm and perform the way a speaker wire ought to.

Do I hate Kimber? No. Because at least they are selling a high performance product. But I DO question how any sane and educated person can actually recommend them. The ONLY reasonable recommendation starts with, "if you are determined to spend a ridiculous and needlessly large amount of money on speaker cables, then..."

The responsible thing to say would be, "these Kimber cables perform well, but under no circumstances should you ever think it necessary to spend this much for equally good performance."

I'm starting to seriously wonder about Gene...