Cable Asylum: REVIEW: Kimber Kable KS-1030 Cable by badman

Model:	KS-1030
Category:	Cable
Suggested Retail Price:	$1200
Description:	silver braided around a core-IC
Manufacturer URL:	Kimber Kable
Model Picture:	View

Review by badman on October 25, 2001 at 12:15:04
IP Address: 207.172.121.27

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for the KS-1030

Well, first off, this is a darn expensive cable. I didn't buy it, it was given to me. Mine is 3/4M long. I am quite familiar with braids and their behavior, having done quite a bit of DIY with them, and having several KK products (PBJ, KS 1030, KKSV-1) So, I was expecting a sense of speed, cleanliness, and very accurate performance. I wasn't wrong, but I did not have any idea the sort of rich musicality this sort of cable could provide.
This has been in and out of my system for about three months. The out times are just to see what exactly stinks without the cable. I used it to replace some DIYs at first listen, the KS-1030s without break in. The DIYs were helixes of my own design. The KS, right away, sounded like music. Nothing else. There is NOTHING with which I can characterize this cable. It doesn't have a sound. There is nothing I can say. The music improved dramatically in every aspect, clean, rich, detailed, balanced, neutral, holographic, take your pick. They're all there. I test this against primarily lower end cables (sub $100) and there is no comparison. They sound broken. Harsh, sloppy, flat. I can't give much more, because this cable always does the same thing wherever it goes. That thing is-nothing. It just doesn't alter the signal. There is perhaps a richer sound than ABSOLUTE neutrality from the connectors, but I can't say, and don't care to. Everything this cable touches sounds more like itself. Build quality and appearance are both very nice.
Praise? Absolutely. It's the nicest cable I've ever used. Nothing else can compare in my experience. I have used it in various places, always without any particular character to pin down, IE, uncolored.
I love it, and wish I could afford to buy some more.

Product Weakness: Price!!!
Product Strengths: Totally neutral, clean, smooth, detailed.... etc.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Acurus A100 (100WPC)
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Acurus RL-11, Souped up Electrric tonalities Foreplay
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Marantz CC-67, Toshiba SD-3109, Rotel RCD 955AX, etc.
Speakers:	B&W DM605S2, Paradigm monitor 9, Polk monitor Jr 5
Cables/Interconnects:	PBJ, KKSV-1, Poth Audio power cords, DIY
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Classical, Floyd, Doors, Rap, Ska, others
Room Size (LxWxH):	14 x 10 x 8
Time Period/Length of Audition:	3 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	All kinds of tweaks
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Price!!!
Product Strengths:	Totally neutral, clean, smooth, detailed.... etc.