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In the mid-90s, at San Francisco's Ultimate Sound, a Kimber dealer, you had run into a repeat customer, "Brad." Brad lived in Oakland/Piedmont, somewhere above where Pleasant Valley turned into Grand Avenue. In February 1998, I had the brand new KS-1130 balanced line-level interconnect, since supplanted by the KS-1136, reviewed here. Brad invited me over, and in those days, you had to use paper maps. I brought the Kimber KS-1136 and other Kimber interconnects.
So 90s. My friend Scylla drank Jamba Juice. Her jeans fit her waist and hips, but then were too long. So she had to roll them up. Anyway, in late February 1998, the Bay Area received El Niño-fueled rains. So when Scylla drove me to Brad's house, she wore capris (long pants could have gotten wet). Since it was raining, Scylla didn't just drop me off. She parked, and then accompanied me.
When Scylla and I found Brad's house, we were greeted by both Brad and another 40-year-old man, "Ford." It was then obvious to me and Scylla, that Brad and Ford were gay. But before we could say anything, Brad asked, "Are you a couple?"
No, Scylla and I have never been romantically involved. After being introduced to Scylla, Brad and Ford had the decency, not to ask, "Where's Charybdis?"
De rigueur for audiophiles, Brad offered alcohol. But Scylla and I were non-drinkers. Scylla explained that she had to drive, and, when she was a student at UC Berkeley, knew about too many date rapes. Scylla then asked for hot tea. While sitting, Scylla kept the mug on her pelvis.
From observing Brad & Ford's behavior, and looking at their framed photos, Scylla thought that the men were not just friends or housemates, but a couple. Although Scylla was, by 1998, sympathetic to gays, she and I didn't have the right vernacular. Same-sex marriage was years from being in vocabulary. Scylla innocently asked, "If two men were to get married, who's the bride?"
Ford graciously and kindly said, "I think you'd simply have two grooms."
Scylla had a small binder of CDs. Brad and Ford put her on the spot, about what music she liked most (dance music to lite rock).
Scylla thought to herself, "OMG, I better not play [Shania Twain's] Man! I Feel Like A Woman. It's too late for [Jim Brickman and Martina McBride's] Valentine. New Edition's Can You Stand The Rain might not be appropriate."
I don't know what got over Scylla, who said, "Even when I nail the moves, on a scale from 0 to 10, my dancing is no more than a 4." She then proceeded to play Rockell's "In A Dream." Brad & Ford's system consisted of a generic CD player; PS Audio Ultralink DAC; a new Sonic Frontiers LINE-1; a PS Audio power amp; and some black-colored bookshelf loudspeakers. When Scylla put on some disjointed dance moves, Brad and Ford looked at each other, and had that "maybe we aren't so bad" look.
I'm not sure, on a scale from 0 to 10, how you'd rank the Kimber KS-1136's XLRs. They are the same Switchcraft model, as found on Kimber's lesser-priced models. But they replaced the rubber base with cocobolo wood. Uh oh, this wood is found on batons, chess pieces, cue sticks, guns, and knives.
Brad and Ford liked the cheaper KCAG better than the then-new and more expensive KS-1130, between the PS Audio Ultralink and Sonic Frontiers LINE-1. Scylla and I did not disagree; she preferred the KCAG, for being more open and lively. However, we were so ensconced with the LINE-1's pretty gold-colored faceplate, we forgot about the rest of the system, including the cables. I do not currently have an old KS-1130 side-by-side with a KS-1136, but the latter supposedly utilizes more conductors.
In 1998, Scylla already had empathy towards gays. However, that visit to Brad & Ford's house put her across the line. Brad and Ford were patient, gracious, accommodating, and understanding hosts. In the 2000s, and until COVID-19, Scylla would march in Pride parades.
Kimber now produce three models of Select series balanced line-level interconnects. They only differ in conductor metal. The KS-1136, shown here, is all-silver. The KS-1126 sports a 2-to-1 silver-to-copper ratio. And the KS-1116 is all-copper. At present, I do not have any KS-1126 or KS-1116 on hand. However, we have a plethora of other balanced interconnects, against which to compare the KS-1136.
Stay Tuned,
-Lummy The Loch Monster
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Topic - Kimber KS-1136, Part 2 - Luminator 22:58:05 08/05/22 (1)
- RE: Kimber KS-1136, Part 2 - fantja 03:48:11 08/12/22 (0)
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