While can see why some would not favor this cable, it does have some wonderful traits in my system. Have Thiel 2 2 speakers, Hafler 9505 amp and kimber in other places. This KCAG replaced PBJ in my system recently.

Well, when I first heard it in there, I thought it sounded like stereo under a microscope, and too BRIGHT.

not been in the set up long, so cannot say what long term reaction will, be, but i think it is only going to get better with time.
LOTTA detail. Great 3D image. No need to listen loudly to get the whole message. These things happen to be very important to me personally, and are part of what I am looking for.

Right now....out of possible 5, would say 7 stars, but as said above I think it will be closer to 10 in time.

On the very 1st day was sure would they would soon be going back to Audio Advisor. They sounded bright, too close, edgy, and couldn't find a CD that it flattered. Then I found one later that day, and 2 cuts that sounded great. Then another CD by Cowboy Junkys that ALL sounded excellent, well it has just kept going that way. Now I am pulling the recordings I know are poor, obscured, edgy, etc, and having a hard time identifying problems, and hearing lots of new stuff on each disc. So..... either I am adjusting to the cables sound (I would prefer this option, as am an engineer, and do not believe cables burn in) or something else is going on here, but meantime, I like what its doing to my collection. PS the KCAG goes between my CD player and the Preamp. If you can explain this phenomenon, let me know

Similar Products Used:

SEE ABOVE

Clear full soundstaging.

none known

The store let me take a pair home for the weekend to see for myself. I took them back on Monday morning as I simply could not see the $175 (used) in cables. Tuesday I hooked the CD player back up with the old cables and I could not believe my ears. Over one weekend I was spoiled. Wednesday I went back and purchased.

I am a audiofile wannabe and am learning along the way as I start to upgrade my system. I now think it makes sence to consider your cables as a component and not an accessary.

Incredible detail and clarity.

break in time of over a year or usage

Helps create a crystal clear void for a soundstage where you can hear Diana move her lips before she speaks and tap the peddles of the piano and she sings "popsicle toes."

The price isn't to bad considering the value obtained. But, the breakin period is considerable; this wire continously sounds better as it ages. no joke!!

Similar Products Used:

Kimber Kable Silver Streak

Very revealing with upstream AND downstream electronics

Very revealing with upstream AND downstream electronics

Quite agreed with most other reviews about this revealing interconnect. This wire can honestly tell if there is any weak link in your audio listening chain. I have had a system in which the only component I kept upgrading is the amplifier, others pretty much staying the same. The amplifiers are a $1,000 solid state amp, two $1,200 push pull tube amps, and a $700 single-ended triode low powered amp (OK I bought the $2,000 monoblocks version, but I am sure with more efficient speakers than 86 db MMG, the less expensive stereo version will sound equally wonderful). Prior to hearing the SET amps in my system, I had a mindset that the KCAG, as a silver wire, is BRIGHT by its nature. So I often blamed it for making my system sound harsh and brittle. Until now, when I got the ZEN amps, all the excessive brightness is gone, the music taking one a new higher level of fidelity that I only dreamed of. Words like "sweet","holographic","beautifully detailed","startling speed","articulate bass" come to mind. And if I ever change the tubes in the CAL Alpha for a unbroken-in pair, the system will tell me immediately.

My most current associated [affordable] equipment is as follows:
CAL Delta -> Illuminati D-60 -> Meridian 518 -> Illuminati D-60 -> CAL Alpha (with RAM LABS 12AX7 tubes) -> KCAG -> Decware ZEN SV83M monoblocks -> Kimber Monocle XL -> Magnepan MMG (TheHornShoppe will soon replace it).

Various power cords from AC-1 (Monarchy), Kimber, PS Audio.
AC power provided by PS Audio P300 and PAC IDOS.

Happy listening!

Similar Products Used:

PBJ, Silver Streak, XLO, StraightWire, Monster, Mapleshades Ultrathin.

Can't tell the different with copper interconnector, but all I know is silver is the best conductor.

Pure silver is the best electricity conductor in the world. It's doesn't matter if you're buying transparent, wireworld, tara labs, mit, van hull, etc. if it's not pure silver don't spend the extra bucks. Pure copper conductivity is almost identical to pure silver. Even though I used all silver wiring in my system, I just can't tell the different from copper. To those that can describe how 1 meter length interconnector sound like, I wish I have your hearing. If you have plenty of money to throw around get pure silver connector, why because they have lower resistance per meter than copper, but it's so little that it's impossible to hear with human hear. Let pretend if I were to blind folded 100 people and ask them if they can tell my system is currently setup with copper or silver wiring, there will be mix answer, but I hope 99% of the people can't tell the different. For that 1% that can describe the different, let me repeat my exact same test 20 time and let me see if you're constanly get the same result every time. don't worry the only wiring I'll be using through out the test will be copper, but of course I'm not going to tell you that. sitting there you began to judge that sound like silver(airy, warm), the next like copper(deeper bass, exellence mid), becaseu you though I have change. I really want to test those people that can tell the different interconnector. If you're spending $500 or more to wire your system, you should really reconsider. But for me, I just have money to throw around and silver is the best conductor. my tip either you getting the company lower model or go for there top of the line silver connector if they have it, don't spend any extra money for between model. Kimber PBJ or KCAG, Audioquest or audioTruth Dragon.

I replaced 0.5 meter of Kimber KC-1 with the same length of Kimber KCAG (with WBT locking RCA's) a couple of days ago. Initially, the sibilants were a bit splashy, but breaking them in with about 10 hours of Frank Zappa's "Hot Rats" on infinite-repeat did the trick. Kimber says that the break-in time for these cables is 150 hours (with most of the change occurring during the first 24-48 hours).
Elsewhere at this site, I made the rather foolish statement that I would NOT spend more for interconnects than the price of the Kimber KC-1's. But the scales have fallen from my eyes! The improvement with the (now mostly [?] broken-in) KCAG is immediately apparent. The highs have really opened up, with much more air and shimmer to cymbals (at any volume). The soundstage depth has also improved dramatically. Previously, everthing seemed to come from somewhere between 2 feet behind the plane of the speakers back to about 10 or 12 feet. Now, the depth ranges from about 1 foot in front of the speakers to about 20 feet back. In addition, I find the detail and resolution of KCAG truly amazing. Music that had previously sounded a little harsh or muddled now sounds much more transparent and "faster". As a result, it seems that I don't have to turn up the volume as high to obtain a satisfying feeling of "you are there".

I don't think that it is possible to recommend any cable for use in all systems. However, if your system is a little laid-back or polite, and you are a "detail freak" like me, KCAG might really do the trick for you. I would hesitate to recommend KCAG to anyone with a system that is already bright or forward sounding, or who prefers a mellow, lush sound.

Associated equipment:

Digital Source -- Sony CDP-XA50ES
Interconnect -- 0.5 meter of Kimber KCAG
Amplifier -- Accuphase E-406V (integrated, 170 WPC)
Speaker cable -- Kimber 8TC (2 separate runs for biwiring)
Speakers -- Eminent Technology LFT-VIII's ("A" upgrade)

(Please note that the "5-star" rating refers only to the improvement that I have experienced with the above equipment.)

The usual

Price

Just wanted to say that you're completely wrong. Silver IS the best conductor of any metal, however some people consider it 'bright' sounding when used for audio purposes. Gold is often (mistakenly) considered better, it is the third best conductor(not including alloys) in the world. The reason for using gold is its resistance to corrosion, oxidization and tarnishing - which certain metals like copper and silver are susceptible to, particuarly when current is applied. In fact, copper is a better conductor than gold. As for platinum, it is used in situations where its heat resistance and 'inertness' are desirable - mostly for laboratory type applications, not to mention its cost -nobody would ever use platinum for speaker wire. I would think if you were going to spend $400 on interconnects you would do some research on the subject.

Anyway, on to the review: Love Kimber Kables, always do the trick for me...

Detail, Imagining, Depth, Soundstage, Dynamics, and Accuracy. As my wife would put it, produces the goosebump factor in a great recording. Tremendous build quality and quality control. Designed to produced incredibly real music for a very long time.

Price...though worth every penny. So revealing that if it doesn't sound good, look at your system components because it is not this cable.

This cable allows you to hear every lyric, nuance, emotion, dynamics, soundstage, etc. of a recording. It is that good. My wife refers to this cable as a larger than $400 sound improvement. In fact, she refers to this as a component upgrade. I didn't think my cables was the weak link in my system as I previously had $200/m cables. I now know these $200/m cables were the weak links. I would suggest this cable for anyone with a $4000 and up system. If this cable sounds bright, I would play with the directionality. If you have a revealing system, you'll instantly hear which is the right direction. If it is still bright, then it is one of your components or other cables. Try listening to broadway plays with this cable. With most cables, you'll miss lyrics. Sounds might clash and sometimes sound distorted as there are so many performers and instruments singing/playing at the same time (i.e. Jesus Christ Superstar, Rent, etc). With the KCAG, you'll hear every word, enunciation, rhythmn, instrument in the proper tone, speed, dynamics all together in perfect unison. Depth and width of soundstage is deep and wide. My suggestion is you demo this cable and expect to buy it because once you've experience the goosebumps it gives you, its hard to go back.

Equipment:
Harmon Kardon CDR2
Monarchy Super DIP
Theta Pro Basic III
Quicksilver Preamp (their first model)
Audio Research VT 100 MK II
Systemdek IIX with Benz Silver Cart.
Joseph Audio RM 22 Si

Cables:
Kimber AGDL
Kimber KCAG
Sonoran Audio Cactus MK I Interconnects
Cardas High Data Digital
Audioquest Cobalt Speaker Cables

Similar Products Used:

Kimber PBJ, Kimber KC-1, Nordost Blue Heaven, and Sonoran Audio Cactus.

Build quality, shielding, performance

price

"Pure silver is the best electricity conductor in the world."

Sorry partner, gold is a better conductor of electricity than silver...so, I believe, is Platinum.


Kimber makes some incredible interconnects.

Similar Products Used:

StraightWire, BetterCables, DIY

Incredible openness; airy; vital

Very delicate piece of equipment

Just wanted to put in my two cents about the used market. You can purchase these used for under $300. Don't pass one of these up. They're a bargain at that price.

The sound? I understand the principles of signal dissipation, but these cables seem to retain a dimensionality and presence that is uncanny. When I played Back, I became emotionally involved with the music.

I have to lower the value rating slightly, because now there's great wire for under $150, but used they just blow the cheapies away on price/performance.

Similar Products Used:

Kimber Silver Streak, XLO reference, DHLabs