Clarity, great price,

difficult to terminate yourself, to get a truly open low end you really need to bi-wire (hence my lowering the value rating by 1)

Back in 2002 my wife decided to buy me a set of speakers for my birthday. She laid out a budget number that she would pay for, and let me run free at VanL speakerworks. After exceeding my planned budget by stepping up to a terrific pair of PSB Stratus-i speakers (4Ohm), I needed to go easy on cable cost. John from VanL set me up with a single terminated run of 4VS, and said that I could come back in the future and get it bi-wired if I did not like the sound. Agree with Salby that the clarity was good, but I was somewhat disappointed with the low-end.

After about 4months of listening to this somewhat disappointing configuration, I brought the cables back and John reconfigured them as a shotgun bi-wire of 4VS (not a job for DIY-ers). I hoooked these up and even my wife looked up from what she was reading and remarked "WOW! that sounds GREAT!" The lower frequencies completely opened up, and the midrange and mid-highs retained all the lush detail as before. I had now experienced the acoustic version of a Claritin commercial, where every instrument came alive in vivid color.

More recently, I bought a new Outlaw 7x200 power amp, and decided to run only a 5.1 system so that I might bi-amp my mains. Rather than break up the bi-wired shotgun and potentially lose the lower frequencies, I retained the biwired 4VS for the low frequencies only, and added another 4VS run on a separate amp channel for the high frequencies. The clarity in this new setup is the same as with the shotgun bi-wire, but now i have significantly enhanced dynamic range due to the higher current capacity of driving thru 2 separate amplifier channels per speaker.

Now I am thoroughly convinced that these are some of the best value in speaker wires, but must warn that you really need to at least bi-wire with these to get decent low-end response.

Similar Products Used:

Kimber 8TC, Kimber Kwik-12, Monster 10AWG

At this price point: removes pain of brightness, has plenty of detail for most people, full lows, great mids.

Not as crisp as some cable.

The year 2002 was an upgrade year for us, with a change of speakers and sub and endless experiments with speaker cables and interconnects. Chief thing we were trying to tame was harshness from metal tweeters in speakers and from our CD player. Won't bore you with the names of all cables tried. There is much to be said for shelling out $300-500 for top-notch cables. But for under $200 the Kimber 4VS have been a great choice. Actually bought these on the basis of reviews of 8VS (search ecoustics.com) which talked about the music "pouring forth effortlessly" (which is true) and the dealer recommended using 4VS in a shotgun biwire--equivalent characteristics to a single run of 8VS but with more clarity. The dealer was right. Presentation is relaxed and free--curing much of the digital harshness in the system. These perhaps cannot match Nordost or Mapleshade cables for soundstage, but these are extremely good cables that give joy in the listening experience and don't hurt our ears. Full lows and plenty of detail on top--we listen to a lot of classical and that is a great test for any speaker cable.(but realistically, there is probably not as much detail) as a brighter cable would have). Kimber's stranded construction really requires that they be terminated by someone with experience. My dealer was great and set up the shotgun biwire for no extra cost. It was a relief to find these after so much experimentation. For the price point, a wonderful find.

Similar Products Used:

Nordost Super Flatline, Mapleshade Double Golden Helix, Kimber 8TC, DH Labs Silversonic T-14, Alphacore Goetz M1(2), Tara Labs RSC Prime 1000

I have to admit that when you need a good neutral cable that does a lot very well at minimum cost, there isn't a better choice in my mind than Kimber 4VS. I have used it with great success wired in three different solid state amplifier combinations and two speaker brands; systems ranging in price from $4,000-$15,000. In fact, I stepped up to 4TC and the first thought that came to mind was how good the 4VS really was, so much so, that after 10 years of collecting dust in my basement, I recently brought my trusty old 4VS back into service with an Aragon 8008ST amp combo biwired to Snell B-minor loudspeakers and it sounds great!! The stuff is clean and dynamic - it also does a very good job revealing detail. Yes, I'll probably step up to either a 4TC/8TC or 8TC/8TC biwire sometime in the future, but I'm in no hurry!! Try some, you'll agree!

A neutral sounding cable. Too airy as compared with some wires that cost twice as much but it's probably the best for the price. Actually, I think it's the only Kimber speaker wire that's worth getting. If you're building a budget entry level system, this is definitely your best choice. 5 stars for the value.

I have tried Kimber 4PR, 4VS and 4TC speaker cables in my system and in my opinion, the 4TC is by far better than the 4VS, even though both use the same conductors. The difference is in the dielectric or insulator, where 4TC uses teflon instead of PVC thus bringing the conductors much closer together because teflon dielectric is much thinner. The dielectric properties are also different. 4VS is still quite OK for its price, but to me the extra $ for the 4TC is a worthwhile expense. 4PR is definitely lo/mid-fi although it is still better than most cheap cables. For budget audiophiles, I reckon 4TC is the way to go.
3.5 Stars for the 4VS.

Wish I could afford the 4AG!!

I replaced a set of Perfect Interface 12ga with the Kimber 4vs for the uppers, and left the PI stuff for the woofers in biwire configuration. The high end cleaned up quite a bit, with bass seemingly tighter and more controlled. It can be a pain keeping all the 4 conductors together to insert into a binding post, so a spade connection would probably be easier and safer for preventing shorts.
The solid copper strands can also be brittle so be careful when connecting.

There was a definite improvement, but very very slight.
Anytime there's an improvement in my system, it's worth $50.(for a 10ft pair)

i got this cable to upgrade from radio shack special speaker wire. I never believed this cable stuff, but i now am a believer. This cable cleaned up the low end and actually produced an ilusive soundstage that i had never heard. One end is terminated in pins to fit my speakers (stupid spring clips), the other end is banana plugs. my other stuff is:
NAD 314 amp
Marantz 38 cd changer
PSB alpha speakers
ultra link interconnects

i give it 4 crazed speakers just because i don't think that there are any perfect 5's at this price. i paid $75 cdn. for 2 10 ft. lengths and ends.

bought the biwire of these and they are so much better then the basic monster cables i had previously. Was kinda wary about the whole biwire thing, but on music is it so much better.

more life than the 4PR, more detail and presence

can be a little hard edged with loud music

meatier low frequencies than 4PR and more lively, for a modest increase in price. Worth the extra.

I approached this as a complete skeptic, thinking nothing is going to sound any different than good 16 gauge zip-cord. was I ever wrong! I started with Nordost Flatline Gold II, because my dealer said it would give small speakers " More Bass". I found them to be too bas heavy, with the bass tubby and muddy sounding, and the high end robbed of air and dynamics. So I returned and trade for Kimber 4VS,and when I hooked it up what Iheard completely amazed and astounded me. Every aspect of the sound of my system had improved! I was blown away. At $3.00 a foot, this is the most remarkable inexpensive upgrade you can make. Next is Kimber PBJ interconnects. Run to your nearest dealer and buy this stuff. It will make any modest mainsream system sound as if it's been instantly upgraded to one costing twice as much. Everything is more organic and musical, allowing you to listen to the music, instead of the speakers. Five unequalled stars!