Hello guys!!!!
After a long use of Monster 14G speaker cable, i had the opportunity to procure Kimber VS8. Amp side is terminated to a pair of MX banana and the speaker side has been left bare and dipped in pure tin. The result is fantastic. An improvement of 30% over the Monsters.
Fantastic detailing.
Depth in perfect phase with the music. Very very musical.
Equipment: Harmon/Kardon AVR65 in stereo mode.
Speakers: Acoustic Research TSW 510
Turntable : Sansui FR-Q5 with Grado green cartridge / Brehinger Phono preamp
DAT :Sony 77ES
Blue Ray : Sony
DAC : Audio Alchemy

I am and will always be a big fan of KimberKable product's . Have been a aspiring Audiophile for the last 25 year's . And will not use anything else (if it ain't broke do not fix it) ,interesting enough how some people say there is no difference . I currently run 8tc,8vs, and 8pr thru my system. Mostly designed for music , but with home theater capabilities . Same speaker's , same equipment ,but with very noticeable differences . Depending on your budget and application you cannot lose with any of there speaker cables thru out there product line . I applaud the manufacturers of KimberKable for there developing a high quality product that will not disappoint : )

Smooooth

biwire?

Never thought switching cables from Monsters Z1 to Kimber 8vs would make such a big diference. The bass seems more in phase with the highs.. The highs on the other hand came to life with these cables. Bi-wiring did not work to my liking. The highs were a little bright..perhaps it's my room dimensions/characteristics & system (25x15 hardwood floors). My system: Onkyo 797, Polks RTi100 fronts, CSi40 center, FX500i surrounds, Def tech 200tl sub.

Similar Products Used:

Monster Z1 fronts and center cables.

Open sound stage tight base Clean clear highs

They didnt come with a Beer.

First things first, Good job Kimber. I was a little sceptical at first but as many before me I am now a true believer. The 8VS is a very nice cable clean and open. My sound stage is much larger cant find the speakers witch is just what the docter ordered. I am going to buy some 4VS for my rears to make a nice match. Again nice job Kimber.

Similar Products Used:

Audio Custom Cables 4 stran 16 gage

Solid built. Remarkably good image depth. Generally neutral sound.

Self-termination job could be miserable.

To save money, I bought a used pair and terminated by myself. It was 16 wires per end. I then simply put a usual banana plug on Amplifier end and let my Celestion 6SL take the bare end. The sound was remarkably different than the Kimbers 4TC I used. First, about the highs, the 4TC has better (or may I say, more bright) highs. 4TC sounds a little bit more extended in highs. Is that good? Depends! To my 6SL, the more extented high could mean a little too bright. If you have dull speakers, the 4TC is for you. The 8VS sounds smoother in highs, which helped with bringing more mid sounds out. Secondly, with more mids singing out, the image depth is significantly improved. If you read the reviews for Kimber''s 4TC, among words of praise, you never see "deep image depth". So I think I am not alone one this matter. The 8VS has better image depth. The solidity and neutrality of the 8VS make my symphony CD''s sound more real. The strings are better separated. The bass is not heavy at all. As a matter of fact, the bass sounds a little heavier from 4TC. However, that did not help the image depth. The width of image from 4TC could be a hair better than that from 8VS. However, overall, I prefer 8VS''s image. For orchestra, the 8VS make my Celestion''s 6SL sound clearer, with better resolution. Although the highs from 8VS sounds weaker than 4TC, the 8VS still has more extented highs than Audioquest''s Type 4+. The Type 4+ does have "butter smooth effect". But it is built on the roll off of highs. If you have a dull speaker, you''d better avoid the Type 4+. The Type 4+ also has stronger bass. But it is only for the upper bass part, not for the whole bass part. I am not using subwoofers here. I use it only when I play DVD movies. So obviously, the 8VS is a better choice for my system. The 4TC sounds as if I raised the treble by +2, and raised the bass by +1. This effect could fit your needs. However, to me I prefer more neutral sound. I would like to try 8TC also. If 8TC is better, I will upgrade my system to 8TC. However, for the price of 8VS, I do recomemd it to every one.

Similar Products Used:

Kimber 4TC, Audioquest 4+, Monster''s original, cheap zip cords.

Thisis my experience with Kimber Kable KABLE 8VS. A speaker cable that hs gotten no respect, and lives in the shadow of it's big brother.
8VS is Kimber Kable's 16 strand version of thier also ignored 4VS cable. Using 8Black and 8 Grey conductors woven in that wonderfully beautiful weave that Kimber Kable Kable is known for, 8VS is the mid-cost version of 8TC, the blue and black teflon coated stuff that you see at most dealers...

The biggest problem with this stuff, and, most likley why it is pretty much ignored, is that it is the same price as 4TC - which is supposed to be the best of Kimber Kable's copper cables. But I have a secret to tell... (shhh!)

8VS is the most real sounding (copper) cable that Kimber Kable makes. I think that it has to do with the fact that there is no teflon in the insulation. I have noticed in my DIY hi-fi, that teflon wire is usually pretty grainy sounding. As long as you are dealing with good solid conductors, I have found that the simpler and 'worse' the insulation is, the more natural and musical it sounds. I have recently gotten ahold of some old cloth covered wire, and it is incredible. (It is 30 years older than I am... Strange...) But I digress.

8VS is made from a different copper, has a different insulation (that melts like crazy when an iron is near it), and has a different surface finish on the strans, as well as a different strand geometry than the TC series. (I learned the last two things from Ray himself in a phone conversation when trying to buy some single strand VS wire) all of these things have been done to make it more inexpensive. Hehehehe.... little do they know...

I guess it has worked. It is cheaper than the TC stuff. 4VS is half the price of 4TC, and 8VS is just slightly more expensive than 4TC. (about $.50 a foot) But the 8VS just sounds better. How? MORE GOOSEBUMPS. That is all that matters.

Go buy some. It will raise your skin.

rating - 5 stars for the combination of price/performance

I tried biwiring these to a pair of Energy C-2's over the weekend. The result is a much too warm presentation on the high end. The C-2's are warm speakers to begin with but they performed much better when biwired using LAT silver cables to the tweeter and 4VS to the woofer. After playing with different cables, I to feel more and more disillusioned with the Kimber's sound characteristic. The sound is just too smooth and veiled. Too unrealistic to be accurate but many people prefer this. IMO, DH Labs T-14 or even budget Transparents are better in all aspects. 2 stars for sound, 1 star valuewise.

This stuff really detailed the treble. I'm using it for the upper end of passive Bi-amping, and it really helped with the mids and high's. Of course my only real comparo is my previous stuff: Perfect Interface 12Ga...Nothing special, but it drives the woofers now. Seems to do a real good job of keeping the system noise floor at inaudible levels as well. $50 bucks for 20 feet (demo). Cant be beat for that price, IMHO.
The multiple strands can be a bear to work with, and the pure thick strands of copper can break easily when bent after the insulation has been removed. No big deal.

Associated Equip:
Legacy Focus
Bryston B-60R
Cinepro 600x2se (yes, that's a combo of about 600WPC into 4 ohms, thank you, not that I ever push its limits.)
Yamaha 755CD (weakest link in chain???)