The Monocle speaker cable extends the dynamic range on both ends of the spectrum. All the details sent by my Classe CP800 and Classe CA2300 amp provide a huge soundstage and precise imaging. All the instruments get a little more elbow room.

As the cable is impressive (thick), do not bend it in too much.

there are two cables in the world..kimber and others!!!!

I am very critical when it comes to personal auditions of audio equipment, as I believe that a good deal of the industry is hype. I will only purchase items that I am absolutely convinced will make an improvement in my system. I recently replaced my speaker cables, which I thought might be the weak link in my system. I was using "TARA" Reference II, and replaced it with MonocleXL.
A pretty radical price/quality jump, but the sound improvement was astounding. Low level detail, imaging, soundstage, smoothness, bass articulation all jumped out at me immediately. The improvement was absolute, and I would recommend them highly. I must add, though, that I did not compare them to other high priced cables (Transparent, Cardas, etc.), because I bought them at a good price. I have tested MIT Biwire 2 at the behest of a specialist in cabling, and it degraded the sound in my system compared to the AQ Indigo.

My no-nonsense dealer warned me about the fact that the SELECT 3033series gives you very little improvement for the price. Don't waste your money on the Select3033 series.
Its just not worth it. If you must, then go with 3035.

Similar Products Used:

Trasnparent,Mit,Cardas,Tara,monster.

I purchased these after a dealer recommendation and a home demo, comparing them (in my own home on the same equipment) against jps labs and dunlavy's own audio cables. The Kimber's were clearly superior to the others. Better bass and highend extension, all the subtle details can be heard.....the reviews below are very accurate. I never demo'd the ks3033... I've changed amps and speakers recently, and I got the itch just to try something new, since my new speakers were biwireable and my old one's were not.
so I had a dealer send me the highly regarded AP bi-oval 9's.
THESE WERE ALREADY WELL BURNED IN, they were not new cables, plus they were biwire versus the kimber straightwire.
Using the AP cables veiled the music substantially. I gave them quite a while to settle in before critical listening. I kept listening thinking, "somethings wrong".......I put the Kimbers back on and bam, all those subtle microdynamic cues were back, the sound was rich and alive again. I'm not one of those guys that claims Kimber's the best, because there is no "Best" (plus, I found their interconnects to be totally shoddy), but I must say, their Monocle/bifocal/trifocal line should definitely be looked at if you have a highend system worthy of $800+ speaker cables. I'm just adding jumpers to replace the copper plates connecting my binding posts and keeping my Kimbers.....These are definitely a cable that can grow with an audio system as you improve your upstream components.
Read my review and other's reviews under analysis plus, then look at their system components and make your own decision. I noticed many of the AP reviewers have solid state components, for example, like a krell 300i (the epitome of hash and grain, sorry krell lovers). AP cables would be a great match for a system that's bright and grainy, since it'll conceal that. My tube electronics with Cardas golden refs let EVERYTHING through, and I want to hear it ALL.

My system consists of:
Bel Canto SEP 1
Art Audio Jota w/KR300bxls
Muse 9 cd/dvd
Cardas Golden Reference I.C.'s
Reference 3A MM de Capo Speakers
Kimber Monocle XL
API Power Wedge 116
Various TG audio/powersnake Mamba and sidewinders

Similar Products Used:

Analysis Plus Bi-Oval 9, JPS Labs superconductor plus,
Dunlavy Audio Cables

I received a 10 foot pair of these yesterday from Kimber to replace my runs of 8TC, which had been my personal favorite for quite a while now. My current system consists of Audio Research amp/pre, Sony DVPS7000, and Harman Kardon Speakers. The sound? Wonderful. Rich, detailed, not too forward, very quiet background, and very good soundstaging. As they said in Sterophile about the Bifocal XL, they do just about everything right. Worth $1000.00? Depends on your components.... these are sooo smooth! But they are Icing on the cake. If you have your system just shy of perfect, give these a shot. I'll bet they'll do the trick! (And mine aren't even broken in yet :) ..

Having now spent a month living with and listening to a 10 foot pair of Kimber's Monocle XL loudspeaker cables, I have essentially lost all interest in listening to any other speaker cable.
Compared to the $2700 Tara Labs Decade cables that I formerly used between my speakers and power amp, I find the Monocle XL (at about $1200) to deliver a more lush and spacious sound. At the same time, imaging is more precise, with better focus and stability. The sense of definition, air and layering air also are all noticeably better than with the much more expensive Decade cable.

I have literally felt my skin tingle at the sound of well-recorded Cymbal taps and snare drum brushwork. Diana Krall's vocals seem to flow with an effortlessness I have not heard before. That seductively silky voice is captivating through virtually any system, but with the Monocle XL cables, I have discovered nuance and subtlety that I did not know had been captured in her recordings (by the way, her newly released "When I Look In Your Eyes" is an absolute must for anyone who appreciates breathtakingly beautiful female vocals). With eyes closed, I would swear I can tell when she tilts her head to one side, or what her facial expressions are as she transitions through vocal ranges.

Although the Decade was a very fine sounding cable (probably deserving the Stereophile recommendation it received this April), I would now be unable to justify the $2700 price tag, when the Monocle XL simply outperforms it for less than half the price.

One more noteworthy discovery was the fact that Kimber will custom finish these cables in a variety of colors other than the standard-issue black for no extra charge. Since these cables are more than an inch in diameter, my wife was quite opposed to having what she thought looked like large black hoses strewn across the floor (I thought they looked cool, but I guess its a gender thing). I simply had Kimber finish my cables in white, which coordinates much better with our walls and baseboards. Now my wife can tolerate them, I love them, and all is well. The only downside to custom finishing is that you forfeit your 30 day money back satisfaction guarantee if you have the cables custom finished. But I doubt very much that anyone will want to return these cables after listening to them.

Ray Kimber has come up with something special in this cable. He could have charged a lot more for it, and it still would have been well worth it. My listening sessions have been the most involving I have ever experienced since the introduction of this cable to my system.

Associated equipment:
Transport - Sony DVP-S7700
Jitter Box - Audio Alchemy DTI Pro
Digital Interconnects - Illuminati d-60 and DX-50
D/A Converter - Sonic Frontiers Processor 3
Preamp - Sonic Frontiers Line 2
Power Amp - Sim Audio Moon W-5
Interconnects - Cardas Golden Cross and Hexlink 5c
Speakers - Magnepan MG 2.7

Amps: Classe' CA-100, Muse Model 100, McCormack MID, cheapo NAD receiver (512, I think)Speakers: Thiel CS1.5, NHT SuperOne, NHT SuperZero
Other speaker cables: Kimber KS-3033, shotgun 8TC, 4TC; Wireworld Solstice III; AQ Indigo, Type 4, and F-14.

Sigh, another solid cable. Cables nowadays are getting better and better, it's hard to find one that stands head and shoulders above the rest. I am extremely grateful that the last review mentioned that you can get these in colors other than that awful black.

The problem (if you can call it that) I have with the Monocle XL, is that, for a few hundred bucks more, the KS-3033 is a far superior cable. Overall, the KS-3033 gets more out of the way, and lets in more of what your amp can put out. Think of the Monocle XL as a fine pencil sketch. If that's the case, then the KS-3033 is a watercolor. They're still not reality, but the KS-3033 gets you much closer.

The KS-3033 sets up a stage that mirrors more closely what is on your disc. You can pick out added reverb added to voices. Instruments maintain their proper size and weight.

Take Motley Crue's "Girls, Girls, Girls." Tommy Lee's cymbals are still down in the mix, but they retain their shimmer and dynamics. His snare drum is tight, focused, and punchy, if a little lightweight. But that's the recording. And that's what you get with the the KS-3033 replacing the monocle XL.

If you can't afford the KS-3033, then do audition the Monocle XL. It is a significant step up from the shotgun 8TC (too warm and muddy, IMO). And, if you buy the Monocle XL, and not hear the KS-3033, you may not think you're missing anything. Indeed, the Monocle XL fills an important niche in Kimber's speaker cable lineup. But just don't kill me, when you hear how refined and neutral the KS-3033 is. And if you get greedy and hear the absolutely magnificent KS-3035, your significant other may kill YOU!

elegant, smooth, secured, rich, detailed.

Looks too sexy

Like Mr. Chris Harr, who posted the very first message about this beautiful cable, I bought it to replace my trusty 8TC which has been with me for years.

I had the cable custome made with banana connectors on both ends. After receiving it yesterday, and while hooking it to my MMG's and tube amp, I just love the way Kimber terminate their cables: they are just perfect with secured lock, nice look and feel. No more worry about banana connectors getting loose, or stress developing on cables.

How do they sound? Even when they are not broken in yet, they sound exactly as Chriss Harr described in his message posted 1/22/99. Even though they cost more than the speakers, I think they are well worth it.

Are they perfect? Never, as there always are cables that are better (and more expensive). But for now the Monocle XL is no way the weak link in my system, and I am quite happy with it. When the Decware ZEN amps arrive, I believe the XL will shine even more.

Similar Products Used:

8TC, 8PR, TaraLab