Kimber KS 1036 Silver RCA Cable Review

[Endibol]

Unless the cable is flawed or a inductor or similar is added to the design (think MIT), they all should measure extremely close I've got MIT cables setting in a box in a closet that I purchased in the 90s

You are right. I also had MIT cables with a “box” in the middle. I once saw a post in which a guy opened one of the boxes… and guess what was inside: an extra parallel piece of copper wire and a coil in parallel too!

The Mysterious Box Of The MIT Cable MITerminator 5

diy audio system

orronoco.blogspot.com

 

[Nzama]

Why ?
People who spend 10 or 20 THOUSAND on a cable DID NOT WORK 12 HOURS PER DAY TO AFFORD THEM.
They were born into filthy rich thieving families that left them that money. And ANYONE who can take those resources from them and put that money into something else deserves respect.

I am really sorry for you. Go see a your md.

 

[amirm]

Here in Aus I think Monster is the most recognised cable brand.

Still? They have completely fallen out of the picture in US in the last 5 to 10 years.

 

[Johnkeizer]

Don’t forget the oligarchs, they didn’t get left the money, they stole it themselves, with a little help from Harvard “trained” advisors.

 

[Jcrow]

Still? They have completely fallen out of the picture in US in the last 5 to 10 years.

I don't think they're still around with audio cables, as I never see any stocked at hi-fi stores in Aus. But recently I've seen a lot Monster branded stuff like usb chargers and other random electronics. I assume the brand-name has been licensed out now.

 

[Johnkeizer]

You could be right, their cables are getting scarce on shelves but average people still think Monster when you mention cables quite often.
Their power boards are now everywhere.

 

[Robin L]

You could be right, their cables are getting scarce on shelves but average people still think Monster when you mention cables quite often.
Their power boards are now everywhere.

I recall some time about 10-15 years ago when I found piles of Monster cable at a thrift store I frequently visited. Something like $15 tops for some of the fancier cable, otherwise more like $3. Monster made a lot of cheaper (comparatively speaking) interconnects when home theater surround systems took off but before HDMI. Used to have a lot more than I do now, kept the nicest stuff.

 

[Bruce Morgen]

I recall some time about 10-15 years ago when I found piles of Monster cable at a thrift store I frequently visited. Something like $15 tops for some of the fancier cable, otherwise more like $3. Monster made a lot of cheaper (comparatively speaking) interconnects when home theater surround systems took off but before HDMI. Used to have a lot more than I do now, kept the nicest stuff.

My one and only experience with Monster speaker cable was back in the '80s -- what I remember most clearly about it was the green patina caused by their stupid choice of insulation material interacting with the copper, along with the fact that I could have sworn that the stuff made my system actually sound a bit worse than the ordinary 18 AWG zipcord it replaced IIRC. IOW, it was a total waste of time and money. On the other hand, last year I nabbed some Monster-branded light-up HDMI cables on sale at the local Walmart -- FWIW, they seem perfectly OK.

 

[Alan O]

My one and only experience with Monster speaker cable was back in the '80s

My only experience with Monster cable was in the 80s too, when the whole cable thing was just taking off. I was presented with a blind test - didn't know what was being changed. And A really did sound better than B every time - though probably only 2 or 3 swaps (I can't remember).

It turns out A was a Monster interconnect, and B was an interconnect that came "free" with the kit.

Since then, I've concluded that the test was really showing the inferiority of the free interconnect. Some of the really poor ones have almost hair-thin copper-coated alumin(i)um - more recently I got some really cheap ones and opened them up to see. I think the Monster cable was merely adequate - which is all that's needed.

 

[Jcrow]

My only experience with Monster cable was in the 80s too, when the whole cable thing was just taking off. I was presented with a blind test - didn't know what was being changed. And A really did sound better than B every time - though probably only 2 or 3 swaps (I can't remember).

It turns out A was a Monster interconnect, and B was an interconnect that came "free" with the kit.

Since then, I've concluded that the test was really showing the inferiority of the free interconnect. Some of the really poor ones have almost hair-thin copper-coated alumin(i)um - more recently I got some really cheap ones and opened them up to see. I think the Monster cable was merely adequate - which is all that's needed.

Could've also been rigged so they could up-sell you. Was apparently quite common, maybe still is, having the high margin product turned up a few dB more.

 

[Alan O]

Could've also been rigged so they could up-sell you. Was apparently quite common, maybe still is, having the high margin product turned up a few dB more.

No, it wasn't a seller - it was a friend's home. (And he didn't change any knobs - he remained round the back.)

 

[Alan O]

No, it wasn't a seller - it was a friend's home. (And he didn't change any knobs - he remained round the back.)

Actually, saying that and thinking a bit more... I wonder if the very thin free interconnect had enough resistance to lower the level a little bit?

 

[Johnkeizer]

I suspect the thin free interconnect really was crap. Going into basic, competently made interconnects does make a difference.
Going onto very expensive interconnects is an act of very dubious better results.

 

[Alan O]

I suspect the thin free interconnect really was crap. Going into basic, competently made interconnects does make a difference.
Going onto very expensive interconnects is an act of very dubious better results.

I guess I should really try it again* - when I got the cheap interconnect to inspect, I got two pairs for, iirc, £3.50 (~$4.70), and I still have one lying around somewhere.

(*though against interconnects I made up with Van Damme cable, as I have no Monster.)

 

[Bruce Morgen]

My only experience with Monster cable was in the 80s too, when the whole cable thing was just taking off. I was presented with a blind test - didn't know what was being changed. And A really did sound better than B every time - though probably only 2 or 3 swaps (I can't remember).

It turns out A was a Monster interconnect, and B was an interconnect that came "free" with the kit.

Since then, I've concluded that the test was really showing the inferiority of the free interconnect. Some of the really poor ones have almost hair-thin copper-coated alumin(i)um - more recently I got some really cheap ones and opened them up to see. I think the Monster cable was merely adequate - which is all that's needed.

FWIW, Amir tested the retail-packaged equivalent of "an interconnect that came `free' with the kit" and it was essentially perfect.

Recoton RCA Cable Review (Ultra Cheap Cable)

 

[Alan O]

FWIW, Amir tested the retail-packaged equivalent of "an interconnect that came `free' with the kit" and it was essentially perfect.

Recoton RCA Cable Review (Ultra Cheap Cable)

Interesting, thanks... 18 pages of discussion, and just a few pages and it's already starting an argument! At the very least, it does show what little is needed for an interconnect to be adequate.

 

[Gord]

I have nothing but respect for manufacturers of these things (cables and so on)
Their ability to persuade morons to part with tens of thousands of dollars for piece of copper or silver and have them think that their sound is better is nothing short of amazing

Although I think your comment is tongue in cheek, the key word that comes to my mind is greed.

 

[Redman43]

Although I think your comment is tongue in cheek, the key word that comes to my mind is greed.

My comment was tongue in cheek and I fully agree with you regarding greed.

 

[Johnkeizer]

I don’t blame companies charging what they can get away with, it’s the basis of the capitalist system.
I do blame the magazines and a lot of sites that praise that vastly overpriced but mediocre performing stuff and make out that is what you need to be taken seriously in this hobby.

 

[Chrispy]

I don’t blame companies charging what they can get away with, it’s the basis of the capitalist system.
I do blame the magazines and a lot of sites that praise that vastly overpriced but mediocre performing stuff and make out that is what you need to be taken seriously in this hobby.

I blame also the gullible who think the performance varies significantly at all given a relatively properly constructed cable suited to purpose. No magic in them. Screw the companies basically lying about this, but you're right, that's capitalism, whether a good apsect....meh.