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Kimber Silver Streak & Neo d+ Review (XLR Cables)

NTTY said:
Review : Behind the scene...

When I prepared this review, I went to my drawer and pulled out several cables, and basically thought that all of them would measure the same.
But one had a massive issue.

I have no clue from where I got this cable, probably with a device that I bought here in Switzerland. On the cable itself, it is written "Neutrik SwissFlex NK 2". The two connectors are from Neutrik too:

View attachment 529447

And when I measured it, this is what I got:

View attachment 529448

Besides the massive distortion, there is a near 6dB attenuation compared to my other measurements, indicating that one of the conductors is (short)cut somewhere. I suspected bad soldering but I could not find an issue there. So I guess the cable itself is damaged even though I can't find any marks on it. If you have an explanation, let me know!
Click to expand...
Either short or open... Such distortion can be seen when you take only 1 side of a differential signal. Also happens when measuring bridged amps like this. Or you can probably replicate this on your other cables by damaging it on one of the pins.

A good evidence of why we should not mix-and-match connections, and should do a proper conversion instead. (Though one can argue at -75dB it might not be audible to the people who are doing it)
 
NTTY said:
But I'm happy to see that the Kimber delivers, as I had some doubts.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your efforts and sharing them with us.:)

The Kimber Kable Silver Streak confuses me a bit, as the pin1 (ground/black) is twisted along with signal-carrying pair of pins2/3 (hot/cold), thru the full length of the cable. Silly little 'drain-wire'!
Not that Oyaide Neo d+ flat cable is any less confusing, because signal carrying pair is not even twisted.
:rolleyes:
 
DIY with the appropriate Mogami or Canare cable and the appropriate Neutrik or Switch Craft connectors with good solder technique and you'll have a better and longer lasting cable than pretty much any of the boutique cable marketers.

And if you don't or can't go the DIY route, there are several online vendors who can whip up custom orders at very reasonable prices.

If you want to order stock "custom" try WBC (through Amazon & elsewhere). I've found their cables to be high quality components & very well assembled.
 
Last edited:
NTTY said:
This is a review and measurements of both XLR Kimber Kable Silver Streak and Neo d+ (by Oyaide).

View attachment 529246

I was inspired again by the recent review of Amir, and not only did I have this Kimber Silver Streak cable, which I acquired a long time ago being told it would make a difference, I also discovered that it is still produced by the company as part of their "Summit" line. So, that triggered this second (and probable last) cable review from me.


Presentation

The Kimber has a cost of roughly $1'000 (1m) and the Neo d+ reaches up to $50 in 1m length, per what I saw. So the cost ratio is a good 20 between the two cables.

The Kimber Silver Streak uses one silver strand and two copper (go figure). BUT mine has two silver strands, probably because it is an old version of it, or the balanced version?

The XLR connectors are said to be silver plated too. I like a lot the look, the lightness, the quality of the connectors and ease of use as the cable bends easily. This cable targets the audiophile community.
Some specs are provided by Kimber (XLR):
  • (Cp) parallel capacitance: 37.1 pF/meter
  • (Ls) series inductance: 1.07uH/meter
  • (Rdc) dc loop resistance : 0.105 Ohm/meter
I've been using couple of these cables for quite a number of years and have always been satisfied.

The Neo d+ uses quality XLR connectors too (Gold plated bronze alloy), but despite their shorter length, they can sometimes be problematic because the flat cable itself is not as flexible as the one of the Kimber. But in the end, you need space behind the device for both of these cables.
The weight of the Neo can be a problem as they were pulling hard on the little Topping D50III that I used to test them, less so with the Kimber.

I like a lot the look of the Neo too and the ease of identification of their respective colors for left/right channels, even in the dark, which is on purpose as they target the DJ community. I currently use Neo d+ cables for my main system and I'm happy with them.
I could not find technical specs for the Neo d+.

As with my previous review, and since I don't have a super duper Audio Precision, I'm using a Topping D50III as the generator and a combo of Cosmos Scaler and E1AD ADCiso (Grade 0) as the ADC. So, first, let's have a look at the total performance of these in a loopback, using my standard TRS Cordial CMN2200 cable:

View attachment 529249

This is a whooping 123.6db SINAD (4VRMS output) which would put the Topping D50III right where it is in Amir's chart: at the top of it.

If you compare with the review of Amir, this is the same SINAD but I get a little more distortion (just above -140dBr), which could be from the Topping or from my ADC setup. Either ways, this is the limit of the Audio Precision in terms of Noise (at 4Vrms), so it is good to see I can replicate and get the same measurements. With that precision, if one of these cable makes a difference, we'll see it.

Note that because the Topping D50III has TRS outputs only, I had to use a adaptor TRS to XLR for both cables under test. And same on the ADC side, by the way.

So let's start with the Kimber:

View attachment 529251

Same, no change, no degradation. Only 0.1dB difference in SINAD (123.5dB) which could be due to the two adaptors I had to use.

Let's quickly go to the Neo d+:

View attachment 529252

Same measured performance, but the Neo shows a very little something at 50Hz (mains) and that does not impact the results beyond 0.1dB lost in SINAD (that we can reasonably ignore).

On request of the community, I'm showing what happens when I put the cable on top of the power supply of my PC (actually below it as it generates more disruption, nearly nothing when it is on top):

View attachment 529256

This is an overlay of the two cables. They show very low captured noise and are essentially the same. This is the worst case scenario as I had to ensure the cables were running on the full length of the PS and exactly in the middle of it, else there was barely anything to report. Even so, the SINAD remained more than 122dB in both cases.

I spare you measurements of bandwidth up to 200kHz or square, as Amir and I did before with other cables, there are absolutely identical.

I just add the jitter view (48kHz):

View attachment 529257

Same results again.


Conclusion

Again, nothing new, you already knew the results just by reading the title.

Does the look and ease of use of the Kimber justify paying 20 times more for the same measured performances? I let you decide.

But I'm happy to see that the Kimber delivers, as I had some doubts. I though maybe being lower in the line that it could be a reason for downgraded performances. But no, we're safe.

Enjoy
Click to expand...

NTTY said:
This is a review and measurements of both XLR Kimber Kable Silver Streak and Neo d+ (by Oyaide).

View attachment 529246

I was inspired again by the recent review of Amir, and not only did I have this Kimber Silver Streak cable, which I acquired a long time ago being told it would make a difference, I also discovered that it is still produced by the company as part of their "Summit" line. So, that triggered this second (and probable last) cable review from me.


Presentation

The Kimber has a cost of roughly $1'000 (1m) and the Neo d+ reaches up to $50 in 1m length, per what I saw. So the cost ratio is a good 20 between the two cables.

The Kimber Silver Streak uses one silver strand and two copper (go figure). BUT mine has two silver strands, probably because it is an old version of it, or the balanced version?

The XLR connectors are said to be silver plated too. I like a lot the look, the lightness, the quality of the connectors and ease of use as the cable bends easily. This cable targets the audiophile community.
Some specs are provided by Kimber (XLR):
  • (Cp) parallel capacitance: 37.1 pF/meter
  • (Ls) series inductance: 1.07uH/meter
  • (Rdc) dc loop resistance : 0.105 Ohm/meter
I've been using couple of these cables for quite a number of years and have always been satisfied.

The Neo d+ uses quality XLR connectors too (Gold plated bronze alloy), but despite their shorter length, they can sometimes be problematic because the flat cable itself is not as flexible as the one of the Kimber. But in the end, you need space behind the device for both of these cables.
The weight of the Neo can be a problem as they were pulling hard on the little Topping D50III that I used to test them, less so with the Kimber.

I like a lot the look of the Neo too and the ease of identification of their respective colors for left/right channels, even in the dark, which is on purpose as they target the DJ community. I currently use Neo d+ cables for my main system and I'm happy with them.
I could not find technical specs for the Neo d+.

As with my previous review, and since I don't have a super duper Audio Precision, I'm using a Topping D50III as the generator and a combo of Cosmos Scaler and E1AD ADCiso (Grade 0) as the ADC. So, first, let's have a look at the total performance of these in a loopback, using my standard TRS Cordial CMN2200 cable:

View attachment 529249

This is a whooping 123.6db SINAD (4VRMS output) which would put the Topping D50III right where it is in Amir's chart: at the top of it.

If you compare with the review of Amir, this is the same SINAD but I get a little more distortion (just above -140dBr), which could be from the Topping or from my ADC setup. Either ways, this is the limit of the Audio Precision in terms of Noise (at 4Vrms), so it is good to see I can replicate and get the same measurements. With that precision, if one of these cable makes a difference, we'll see it.

Note that because the Topping D50III has TRS outputs only, I had to use a adaptor TRS to XLR for both cables under test. And same on the ADC side, by the way.

So let's start with the Kimber:

View attachment 529251

Same, no change, no degradation. Only 0.1dB difference in SINAD (123.5dB) which could be due to the two adaptors I had to use.

Let's quickly go to the Neo d+:

View attachment 529252

Same measured performance, but the Neo shows a very little something at 50Hz (mains) and that does not impact the results beyond 0.1dB lost in SINAD (that we can reasonably ignore).

On request of the community, I'm showing what happens when I put the cable on top of the power supply of my PC (actually below it as it generates more disruption, nearly nothing when it is on top):

View attachment 529256

This is an overlay of the two cables. They show very low captured noise and are essentially the same. This is the worst case scenario as I had to ensure the cables were running on the full length of the PS and exactly in the middle of it, else there was barely anything to report. Even so, the SINAD remained more than 122dB in both cases.

I spare you measurements of bandwidth up to 200kHz or square, as Amir and I did before with other cables, there are absolutely identical.

I just add the jitter view (48kHz):

View attachment 529257

Same results again.


Conclusion

Again, nothing new, you already knew the results just by reading the title.

Does the look and ease of use of the Kimber justify paying 20 times more for the same measured performances? I let you decide.

But I'm happy to see that the Kimber delivers, as I had some doubts. I though maybe being lower in the line that it could be a reason for downgraded performances. But no, we're safe.

Enjoy your weekend!

Flo
Click to expand...
Really enjoy your reviews, @NTTY. My only comment regarding this area of the business this: while it's always caveat emptor, I find it hard to understand how these people hawking this nonsense can live with themselves.

I could not.
 
NTTY said:
My guess is that only a few of the total direct/indirect employees know the truth.
Click to expand...
I'm sure you're right. But the engineers do, they have to know, as well as management, and I bet the sales reps.

At AXPONA last year (or maybe the year before I can't remember) , I was in one of the exhibits that featured a relatively mediocre DAC that was reviewed on ASR. When I asked the rep about SINAD, he sheepishly referred me to their spec sheet, which was missing the very information I was seeking. It was there in pieces so I could calculate it if I wanted, but I already knew the answer. I was just seeing if the rep had a soul.

They did not.
 
I'm convinced most of the companies selling such products have no soul. And that applies to their dealer networks as well. Long before Amir and ASR, I witnessed first hand the underhanded actions of one such cable company. If you think back to the time period, you should be able to figure out the guilty party.

See my post elsewhere:
X cables vs Y cables vs Radio Shack cables

And this AI generated inquiry regarding snake oil in the audiophile cable industry:

The "snake oil" aspect of the custom cable industry is one of the most polarizing debates in the world of high-end audio. It stems from the fact that while physics dictates certain measurable differences between cables, the actual audibility of those differences—especially at extreme price points—remains unproven in rigorous scientific testing.
The Infamous "Coat Hanger" Test
The most legendary moment in this debate occurred during a blind A/B test where a group of self-professed audiophiles was asked to distinguish between high-end Monster 1000 speaker cables and lengths of ordinary wire coat hangers that had been straightened and soldered to connectors.The Result: Not a single participant could tell the difference between the expensive Monster cables and the coat hangers.The Consensus: All agreed that the audio through the coat hangers sounded "excellent," highlighting how much of the "premium" experience is likely a placebo effect driven by branding and price tags.
Scientific Reality vs. Marketing Claims
From an engineering standpoint, every cable has three basic electrical properties that can technically affect a signal: Resistance (R), Inductance (L), and Capacitance (C).Where "Snake Oil" begins: Manufacturers often use these real concepts to market "solutions" to problems that don't actually exist in a typical home listening environment. For example, "skin effect" is a real phenomenon in high-frequency power transmission, but it is effectively irrelevant at the low frequencies of audible sound. Pseudoscience terms: You will often see buzzwords like "directional" wire (electricity doesn't care which way a wire is turned), "atomic alignment," or "quantum-treated" materials—none of which have been proven to produce an audible improvement.
The Placebo Trap
Psychological factors play a massive role in why the industry thrives despite the lack of evidence: Expectation Bias: If you pay $5,000 for a power cord, your brain is biologically primed to hear an improvement to justify the investment.Sighted vs. Blind Listening: In "sighted" tests (where the listener knows which cable is plugged in), users often report "wider soundstages" or "tighter bass". However, in double-blind tests, these differences almost always vanish.
A Practical Rule of Thumb
Most engineers and Audio Science Review (a popular site for debunking audio myths) suggest that as long as a cable is of a sufficient gauge (thickness) for the distance it's covering and has decent shielding to prevent interference (EMF/RFI), there is no evidence that spending more than $20–$50 on a cable will improve your sound.
Click to expand...
 
I was dimly aware of violent disagreement about audiophile cable 25 years ago when I put together my first real hi-fi system, but for an innocent babe in the woods newbie like me the conventional wisdom about the importance of interconnects to good sound was impossible to resist. Luckily my low budget limited me to Kimber’s “entry-level” PBJ cables, for a laughably inexpensive price by today’s standards, and I’m still using them and feeling affection for their robust construction. True success was never subsequently falling for the siren call of any cable “upgrade” since those baby steps.
 
No one who matters said:
I'm sure you're right. But the engineers do, they have to know, as well as management, and I bet the sales reps.

At AXPONA last year (or maybe the year before I can't remember) , I was in one of the exhibits that featured a relatively mediocre DAC that was reviewed on ASR. When I asked the rep about SINAD, he sheepishly referred me to their spec sheet, which was missing the very information I was seeking. It was there in pieces so I could calculate it if I wanted, but I already knew the answer. I was just seeing if the rep had a soul.

They did not.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't expect anyone from the company to tell you otherwise.
 
1.
Our brain is trying to avoid pain as any other organ does.
So, what happens if you have bought a very expensive item and you suddenly realize that it doesn't meet your expectations?
Well, pain, caused by what we also call cognitive dissonance.
If we can't reverse the purchase, we either lower our expectations or convince ourselves that they were unrealistic to begin with.
2.
There's a trap that no audiophile/enthusiast can escape.
If you buy an (advertised) improvement, you will hear this improvement.
No matter wether it's real/measurable or not.
If not, well, time will tell.

If you study marketing, you'll learn this.
 
marabella said:
If you study marketing, you'll learn this.
Click to expand...
Audiophile salon salespeople are right down there with used car salespeople -- just usually better dressed.
 
I would like to see measurements where cables are loaded with the typical impedance for these connections. This could be 10 kΩ for XLR and 47 kΩ for phono connections. There will be an attenuation of the high frequencies depending on the series inductance (Ls) of the cable, and this attenuation can be a problem, especially with often inexpensive cables where the signal conductor and the shield are very close together.
 
Aschwarz said:
I would like to see measurements where cables are loaded with the typical impedance for these connections. This could be 10 kΩ for XLR and 47 kΩ for phono connections. There will be an attenuation of the high frequencies depending on the series inductance (Ls) of the cable, and this attenuation can be a problem, especially with often inexpensive cables where the signal conductor and the shield are very close together.
Click to expand...
I was thinking sort of the same thing.
1uH/meter for the Kimber here seems like relative for impacting the frequency response in a normal setup with a 10k load.
 
Assuming a length of 1 m, the predictable cut-off frequency of the low-pass filter the Kimber cable series inductance forms with a 10 kΩ load is about 1.5 GHz. This is hardly a significant effect.

The parasitic capacitance of the cable in conjunction with the source output impedance has much greater effect on the high frequency response and would be the dominant factor.
 
Last edited:
Scytales said:
Assuming a length of 1 m, the predictable cut-off frequency of the low-pass filter the Kimber cable series inductance forms with a 10 kΩ load is about 1.5 GHz. This is hardly a significant effect.

The parasitic capacitance of the cable in conjunction with the source output impedance has much greater effect on the high frequency response and would be the dominant factor.
Click to expand...
I calculate f₀ to be approx. 430 kHz, which results in an initial attenuation at 43 kHz as well as some phase shift. This is, of course, insignificant. The cable is not shielded, which explains the good result.
 
Scytales said:
Assuming a length of 1 m, the predictable cut-off frequency of the low-pass filter the Kimber cable series inductance forms with a 10 kΩ load is about 1.5 GHz. This is hardly a significant effect.

The parasitic capacitance of the cable in conjunction with the source output impedance has much greater effect on the high frequency response and would be the dominant factor.
Click to expand...
Often a load isn't pure resistive but also contains a capacitor.
 
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