Just my opinion but give Nordost baldur a try in a bi-wire. Bass wont be quite as good but mid-range and upper frequencies are way better. It also is a very musical cable and works fine with kimber Ic's. |
Thanks Jay. I've actually tried Anti-cables in the past and I have to admit they are pretty good. They just didn't work in my system the way my speakers are placed in the room. Got in the way of things. |
Speltz Anticables,I do have Diapasons they work well
with this cables,price is very good. |
PS Audio XStream cables are a killer deal - especially if you can get them cryo'ed by someone like Lee @ cryo-parts.com. Lee cryo'ed some PS Audio XStream interconnects and took them from "exceptional for the price" to "flat out amazing". I think he did PS Audio XStream speaker cabled for a friend of mine - it's been a while so I can't recall. |
Thanks Johnny. I'm still weighing my options, but if I can get some of the newer TC (used) at a good price I might give it a shot. If it doesn't work out I'll be able to resell them with little (if any) loss on the deal. I think there's a good reason why the TC design has been around for 20 years or so now. It does a great job at making music, IMHO.
The PS Audio cable reminded me of the experiments my audiophool friends and I tried in the 80s. We borrowed every high end cable we could get our hands on and tried to make every wacky design we could think of (we almost all worked for the same electronics design company). One of the guys at work found out they were disposing of heavy duty arc welding cable. It had to be 0000 at least. Weighed a ton. We figured out how to put spades on it and use it as speaker cable. It wasn't as good as we'd hoped, and just trying to route it through my living room was a laugh. :-) |
Yeah, I agree with the Kimber guys here: If you like the overall sound but want more transparency and bass control, migrate to the new clear/white version with better dielectric and lower the resistance with more metal--like go to 12tc or two runs of the new 8tc.
Just about any review you read of the old or new TC series indicates that you have to spend big bucks (> $1500) to get appreciably better. I think reducing resistance to an absolute minimum is paramount to get better bass control.
Another alternative would be some used (out-of-production) PS Audio XStream Statement Bi-wire. They should be in your price range. The bass run is something like 6 or 8 ga. I use them on my Mirage M5si, which tended to sound a bit thick and dark, and they improved the transparency and speed significantly. The only thing about them is that at nearly 2" diameter and a weight of two pounds per foot, they're a bit unwieldy. |
Hi Tonyptony, I was in exactly in your position. I had 8tc which i'd used satisfactorily & wanted to upgrade, but didn't have the budget to step up to Monocle wire, so I opted for a Double Run of 12TC terminated with WBT 0645 bananas. Some may say that's overkill, but hey, it sounds damn good (and still cheaper than Monocle!). And a double run of that chunky cable certainly makes a statement as well.. |
Thanks Fritz. The Monocles are a little pricey for me right now. Maybe I'll have to see if I can find any used. |
Having been a Kimber fan, I had used the 8TCs for a number of years and agree with you and the reviewers on their performance, especially at that price range. Last year I moved up to the Monocles and have been happy as a clam since.
The Monocles definitely are more open and transparent, with more of a 3D sound and extension, both bass & treble. I've heard them in a $15K system and the sound was phenomenal. I've heard $50K systems not sound as good.
The 8TCs while very good, do soften the sound a bit. Which with a lot of systems is actually a good thing. Since speakers cables were the only thing I changed in my system last year, it was a pretty clear improvement. The only possible downside is because they are more revealing, a bad record will sound bad, where the 8TCs softness, would help offset it.
On the flipside, good recordings sound really good! And the new "colorless" 8TCs do sound better than the old ones. Hopefully you have a local dealer who would let you compare the 2, and others head to head so you can make the best decision for yourself.
Best wishes. |
Go to your local hardware store and find 3/4 rope or tubing. Then spread the TC8 and instert it all the way through to the other side (Just grabing the cable with both hands and pushing together will make them spread). Something about having the wires cross at a 90 degree angle improves sound. It worked for me.
I have 8TC on my bottom Revel F52 and couldnt be happier with the bass (Outstanding). I'm going to try 4CT on the top to relpace the Elco Silver I have next |
|
after 15 years, there has to be a lot you like about kimber...move up to the monocle series.... more of what you're looking for(and already like), and give up nothing. |
Ah, good point Pmotz. I had forgotten about the Zobel issue for the Goertz. I use a FetValve Ultra to drive my speakers. Not sure if there would be any issue with this amp and these cables. |
When you tried the Goertz did you have the Zobel networks? I recall reading that the Goertz wire can drive some amplifiers (solid state?) into oscillation. I checked the Goertz site and they did not mention them, I know they did in the past, perhaps they are standard so they don't feel the need to mention them. Anyway, if the highs were not so good maybe you had a minor oscillation issue? I would search the archives to see what you can find. |
Thanks so far for all the responses. Aggielaw, I have heard good things about the Reality Cables. What speakers and amp were you using them with at the time?
I was searching around on AA about this and found more than one person indicating that 1) the new white/clear Kimbers are supposed to improve over the old ones in just this area, and 2) the 4TC with 4TC shotgunned to my lower cabinet should also greatly improve in these areas over 8TC in the same configuration. I do like the fundamental qualities of the Kimbers very much. This may also be an option for me.
Lears, I used the PR before the TC. In my system it did not work as well. |
Everyone will have a different opinion of what is "better", based on their personal preferences. I've found that every step up in the Kimber product line(whether interconnects or speaker cables) has delivered exactly what you are seeking(more of that excellent transparency in the musical presentation). Try their BiFocal X or XL, which you should be able to get(previously owned) for a very reasonable price(relatively speaking). Some info: (http://www.stereotimes.com/cables082101.shtml) |
One option, if you want to spend less than you did for the 8TC, would be to try the 8PR - in my system, just as good, in fact a little better, as the more expensive 8TC. |
Gregg Straley Reality Cables are in the same price range and have been superior to the 8TCs in three iterations of my stereo system and my HT. I've since moved on from them, but they spent a good 3-4 years in my system; maybe they'll be your ticket as well. |
Hdm makes a very solid suggestion imo. |
Another option for you: if you have a vendor locally that is capable of cryogenically treating your 8TC, have it done and then have the cables burned in on a cable cooker (Nordost, Audiodharma, etc.)
You will spend a lot less than new cables and achieve exactly what you've described in your post. |
