Speaker Cables & Interconnects — Transparent, Kimber

Cables & Interconnects

Transparent Audio and Kimber Kable — the last variable in a system that is otherwise finished.

Cable is the least glamorous line item in a reference system and the one most often left to chance.

Two approaches are represented here, and they disagree productively. Kimber's is geometric: braid the conductors so that each one's position relative to its neighbours is constantly changing, and the induced noise fields largely cancel. It has been the same argument in Ogden, Utah since 1979.

Transparent's is a network filter calibrated to the specific components at either end, built in Saco, Maine, and sold with an upgrade programme that preserves what has already been spent. Neither is a tweak. Both are engineering positions, and both can be demonstrated side by side.

The right cable is the one that takes nothing away.

How to choose cables

Cables are the last thing to change, not the first — if a system is not doing what you want, the room, placement or a component mismatch is almost always the reason. Capacitance and inductance interact with the impedances either side of them, so this is a matching exercise rather than a ladder. Buy the length you need and no more.

Transparent Audio MAGNUM OPUS Speaker Cable

The finest amplifier-to-speaker link Transparent makes. Debuted 2014, refined for Gen 6. 20ft maximum per channel, multi-day per-pair manufacture.

Transparent Audio MAGNUM OPUS RCA Interconnect

The pinnacle of single-ended interconnect design — outrigger network, PMMA-and-IFER platform, component matching at the edge of production tolerance.

Transparent Audio MAGNUM OPUS Balanced Interconnect

The pinnacle of balanced interconnect design — fully differential through dual precision-matched networks, calibrated to your source and preamplifier.

Transparent Audio MAGNUM OPUS Phono Interconnect (RCA)

The pinnacle of tonearm cable design — the outrigger network on a PMMA-and-IFER platform, calibrated to your specific cartridge, arm and phono stage.

Transparent Audio MAGNUM OPUS Phono Interconnect (Balanced)

The pinnacle of balanced-line phono transmission — Magnum Opus Phono ordered with differential-balanced termination for reference-class phono preamps.

Transparent Audio OPUS Speaker Cable

Where Transparent’s TRANSCENDENT collection begins — the outrigger network on a PMMA-and-IFER platform, calibrated to your amplifier and loudspeakers.

Transparent Audio OPUS RCA Interconnect

TRANSCENDENT collection at the RCA signal path — iconic outrigger network module, PMMA-and-IFER platform, calibrated to your specific source and preamp.

Transparent Audio OPUS Balanced Interconnect

Transparent’s TRANSCENDENT balanced XLR — two fully differential networks per channel in carbon-fiber housings, calibrated to cable length.

Transparent Audio OPUS Phono Interconnect (RCA)

TRANSCENDENT collection at the tonearm signal path — iconic outrigger network, PMMA-and-IFER platform, calibrated to your full vinyl chain.

Transparent Audio OPUS Phono Interconnect (Balanced)

Opus Phono ordered with differential-balanced termination — genuine balanced-line vinyl signal path for phono stages with true differential inputs.

Transparent Audio OPUS Power Cord

TRANSCENDENT-tier power cord for high-current amplifiers — heaviest OFHC in the line, deepest filter-network calibration, iconic Opus platform.

Transparent Audio OPUS Power Cord Source

TRANSCENDENT-tier power cord engineered for source components — smaller diameter, more flexible geometry, Opus network precision, easy behind a source rack.

Transparent Audio XL Speaker Cable

The amp-to-speaker link above Reference. Larger CFC network module, more precise amp/speaker matching, deeper bass than Reference. On demo in Tempe.

Transparent Audio XL RCA Interconnect

The upgrade above Reference — larger Gen 6 CFC modules with IFER fill, network components more closely matched to cable and to your specific source/preamp.

Transparent Audio XL Balanced Interconnect

XL in XLR — same Gen 6 CFC + IFER architecture as XL RCA, network calibrated to balanced-topology impedance for balanced-line systems.

Transparent Audio XL Phono Interconnect (RCA)

XL-tier tonearm cable — bridge between Reference Phono and Opus Phono, larger CFC + IFER network matched more closely to cartridge output.

Transparent Audio XL Phono Interconnect (Balanced)

XL Phono ordered with differential-balanced termination — for phono stages with true balanced inputs. Bridge between Reference Balanced Phono and Opus.

Transparent Audio XL Power Cord

The bridge from Reference to Opus at the wall — heftier OFHC cable technology, more precise filter network calibration, still ULTIMATE-tier pricing.

Transparent Audio REFERENCE Speaker Cable

ULTIMATE-collection speaker cable — CFC network carapace with IFER-filled cavity, calibrated to specific amp and speaker.

Transparent Audio REFERENCE RCA Interconnect

The entry to Transparent’s ULTIMATE collection — the first tier calibrated to your specific source component, in a CFC network module with IFER damping.

Transparent Audio REFERENCE Balanced Interconnect

XLR-terminated Reference — fully differential, with dual precisely matched networks per channel in CFC modules, calibrated to your source component.

Transparent Audio REFERENCE Phono Interconnect (RCA)

ULTIMATE-collection phono interconnect — the CFC and IFER architecture of Reference RCA, retuned for cartridge-level signals and calibrated to your arm.

Transparent Audio REFERENCE Phono Interconnect (Balanced)

Reference Phono with differential-balanced termination — a genuine balanced path from tonearm to phono stage, for stages with true differential inputs.

Transparent Audio REFERENCE Power Cord

The entry to the ULTIMATE collection at the wall — a length-calibrated filter network in a CFC noise-reduction module over tightly built OFHC conductors.

Transparent Audio ULTRA Speaker Cable

The amplifier-to-speaker link in the LIFELIKE collection — a Gen 6 network in machined acrylic, calibrated to your amplifier and loudspeakers.

Transparent Audio ULTRA RCA Interconnect

The entry to the LIFELIKE collection — the tier where Transparent’s network module moves from molded plastic to machined and polished acrylic.

Transparent Audio ULTRA Balanced Interconnect

XLR-terminated Ultra — Gen 6 network with dual paths per channel and dual grounding, for resolving-separates balanced systems.

Transparent Audio ULTRA Phono Interconnect (RCA)

The LIFELIKE tonearm-to-phono cable — a Gen 6 acrylic network calibrated for a microvolt signal that can start as low as 0.2 mV.

Transparent Audio Ultra Gen 6 Loom

Full-system Ultra-tier Transparent cable package — interconnects, speaker cables, and power cords calibrated as a matched loom for a specific system.

Transparent Audio SUPER Speaker Cable

REALISTIC-collection speaker cable — heavier conductors, better terminations, more refined network filtering than Plus Speaker Cable.

Transparent Audio SUPER RCA Interconnect

The entry to Transparent’s REALISTIC collection — heavier conductors and finer network filtering than Plus, at the tier where cable differences turn concrete.

Transparent Audio SUPER Balanced Interconnect

The XLR companion to Super RCA in the REALISTIC collection — fully differential, two independently shielded signal paths plus a separate ground.

Transparent Audio SUPER Phono Interconnect (RCA)

The REALISTIC tonearm-to-phono cable — heavier conductors and more refined network filtering than Plus Phono, for the microvolt signal path.

Transparent Audio PLUS Speaker Cable

The AUTHENTIC entry on the speaker side — heavy precision-wound OFHC conductors with a network module calibrated to each cable’s exact length.

Transparent Audio PLUS RCA Interconnect

The entry point into the AUTHENTIC collection — a single-ended interconnect whose network is calibrated to that cable’s specific length and type.

Transparent Audio PLUS Balanced Interconnect

XLR-terminated Plus for balanced-line systems — differential topology plus Transparent’s length-calibrated Network Technology.

Transparent Audio PLUS Phono Interconnect (RCA)

The AUTHENTIC-tier cable built for the tonearm-to-phono-stage run — low-noise construction for a cartridge output as low as 0.2 mV.

Kimber Kable Neo Interconnect

The top of Kimber’s current catalogue — first all-new interconnect family in over twenty years. Built to order in Ogden.

Kimber Kable Naked Interconnect

The braid, presented without cover — air dielectric, palladium-under-gold plated conductors. Kimber’s flagship interconnect construction.

Kimber Kable KS 1136 Balanced XLR Interconnect

The top of Kimber’s Select 6000 range — all-silver VariStrand and solid core conductors braided together, terminated in balanced XLR.

Kimber Kable KS 1036 RCA Interconnect

The single-ended top of Select 6000 — all-silver VariStrand and solid core braided together, terminated in RCA with WBT connectors.

Kimber Kable KS 1126 Balanced XLR Interconnect

The middle of Select 6000 — silver and copper conductors braided into one cable rather than one or the other, terminated in balanced XLR.

Kimber Kable KS 1026 RCA Interconnect

Silver-and-copper hybrid conductors, RCA with WBT connectors — the single-ended middle of Kimber’s Select 6000 interconnect range.

Kimber Kable KS 1116 Balanced XLR Interconnect

The entry into Kimber’s Select 6000 reference tier — all-copper VariStrand and solid core conductors braided together, terminated in balanced XLR.

Kimber Kable KS 1016 RCA Interconnect

The single-ended entry into Select 6000 — all-copper VariStrand and solid core braided together, terminated in RCA with WBT connectors.

Kimber Kable KCAG Interconnect

The all-silver expression of the Kimber tri-braid — three Hyper-pure VariStrand silver conductors carrying both signal and ground.

Kimber Kable KCTG Interconnect

The six-wire braid version of KCAG — the same Hyper-pure VariStrand silver conductors with the count doubled from three to six.

Kimber Kable Carbon Interconnect

The Carbon series in the signal path — eight 19.5-gauge copper VariStrand conductors, carbon polymer screen, Teflon dielectric. RCA or balanced XLR.

Kimber Kable Silver Streak Interconnect

Kimber’s first copper-and-silver hybrid — two TCSS copper + one AGSS silver in the tri-braid. Summit series. Still the value benchmark in the range.

Kimber KS 6068

All-silver Select 6000 flagship — twelve solid-core and twelve VariStrand silver conductors braided around a stabilising core. Kimber’s most serious cable.

Kimber Kable KS 6065 Loudspeaker Cable

Two-thirds copper, one-third silver — the same Select 6000 architecture as KS 6068 with a 2:1 metallurgy ratio maintained throughout the braid.

Kimber Kable KS 6063 Loudspeaker Cable

All-copper Select 6000 — twelve solid core + twelve VariStrand copper conductors braided around a stabilizing core. Same architecture as KS 6068 in copper.

Kimber Carbon 18 XL

The flagship Carbon loudspeaker cable — 18 VariStrand copper conductors at 8 AWG aggregate per polarity, with a straight central 14.5 AWG run.

Kimber Kable Carbon 16 Loudspeaker Cable

The middle Carbon loudspeaker cable at 9 AWG per polarity — VariStrand copper, carbon polymer screen, pure braid throughout. Often the right place to stop.

Kimber Carbon 8

The entry to the Carbon range at 13 AWG per polarity — the same braid as Carbon 16 and 18 XL with fewer conductors. For stand-mounts and mid-size towers.

Kimber Kable TriFocal XL Loudspeaker Cable

True tri-wire in one body — six-wire HF, twelve-wire midrange and twenty-four-wire LF braids, isolated by ESD yarn. Five passes through the braider.

Kimber BiFocal XL

Two distinctly different cables in one body — a twelve-wire HF braid around an X38R core and a twenty-four-wire LF braid. A true bi-wire or bi-amp run.

Kimber Kable Monocle XL Loudspeaker Cable

Single-wire Summit series speaker cable — 24-wire braid (12 TC + 12 VS) around Kimber’s X38R stabilizing core, 2 × 9 AWG per side, WBT NextGen termination.

Kimber Kable 12TC Loudspeaker Cable

Twenty-four TCSS conductors per channel, 8 AWG aggregate — the flagship of Kimber’s iconic Ascent-tier woven speaker cables.

Kimber Kable 8TC Loudspeaker Cable

Sixteen TCSS conductors per channel, 9 AWG aggregate — the cable that made Kimber’s reputation, still in production after forty years.

Kimber PK10 Palladian

The Summit-tier power cord in 10 AWG, for power amplifiers and monoblocks. WattGate 330/350 AU EVO connectors top Kimber’s in-house range.

Kimber PK14 Palladian

The Summit-tier power cord in 14 AWG, for DACs, transports and preamplifiers. WattGate 330/350 AU EVO connectors top Kimber’s in-house range.

Choosing cables, in detail

Cables are the last thing to change, not the first. If a system is not doing what you want, the cause is almost always the room, the loudspeaker placement or a component mismatch — and no cable will fix any of those. Get the system right, then treat cables as the final adjustment.

What a cable is doing is measurable and unglamorous. It has capacitance, inductance and resistance, and those values interact with the output impedance driving them and the input impedance receiving them. A long interconnect with high capacitance from a high-output-impedance tube stage will roll off the top end. That is not a subtle effect and it is the sort of thing worth getting right before considering anything more exotic.

Buy the length you actually need and no more, keep power and signal separated where they run parallel, and use balanced connections for long runs where both ends support them properly. Beyond that, cables are a matching exercise rather than a ladder — the most expensive option in a range is not automatically the right one for your system.

Hear these in Scottsdale and Tempe

This is a category where opinion runs ahead of evidence, so we would rather you heard the difference than took anyone's word for it. Transparent and Kimber can be compared directly on the same system in the showroom, and Transparent's upgrade programme means a cable bought now retains its value against a later step up. Tell us what the cables have to connect and how far apart it all sits, and we will specify rather than guess.