Kimber Kable KS PHONO Tonearm Cables

Kimber Kable's new Kimber KS PHONO tonearm cable range (from £2,400) has landed in the UK and replaces the KS-1216 and KS-1236 cables.

'KS' denotes 'Kimber Select' and, reflecting the conventions of other Select lines in the Kimber catalogue, the KS PHONO comes in copper (CU), hybrid copper-silver (HB) and pure silver (AG) variants. Each cable shares a construction methodology based around four 24AWG signal conductors that are insulated with dye-free air articulated PTFE, ensuring minimal capacitance and dielectric losses and maximum signal integrity, says the maker. The CU version uses copper for the four conductors, while the HB and AG models are made using pure silver.

We are told that innovative shielding ensures the signal remains pure and hum-free. This treatment surrounds the four conductors and is manufactured using a 44AWG, heavy (8%) silver-plated copper shield. Although Kimber typically specifies pure silver, in this application copper has the advantage that it can be drawn to finer diameters, giving a greater shield coverage of 95% while retaining cable flexibility. This design is shared across all three variants of the KS PHONO.

The grounding of the CU and HB cables is further enhanced through the use of eight 24AWG pure copper braided conductors bonded to the shield with pure silver foil and silver solder. They are terminated in spade connectors to facilitate attachment to the turntable and accompanying electronics' grounding terminals. The KS PHONO-AG grounding cables are manufactured using eight 24AWG pure silver conductors.

The new cables are hand-built at the Kimber factory in Utah, USA, and are finished with hardwood accents in purpleheart, bloodwood and ebony according to the model.

The Kimber KS PHONO range can be supplied with phono plugs at both ends – WBT 0102Cu for the KS PHONO-CU and WBT 0102Ag for the hybrid and silver cables – or a combination of phono plugs and the traditional straight DIN or 90-degree SME plug for the turntable end.

Prices for 0.75m cables range from £2,400 for the KS PHONO-CU terminated with WBT 0102Cu phonos at both ends up to the range-topping KS PHONO-AG with WBT 0102Ag phonos and SME plug at £7,650.