Kimber Kable Carbon 16 Speaker Cable - 4.0 Meter - Banana to Banana - Pair

Kimber Kable Carbon 16 Speaker Cable

Kimber Kable Carbon 16 is a speaker cable from Kimber's Carbon Series, rated at about 9 AWG per lead. It uses 16 VariStrand copper conductors in a counter-opposed helix, with a low-loss fluorocarbon dielectric. Kimber says its strength lies in handling the power needs of demanding floorstanding speakers and larger stand-mounted monitors.

Kimber says the conductors are covered with carbon infused polymer and a Teflon dielectric. Kimber terminates every cable with nitrogen-assisted hand soldering, so the connectors named in each listing's title come from Kimber. Other length & termination options are available. Call us to discuss your needs.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Ken Stokes reviewed Carbon 8 and Carbon 16 for HiFi Pig on February 19, 2020. He wrote, "I found the soundstage to match the overall dynamic grip these cables offered and was huge."

Neil Gader reviewed Carbon 16 and Carbon 18XL for The Absolute Sound on February 21, 2022. He heard "a clean, lively, bold midrange character" and wrote, "Octave-to-octave tonal balance was smooth and natural."

Who Is This Speaker Cable Best For?

• You have floorstanding speakers — Kimber says Carbon 16 can handle the power needs of demanding floorstanding loudspeakers
• Your monitors are larger stand-mounts — Kimber names larger stand-mounted monitors as the other fit
• You want a heavier cable — Kimber rates it at about 9 AWG per lead, with 16 conductors in each cable
• You want connectors fitted by the maker — Kimber terminates every cable with nitrogen-assisted hand soldering
• You have small desktop speakers — Kimber describes Carbon 8 for desktop loudspeakers and monitors, so look there instead

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Connect one end to your amplifier's speaker outputs and the other to your speaker's binding posts, red to red and black to black. Do the same for the second speaker.

The Measuring Mistake That Leaves You Inches Short

Speaker cable is cut for one room. Measure the path the cable will really take, around furniture and along the baseboard. Then add a little slack. As Cardas puts it, "A cable that's just long enough usually turns out to be just not long enough." Keep the left and right runs the same length, as Cardas recommends, even when one speaker sits closer.

Which Connector Holds Up Best Over the Years?

Spades clamp under a binding post and hold tight. Bananas push straight in, so they connect fastest. Kimber fits its 1/4-inch silver spade, which it calls SPADE, or its silver banana, which it calls S-BAN. Bare wire fits almost anything, but we suggest avoiding it. Bare copper oxidizes quickly, and Cardas notes that copper oxide is not a good conductor. If you use bare wire, re-strip the ends when the copper darkens.

When Is It Time to Upgrade?

Speaker cable often stays put for years. Look again when something else changes. Moving from bookshelf speakers to floorstanders is the big one. In our experience, about nine in ten people who make that move keep their old speaker cable. A stronger amplifier, a longer run, or darkened ends are the other signs.

Pairs Well With

These are the categories on either end of your speaker cable.

• Floorstanding Speakers — the speakers Kimber names first for Carbon 16
• Bookshelf Speakers — the speaker end for larger stand-mounted monitors
• Integrated Amplifiers — the amplifier end in most stereo systems
• Stereo Amplifiers — the amplifier end when you run separates

Frequently Asked Questions

Who terminates this cable?

Kimber does. Kimber lists "Nitrogen assisted hand soldered termination" as a Carbon 16 feature, and the connectors named in the listing's title are fitted at the factory.

What gauge is Carbon 16?

Kimber's page reads "CARBON 16 ~9AWG PER +/- LEAD". Its series page lists 16 copper conductors of 19.5 AWG.

What is the difference between a pair and a single?

In Kimber's words, a pair of speaker cables "goes from an amplifier to a pair of speakers". A single speaker cable "goes from an amplifier to a single speaker."

What does the carbon do?

Kimber lists an electrostatically dissipative carbon polymer as a feature. Its Carbon Series page says the copper conductors are covered with carbon infused polymer and a Teflon dielectric.

Which connectors does Kimber use?

Kimber's standard 1/4-inch silver spade, which it calls SPADE, and its silver banana, which it calls S-BAN. The listing's title shows which one is on each end. Bare wire means no connector.

Is there a warranty?

Kimber offers a lifetime warranty on all its factory-terminated cables with proof of purchase from an authorized dealer. Audio Advisor is an authorized Kimber dealer.

Need a Different Length or Connector?

The most popular configurations are shown on this page. If your system requires a different length or termination, call our audio experts. We’ll help you choose the right configuration and arrange a custom cable for your system.

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Learn More

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