Kimber Kable Carbon 8 Speaker Cable - 1.5 Meter - Banana to Banana - Pair

Kimber Kable Carbon 8 Is a Light, Flexible Cable for Small Speakers

Carbon 8 comes from the Carbon Series at Kimber Kable. Kimber builds it from eight 19.5 AWG copper conductors, covered with carbon-infused polymer and a Teflon dielectric. The company lists it at about 13 AWG per positive and negative lead, and calls it a nimble ninja that connects your gear quietly.

Kimber terminates every Carbon 8 itself, using nitrogen assisted hand soldered termination. It fits either its standard 1/4-inch silver spades or its silver S-BAN bananas. Each listing’s title names the connector on each end, or bare wire when there is no connector.

Other length & termination options are available. Call us to discuss your needs.

What Does the Carbon Layer Do?

Kimber says Carbon 8 uses an electrostatically dissipative carbon polymer. According to Kimber, it reduces mechanically induced electrical noise and improves the uniformity of the voltage gradient within the insulating dielectric.

What Is Inside the Braid?

Carbon 8 uses VariStrand copper conductors in an 8 wire counter opposed helix. The dielectric is a low loss fluorocarbon, which Kimber also calls Teflon. Kimber says the braid makes a seamless transition to the terminals.

Why Weight and Flexibility Matter on Small Speakers

Kimber calls Carbon 8 very lightweight and flexible, and says it places very little mechanical stress on smaller stand mounted designs. Kimber says it is ideal for small desktop and stand mounted monitors, and calls it a minimalist design.

What Is an S-BAN, and What Is the Spade?

Kimber says its S-BAN banana has a nickel plated beryllium copper spring. The spring gives consistent pressure with high electrical conductivity. The spade is Kimber’s standard 1/4-inch silver spade.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Ken Stokes reviewed Carbon 8 and 16 for HiFi Pig on February 19, 2020. He found both "very neutrally balanced, both detailed and both deliver a very dynamic sound quality and huge soundstage with positively almost visible gaps between instruments".

Stokes also wrote in HiFi Pig, "These cables are not simply different in technical construction, they offer a scale of presentation that shocked me."

Stokes heard "a clinical, hard edge" at first from new Carbon 8 cable, but reported that "the Carbon 8 softened from that initial jolt when first set up."

Who Is This Speaker Cable Best For?

• You run desktop speakers or monitors — Kimber describes Carbon 8 as made for them
• You use small stand-mounted monitors — Kimber says its light, flexible build puts very little stress on them
• You want a natural sound profile — Kimber says carbon avoids a sound that is overly bright or overly dark
• You want a cable finished by its maker — Kimber terminates each Carbon 8 with nitrogen assisted hand soldering
• You own large floorstanding speakers — Kimber points those to its heavier Carbon 16, so Carbon 8 may be too small

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. 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.

Tighten the connections, power up, and play something you know well.

When Is It Time to Upgrade?

Speaker cable often stays put for years, so it tends to be the last thing upgraded. 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

A speaker cable joins your amplifier to your speakers. These are the categories on either end of it.

• Floorstanding Speakers — the best time to rethink your speaker cable
• Bookshelf Speakers — the speaker end in a smaller room
• Integrated Amplifiers — the amplifier end in most stereo systems
• Stereo Amplifiers — the amplifier end when you run separates

Frequently Asked Questions

Who terminates Carbon 8?

Kimber does. Kimber lists nitrogen assisted hand soldered termination as a feature.

Which connectors can Carbon 8 have?

Kimber’s standard 1/4-inch silver spades and its silver S-BAN bananas. Each listing’s title names the connector on each end. Bare wire means no connector.

What gauge is Carbon 8?

Kimber lists it at about 13 AWG per positive and negative lead. Each lead is made of eight 19.5 AWG copper conductors.

What is the difference between Carbon 8 and Carbon 16?

Carbon 16 uses a 16 wire counter opposed helix and is listed at about 9 AWG per lead. Kimber says it suits demanding floor standing loudspeakers.

What is the difference between pair and single?

Kimber says 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.

Is Carbon 8 covered by a warranty?

Yes. 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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