Any speaker cable's sound quality just blown you away?

I sometimes sound like a curmudgeon on this topic, so please forgive me in advance. First, no cable -- speaker, interconnect, etc. -- should "blow you away". If it "blows you away", it's because it is NOT sounding natural. A truly accurate cable shouldn't have any identifiable sound of its own. Second, I think the price being charged for most high-end speaker cables is obscene. It's WIRE for Pete's sake, not gold-plated latinum! Having made these two points -- and possibly raising the ire of some -- I will respond to your question and say that the best speaker wire I have owned or heard is Kimber Kable 4TC and 8TC. It's the best to my ears because, from what I can tell, it makes virtually no impact on the reproduced sound -- which is exactly what it should do. Ray Kimber for years was one of the few really sane people making high-quality speaker cable and IC's -- and I was sorry to see him jump on the high-priced bandwagon. When it comes to wire, expensive does not often translate into better. I've auditioned a fair variety of high-end speaker cables, and I keep coming back to ole' reliable: Kimber 4TC and 8TC.

Coincident Total Reference

As a former user of Kimber 8TC on my ProAc Response 3s (now replaced by Gallo Ultimates) Ican honestly say that I've found MapleshadeCleaview (Double Golden Helix) cables to be superior in every way. I was using bi-wired Kimbers and Pierre Sprey of Mapleshade recommended going with single links and a pair of his jumpers (thin copper foil). At $280for an 8-foot pair, I think it's an outstanding bargain too.

I agree with sdcampbell that the best cable should be the cable that seems to be the most neutral. To me that would be the cable that doesn't lose what I'm looking for or add what another cable does. My personal favorite is the Synergistic Research Res Ref. I run it, currently in double runs to my main speakers. I was running one set to each speaker, and recently went to double runs due to a deal I couldn't pass up. To be truthful, the difference is very slight when going to double runs. That is how good the single set is. I have listened to them with Watts, Dunlavys, Coincidents, and B&Ws and with a myriad of electronics. When friends are looking for cables, I offer to let them listen to mine in their system. Each speaker/system has performed as expected. None have had a similar emphasis in any sonic way. This would lead me to believe the cabling has no sonic signature, and just carries what it is given.--Be it good or bad.

I agree with Mr. Campbell, a cable should not "blow you away." Speakers can do this, however. Even if you are using lamp cord there should not be a huge difference among cables. The SPM's in my system sounded less focused than a good silver cable. Some of the silver cables I have tried are: Silver Audio, Silver Smith, Pure Note, and Kimber 4AG. These cables all sounded different, some were brighter and others more musical. The jury is still out on my choice.