Kimber Monocle X

If you plan on upgrading any of your other components, do that first. Active components and speakers should make a much bigger difference than a pair of speaker cables. Especially since both cables are made by the same company. Also, cables don't always sound the same with different equipment. In one system, a cable may sound bright, and in another system, dull. 

The secret to making the right cable choice, is to properly match your components first. If you get that right, cable selection becomes much easier. Most people demand way too much from cables, and are usually disappointed because they don't do as much as they thought they would.

" I had been using 8TC and tried the Monocle X and was a bit surprised at how similar they were--The Monocle X was better but I was expecting a wider margin. (Rowland Model 10 driving Maggie 1.7i's). "

That's probably the perfect amp to use for driving the 1.7's. I still have my 112. If I remember correctly, its the stereo version of your 10's. Those amps get the timbre exactly right in the high frequencies. At first, you may think its rolled off, but all of the information is there.

Appearance wise, the Monocle looks more like the Select series than the 8 or 12 TC. Its just an observation on my part. They may very well sound closer to the 8's.