kimber select 3033 speakercable?

Yes. The 3033 is better in all regards than the Monocle XL

To me, the 3033's are more life like than any highend Audioquest cable. I have used AQ Argent, Clear, Sterling, and Dragon. While the 3033 is close in many regards to the AQ, I've found the AQ to have a tone which sounds a bit "nasal" when compared to 3033. Kimbers 3033 is of course all copper vs. these AQ's which are (except for Dragon) silver/copper hybrid, thus it is easy to imagine how the 3033 could sound richer.. but... I don't think the 3033 is a rich sounding cable by any means... it's thin, fast and precise like the AQ except has more accurate or life like phrasing.

Even though this is a copper cable, it does not have the bold richness and tight bass of something like Cardas Golden Cross. In fact, I think the bass of the 3033 cable is a little wimpy.

If you jump up the ladder to 3035, you'll hear midrange vocals that sound like flesh! The texture is so real its scary -- the 3035's are an astonishing cable -- but still not as rich (in the bass) as the Golden Cross.

I am not a huge fan of Tara Air cables. To me they sound smeared. I've never tried BiFocal XL's since I immediately presumed that the Kimber Select was better. My speakers are Tri-wire capable and Todd at Kimber has recommended that I use Bi-Focal XL for the highs and mids and a run of KS-3035 for the low frequency. To me, that is a waste of the 3035. So.. what I did was run a length of Cardas Golden Cross to the Low Frequency and a run of KS-3035 to the Mids with a KS-9038 (3038) jumper to the highs.

Now my speakers have that organic richness, phenominal deep bass (I've never heard bass which was more "right" than with the Golden Cross) and sparkling highs. Pretty good solution for me and the first time I ever appreciated having Tri-Wire speakers since this solution wouldn't work
otherwise.

Close to the KS-3035's without the high price? Strangely enough I would have to suggest the 3033's as being the closest without the "high" price. I think a pair of 3033's can be picked up for 1000 or so used. As a matter of fact, check out higherfi.com on their sales page, they have a pair of 12' 3033's for less than I've ever seen them. All cables have their own family sound and Kimber Select is no exception. The difference between 3033 and 3035 is significant but somehow they are the same. I know that sounds silly but it's true.

I've never heard of Electromagnet wire for speakers... seems interesting though. IF you can get some cheap, it might be worth a listen but I wouldn't know what to expect.

For speaker cables, I think copper provides the richest sound possible. Cardas Golden Reference is a fast cable but still has that rich midrange bloom w/loads of detail. It's a good bet in the 1200 price range (used).

Many people like Silver cables but I've found them to be a little too much when used as speaker cables. They work great as interconnects (where the voltage is lower than in speaker cables) to preserve the fine detail.

Silver plated copper seems to "ring" or sound MORE nasal than pure silver cable. Aren't Analysis Plus cables silver plated copper? Acutually the only silver plated cable I've heard which doesn't ring is Nordost SPM but.. it too will sound thin and bright compared to pure copper.

I used to own Ensemble Megaflux. I purchased after believing all the HYPE given to this product line by both the West Coast and East Coast Ensemble dealers. Truthfully? It's not that great. Sakahara, to claim that Megaflux is better than some of the cables you mention (especially Audio Note) I've got to question your motives... I noticed you posted Ensemble "ads" quite a few times this evening.

I found the Ensemble to be decent cable... Similar to something like Harmonic Technologies Pro 9 or Tara Labs RSC Air. Nothing spectacular. Just shielded copper cable.

I listened for myself and then bought something else.

Sakahara, Good reply. I didn't intend to offend you. I just listened to the Megaflux (alone) and didn't think much of it. The cables made my system sound muddy. The sound stage collapsed and frankly I felt ripped off.. Especially after listening to (and believing) people who's oppinions I trusted. Heck, after reading your posts..... I want to try Megaflux again!!

My system(s) with Megaflux cables were: (Keep in mind I had NO power products on my system until recently.)

Day One: Krell FPB 250, Krell KPS28 CD, Krell KCT. I used Cast interconnects and had Wilson-Benesch Act One Speakers. Prior to using the Megaflux, I used Sterling speaker cables. The Sterlings were better in every way except for the amount of bass. Speakers are Tri-Wire and they were jumpered with the stock plates.

I sold my Krell stuff and purchased Chord Electronics. SPM1200 Amp and CPA Pre Amp. With a Marantz SA-1 Cd player.
Got a mixture of interconnects (bad thing) NBS, AQ Diamond, SPM Reference, Cardas Golden Reference & Cross... side note: I noticed that with the Cardas Golden Cross anywhere in my system, the bass was astonishing....
Same speakers. With this setup, I used my Sterling... hated it. The Megaflux sounded a wee bit better than the Sterling -- much warmer and rounder. Sold the Sterling and purchased FIM Gold. MAN! That sounded great! but.. after a few weeks I thought it was too much. The FIM was far superior to the Megaflux in this case. I sold the FIM and purchased KS-3033... It was okay in this system.. Not great but okay. I felt is was more resolving than the Megaflux and less than the FIM -- but still didn't have the bass I felt my speakers were capable of. My speakers were still jumpered with the stock plates.

Notice a trend here?? I sold several cables... and not the Megaflux. Do you know why? Because it sat on the market and NO ONE WANTED IT! I couldn't GIVE it away...

I sold my Chord, bought a GamuT (it was hard to sell as well but I managed to sell it too)... Sold my KS-3033 and purchased KS-3035 which I prefered to the Megaflux as well. Then... I did the best thing I've done for myself in a LONG TIME... I bought a pair of Electrocompaniet AW180 Mono Blocks and that changed everything. Any cable sounds good with EC! Even the Megaflux... but I still felt it didn't sound as good as the KS-3035 in my system.

I was still using the stock plates on my speakers.

Then I ran the MegaFlux to the low frequency binding posts on my speakers, the KS-3035 to the Mids and a solid silver wire to jumper from the Mids to the Highs. Finally the MegaFlux was doing what I needed it to do and I felt pretty happy. Suddenly... after 3 months, someone wanted to buy my Megaflux (to my surprise).... I sold the Megaflux, replaced with Cardas Golden Cross and have never looked back.

Today I use the Golden Cross for my LF, the Kimber Select for my MF and am actively seeking the right HF cable for my system. I have Shunyata Viper V2's on my EMC-1 24/192 CD Player and AW-180 Monos. As far as I/C's go, I am currently driving myself nuts trying to find the right combo.

Sakahara, I might add that one thing stood clear in your post and that's the idea that Cables (ALL) are a system themselves, designed to be used as such. Combining cables is only for those who like me, are nuts! It would be easier to buy all one cable type and then change components to produce the sound we seek wouldn't it?

Sorry for rambling... It's late and I'm exhausted.