I agree that getting better speaker cables may help but I am confused as to what brand of cables you are using. Nordost and Kimber mixed? Now you want to intorduce another brand (ZEN) to the mix? Every cable is colored in some way and finding the brand that integrates best with your components is important. If you mix and match you will not creat the synergy of the sum being better that it's parts when cabling your system. I recommend you steer clear of adding another brand of speaker wires to the mix, decide on a brand from the ones you have sleected so far and continue in that direction. What connections do you have between each component now? e-mail me for further discussion if you like. I may have some Kimber wire that you may want to try if you like the Kimber sound.
Pease help with next upgrade
I am looking for experienced audio people to assist me in my next upgrade. I am using Audio Research and Levinson electronics, along with a Sony SACD. Cabling is from Kimber and Nordost. I know my weak links are my speaker cables (Audioquest type 4) and also my Power conditioning (none being used but I am runing a Shunyata Black Mamba and a few Sidewinders). I am torn between adding some Acoustic Zen speker cable (around $800) or a Shunyata Hydra(around $1600). Can anybody tell me where I would get the most improvement? Also, I forgot to mention I am using Spendor 7/1 speakers. Or, if I am off track, maybe somebody can tell me what cables or power conditioning adds most value for the money? Thanks.