Pure Note Paragon vs. Kimber Select

There are three different Kimber Select products, specifically, all copper, copper/silver hybrid, and all-silver, and each is made as interconnects and speaker cables. Each sounds slightly different.

Because the performance of interconnects and speaker cables is heavily dependent upon their synergy with the other components in a system, the only comparison that matters is how each performs in your system (or in a system exactly identical to yours). To that end, buy both, break them in thoroughly so you know they are performing as intended, and keep the one that sounds best. To choose cabling any other way is gambling.

Raquel, if there were only two cables in the world, your advice makes some sense. The fact is there are hundreds. The point of these forums is to get multiple reports based on others' experiences in order to narrow it down a bit. I imagine the original poster of this thread is doing just that.

It may seem to you like gambling, but following your advice I would bet on all the horses in the race to ensure that I won.

Probably too new to tell yet on Paragons. I have had mine (interconnects) for about a week and they are a much better match in my system. The Pure Note Cerulean was excellent but the Paragon is really a step up and they cost a little less. I have compared these to more expensive brands, Nordost and Siltech, and the Pure Notes are as good or better for far less money. Worth a try IMO.

Redkiwi wrote: "Raquel, if there were only two cables in the world, your advice makes some sense."

In fact, the poster of this thread was asking about exactly that -- two specific cables, not "hundreds".

As for the rest of your admonishment, Kimber Select and Pure Note are high-end cables that are very revealing of the subtle differences brought about by changes in components, whether the components are being used with isolation products and after-market power cords, the room that the system is in and whether the room is treated, whether the speakers (and turntable, arm and cartridge) are set up properly, the quality of the electric supply, and on and on, and it is very easy to attribute a characteristic to the cable that is actually the result of an upstream component or speaker or room problem. For example, a person who complains that Kimber Select's silver cabling sounds bright and grainy in his system is probably blaming the cable in error -- what he is likely hearing is grain and other problems in mediocre upstream components that are laid bare by the Black Pearl conductor in Kimber Select's silver IC's and speaker cables, which is very transparent from the midrange up. In addition, different cables have different resistive and capacitive qualities that interact greatly with the other components, making a cable that sounds perfect in one system sound totally wrong in another system (I have heard Quatroffil make a $50k system sound like an AM radio). For the record, I run Kimber Select 1030 interconnects and 3038 speaker cables in my main system.

In short, I stand by my comment.

PS - Your horse analogy here escapes me. How about, "[G]o to the stable, ride some horses and keep the one that suits you best."

I have used Pure Note cables for many years and am a happy customer. I did own Kimber Black Pearls once which were OK but costly. I currently own the PN Cerulean which is very neutral in my system. I will most likely upgrade to the Paragons at a later date.