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Full Version: ZEF MAX vs Kimble 8TC
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Smile Hi everyone,
I am using Devialet Expert Pro 220 to compliment the Atohm GT1 SE loudspeakers.
I am thinking of upgrading my current Kimble 8TC(Blue/Black) to ZEF Max speaker cables.
I have visited the Devialet Showroom in Paris and they were using ZEF Max for demo.
I am concerned,would I heard a improvement in SQ?
The Kimble 8TC sounds great to me.
Any suggestions or comments are welcome.
(27-Jun-2017, 11:04)Albertsee Wrote: [ -> ]The Kimble 8TC sounds great to me.

It begs the question, why bother if you like what you've got?

In any case the only sure way is to find someone who will let you evaluate at home and return if there's no positive difference.
Hi Albert,

I tried three different speaker cables on my system and zef max were the least convincing ones : 1st came QED genesis silver and 2nd Nac A5. Furthermore, the termination of 3 banana plugs out of 8 went loose very quickly ie unusable. I had to switch for the provided spare spades which are quite cumbersome and forced me to heighten the Devialet because of their angle (L shaped).

I own B&W cm10 so it can be the explanation : using Zef max the sound appeared to me to be metallic and somewhat unexpressive. Not very easy to describe when not a native English speaker...
You can also take it with a pinch of salt because I am a little bit hesitant to assert that I can hear differences between speaker cables. However I am honest and just write here what I experienced with the inception that psychology might have been involved in the process. The defect banana plugs are for real and not the result of my imagination !
The 8tc is very good cable , it was my reference for many years . Only recently I switched to Belden which I also highly recommend. There are much better cables out there once who make the sound much prettier. For me it doesn't matter though
(27-Jun-2017, 12:39)Hifi_swlon Wrote: [ -> ]
(27-Jun-2017, 11:04)Albertsee Wrote: [ -> ]The Kimble 8TC sounds great to me.
It begs the question, why bother if you like what you've got?
In any case the only sure way is to find someone who will let you evaluate at home and return if there's no positive difference.

Albertsee,

As above, if you like the sound you have, then maybe no change is necessary. I think of speaker cables as a kind of tuning, which is really dependent on the system and the room, and your own preferences. If you are happy with the sound, then the balance is probably right. But if curiosity is nibbling at your ears, then trying other cables in your own system really is the only way to find out if a change is an improvement or not. A good dealer will let you try cables at home and return them if they do not work for you.

Consider also that your preference may not be the same as the staff at Devialet, so you can certainly use different cables than they do and have great sound.
Thank you Hifi_swlon,No 32,Bruno and Damon.
for great feedback,comments and suggestions.
I guess I stay put with my 8TC for the moment.
I have Zef Max with my D200 / B&W 805d.
I can't remember the other cables tested at the dealer shop, but what I liked was the definition/transparency and clean bass.
So I can understand that in some systems it could be seen as a little aggressive in the highs.
With these cables I notice every little change or "issue" in my system.
Test it or if you can't stay with your config Wink
Thank you ledesc it was well noted you have good experience with ZEF Max.