Kimber PBJ, Part 11

Posted by Luminator (A) on October 8, 2022 at 14:11:54

In late summer 1993, I purchased a balanced Kimber PBJ, for use between a B&K Pro10MC preamp and Muse Model 100 power amp. That was my only balanced connection, so I only needed that one cable. Versus more expensive AudioQuest models, the $62 PBJ was less fuzzy. The affordable PBJ was good enough, that it freed me to pursue other things, such as bowling league.

My home alley was Japantown Bowl. But some of us participated in a mid-California "travel league." It took place roughly every three weeks. The host alleys would rotate. You could go from Pacifica in the west, Roseville in the north, Yosemite in the east, and Simi Valley in the south.

You could go in the van(s), along with the guys. But I would call my (female) friends, and turn these travel league trips into weekend getaways.

"Let's just go. You can clean up later."

In Fall 1993, my friends were still in college. But so were many of the bowlers.

We had subcompact economy cars. Even physically small girls could feel squeezed. For larger guys, those small seats could be uncomfortable. But if you were the 5'3"-or-under girl, sometimes your body could fit okay. During Fall, when the northern hemisphere sun was lower in the sky, the visor was ineffective. The girl driver kept staring into her mirrors. If she turned her head, her view was obstructed by passengers, or the stanchion between side door windows.

A major component of those road trips was sharing and trying snacks. The red/black/blue color scheme of the Kimber PBJ reminded us of Red Vines. But since the PBJ didn't eat up a lot of money, we still had some left over, to try other kinds of licorice.

During the day, those economy subcompact cars could get hot. And at night, those same cars could get cold. However, with four of us in the car, our body heat could warm up the interior. And then the girls' breaths provided some heat, but also fogged up the windows. So we were busy wiping the glass, LOL.

One girl would frustratingly keep blowing her nose. But in your company, she eventually said, "F-- it," took her pinkie, and picked her nose.

Another huge factor was meeting other friends, and their respective colleges. At both Cal Poly SLO and bowling alleys, Haddaway's "Life" was a fun dance number.

Hey! Swimwear should have eye-popping colors. Why'd you get black?

Here in California, late 1993 was hot and dry. At Pismo Beach, we did not need a wetsuit.

Okay, so everybody wants to know how Kimber's PBJ and Carbon compare to each other. Here, we will do a head-to-head with the balanced versions. The PBJ and Carbon do not sound like different products. Rather, the Carbon seems to pick up where the PBJ left off, and reduce a few negatives, the most important of which is tonal balance. The PBJ (a) rolls off the top octave, and (b) loses mass in the deep bass. The Carbon corrects these tonal imbalances.

By not rolling off the top octave, the Carbon gives you a better view into the recording. My friend Scylla likens that to using a squeegee, to get the morning dew off of your car's windows. With the Carbon, you feel like the driver, (a) whose mirrors capture more of what's going on, and (b) who has windows large and clear enough to see out of.

With the PBJ, it is as if you are in the backseat, dozing off, and resting your head on the girl's shoulder.

With the Carbon, you wake up, wipe off your window, and see where you are. Once you get your bearings, you not just smell, but feel the girls' breaths. You know what their hair, clothes, and bodies smell like. It's like picking your nose, and finally being able to breathe freely through your sinuses.

When the Carbon better maintains bass mass and control, you feel as though the car seats are bigger, more form-fitting, and comfortable. Image focus and stability are better preserved, so you feel as though you have put away the mass market snacks, and have gotten to the ones with higher-quality ingredients. The Carbon more accurately reveals instrumental shapes and textures, so you actually get to savor those higher-quality snacks. The music now starts, flows, and stops with fewer bumps, jitter, and chugging. You feel as if you are in a better car.

But you know what? The balanced PBJ still gets you to your destination. It's just a more noisy, bumpy, dirty, tiring ride. And because the PBJ did not cost an arm and a leg, it still leaves you with time to explore and enjoy that destination.

-Lummy The Loch Monster

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Topic - Kimber PBJ, Part 11 - Luminator 14:11:54 10/08/22 (1)

RE: Kimber PBJ, Part 11 - Crazy Dave 08:32:59 10/09/22 (0)

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