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In 1997, we called it the "Stereophile" Show, which took place right here in San Francisco, at the Westin St. Francis. But for legal purposes, it could not use the Stereophile name.
Anyway, Kimber Kable were excited about upcoming new lines, which turned out to be their Select Series.
However, Kimber did have their new Monocle and Bi-Focal speaker cable models. These used TC conductors for positive, VS conductors for negative. My friend ACS, who used to work at that very Westin St. Francis Victoria's Secret (above), said that Kimber's VS stood for Victoria's Secret. But no, Kimber's VS has always stood for "Vari-Strand."
At the end of 1997, my Thiel CS1.5 (above) used Kimber's 8TC speaker cable. We wanted something better, so we started to try speaker cables from AudioQuest, Cardas, MIT, Tara Labs, Wireworld, and XLO.
Again, Kimber do not presently have any Northern California dealers. But back in late 1997, I went to San Francisco's Ultimate Sound, and borrowed a Monocle XL. Back then, an 8-foot pair was under US$1000!
Here on the Central CA coast, the end of 1997 was rainy. Yet, weathermen kept saying, "Wait 'til El Niņo comes!"
We liked what the Kimber Monocle XL was doing on the Thiel CS1.5. My friends, including my future wife (above, in the light-colored hoodie), and I left the stereo, and headed down the coast. Using those binoculars, we saw neither storms nor migrating whales.
In February 1998, El Niņo did bring soaking rains. My coworkers at the time can vouch for the fact that, loving the rains, I did a victory lap, around the block of California, Kearny, Pine, and Montgomery Streets.
At the end of March 1998, my friend Annie, who had gone on that road trip down the CA coast, turned 21. I can't put my finger on it, but something about that party inspired me to reach higher. So instead of keeping the Monocle XL, I ponied up for Kimber's Select KS-3033.
Since Annie's 21st birthday, my friends and I have had very little experience with the Kimber Monocle XL. But look what we have here.
Alas, the Monocle XL is no longer affordable. Its U.S. retail price is $1,420 for termination, which includes your choice of WBT copper 0661 or 0681 spades, and 0610 angled banana plugs. The cable itself is $260 per half meter stereo pair. Therefore, an 8-foot pair is now $2,460.
Be that as it may, we will put the Kimber Monocle XL through our usual thorough evaluation.
-Lummy The Loch Monster
Follow Ups:
Great pic of those Thiel CS 1.5 speakers- Lummy.
A lot of secrets to Victoria's Secret...
5. "The number of men who would try the, 'My gf/wife is exactly your size...maybe you could try this on so I can get an idea of what it might look like on her?' was disgusting."
In 1991, ACS graduated from high school, and then worked at the S.F. Union Square Victoria's Secret, which may have been on Post Street then.
In August 1991, ACS entered UC Berkeley. On some weekends, she'd still come back to S.F., and work a few hours at VS. In response to #5 above, she was trained to smile, ask about the customer's gf/wife, and flatter her. ACS could then lead/guide the customer over to the mannequin, whose shape roughly resembled hers. That was a technique to use, to diffuse the situation, and see if the customer really had a gf/wife, and if so, what her body type might be. ACS was sly, in asking the customer, "So, if your gf/wife were to wear this, how does it make you feel?"
UC Berkeley students are only guaranteed housing for freshman year. ACS applied for housing but did not get selected. She and some friends found a place north of campus. That summer of 1992, ACS was burned-out from school. So instead of taking summer classes, she simply asked for more hours at VS.
Since ACS was more familiar with the East Bay than I was, she accompanied me to dB Audio, Music Lovers Audio, and The Audio Chamber. Because of her training at VS, she saw right through the audio salesmen, and remarked at how lousy they were.
ACS had a major influence on me, as an audiophile. Her training at VS introduced how important aesthetics were, in audio. For over 20 years, audiophiles have written to me, stating how ACS' remarks have impacted them . ACS is the kind of friend from whom you will not hear for months. And then, out of the blue, she'll reach out. You'll have rapid-fire communications, and then you won't hear from her again for months. But during those rat-a-tat-tat communications, ACS provides you with lots of material.
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