September 2026

World Premiere Review!
Kimber Kable NEO-HB & NEO-CU Review: Next-Generation High-Fidelity Audio Cables That Transform System Performance
Inside Kimber Kable's New hybrid NEO Series: Real-world listening tests, system impact, and why these reference cables may redefine what's possible in high-end audio.
Review By Brett Rudolph

  Kimber Kable is one of the few cable companies that have remained a leader through various upheavals in the audiophile world. This is a substantial achievement, considering that throughout the industry's history, one of the longest and perhaps most heated debates has been the acceptance and validity of using high-quality audiophile-grade cabling. Though it would be wonderful to resolve this debate forever, it is not entirely certain that it is even possible. However, when the opportunity to review the Kimber Kable presented itself, it was accepted without hesitation.

Founded by Ray Kimber in 1979, Kimber Kable offers a formidable selection of cables across various price points and materials. These purpose-built cables are built to exacting standards and fit across various product series, making them easier to understand. Customers can select cables from a single range or mix and match, depending on their system specifications, allowing their system to reach its full potential within a budget they can afford. It is all too easy to go over budget and exacerbate flaws in your system by choosing cables that are not compatible with it, simply because you chose them without understanding them. I know better, and I have done it myself. No one is perfect, but we do try to learn from our mistakes.

The Start
Lonny Gould from Kimber Kable and I have been discussing a review for quite some time. It always seemed that for one reason or another, it got put on the back burner, and it was always my fault. However, earlier this year we finally started to really make some headway, and by the beginning of April it was on the calendar. I always get a thrill from cable review because it is where I started, but Kimber holds a place in my heart. It wasn't my first cable company, but it was one of the first high-end ones that I had the opportunity to review. In fact, back in 2002 or maybe 2003, I can't find the article; it was one of the first reviews on their newly released Kimber Select series of cables.

I became the poster child for digital cables and will never forget how much grief I took because everyone knew that all digital cables carried ones and zeros. It didn't matter how good the cable was; computers didn't care. Right? It is the same debate that everyone has today in nearly every facet of the audiophile world, but some of us were ahead of our time. Sorry, I digress. Where was I? Oh yeah...

Around the middle of April, once the dust had settled from the late winter and early spring show calendar, we finally had the chance to discuss the cables to make up the review. My reference system had changed from those humble days, so I sent him a list of the components for the review.  This included a few impressive additions because it corresponded with other reviews. The AGD Allegro, whose review can be found in June's issue, the AGD Forte, and the Gershman Symphoria. It was almost as if someone had planned this synergistic event, but that is silly.

Lonny's only real question to me was what kind of system I wanted to review, and he did the rest. It was a fair question, but the truth is, I had stars in my eyes because it felt like repeating history. I couldn't wait to find out how things had changed from those humble beginnings. I knew that I had matured, but while I've heard the difference in Kimber Kable over the years, it is entirely different to do quick evaluations in showrooms and have cables in-house for an extended period. Admittedly, I did ask for the amazing system he offered to review; it is true. But asking and getting these days are two totally different things.

The review in 2002-2003 must have included at least 7 pairs of balanced and 7 pairs of unbalanced analog cables, 4 balanced audio cables, 2 unbalanced digital cables, and at least 2 optical digital cables, not to mention 2 pairs of speaker cables with spades in those days. That was just the audio parts. I was doing video at that point as well, and it needed to be in multiple formats. My system took 10 power cords; it was awesome. I still have parts of it today. I've added this part to put things in perspective. I always liked Lonny, but my expectations were not quite as high as they were back in 2002-2003.

Right around the end of the month, I heard from Thomas Kimball, another amazing person over at Kimber Kable. Have you noticed a pattern yet? Honestly, in all the years I have dealt with the company, I have never met anyone who has been anything but great to work with, including Ray Kimber himself. He sent me an email to make sure we hadn't missed anything. He mentioned Lonny would be out of the office for a few weeks and said he would be glad to help if I needed anything. He further asked if I needed any power cords. Of course I wanted them, but again this is 2026; reviewers can't be greedy; we just don't have that luxury anymore. It is a shame because the only people who suffer are the readers who don't get the full review, but alas, how many people can a company afford to give equipment or accessories to at one time?

Ok, so you might ask, what is this all leading up to? The answer is simple. It takes a lot to impress a reviewer who has been doing this for quite some time, but Kimber Kable certainly did their part to get me very excited ahead of the cable delivery boxes. The cables arrived right at the end of April, like the December holidays arriving in mid-Spring, when the delivery person brought two hefty boxes. I had been careful not to look at the email Thomas had sent when he mentioned he was going to include power cords, because he sent a tentative list of cables; what arrived was better.

Kimber Select KS6065 Loudspeaker Cable

The Unboxing
The day Kimber Kable's NEO-HB and NEO-CU hand-crafted high-fidelity cables arrived was certainly a joy. It always holds a bit of wonder, and opening the Kimber boxes brought back some fond memories. It was déjà vu as I slowly unpacked the cloth bags containing the individual cables and took stock of exactly what Lonny and Thomas had conspired to send me from Kimber Kable to review. I was frankly speechless and beyond excited. Of course, it also dawned on me just how much work it would take to give these cables the attention and justice they needed, along with the other components that would take up a lot of my time over the next few months.

Kimber Kable primarily breaks down its cables into seven major product lines. These product series are Base, Ascent, Summit, Carbon, Select, Naked, and Neo. The entry-level series would be Base; it consists of digital and analog interconnects, power cords, speaker cables, and an HDMI cable. Each level represents another step up from the previous one in performance, but within each level you can find a substantial degree of customization.  I'm explaining this because it is important to understand which cables came in the box.

The box contained cables from Ascent, Summit, Select, and Neo. That means, in essence, that it starts from just above entry-level to the cost-no-object range. The two series that were not included are somewhat unique; Carbon and Naked are cool and distinctive. It would be great to review them on their own, but I applaud Lonny and Thomas for not sending them. It would've been a lot. The others fit together perfectly as I will show right now.

I mentioned that while the product series somewhat overlap, they don't entirely overlap. Let me lay out how the cable system was designed to work in this review because it is ingenious. A system is only as good as its weakest part, so it is hard to design a system when you use cables from various levels unless you really know what you are doing. It begins with the Kimber Select KS-6065 speaker cables. These hybrid cables are 33% silver and 66% copper, utilizing both VariStrand and solid-core conductors. In fact, they have 16 copper and 8 silver conductors. They originally came terminated with spades, but in a later twist, we changed the connections to banana plugs. So simple: a T6 driver and a different part. The only challenge here is that the KS-6065 does not provide a bi-wire option. Instead, they provided jumpers, which for the speakers currently in-house aren't necessary anyway.

The next piece of the puzzle was the connection between the preamplifier and the amplifier. This need was met by their NEO-HB silver-and-copper balanced analog interconnect. Again, just like the Kimber Select KS-6065, this is a hybrid cable, but the similarities end there. This cable is built to be the pinnacle of design and technology, just as that one was when it came out. Don't get me wrong, the Select cable spares nothing, but this one is built from there. There are more strands in these cables than in the comparable ones in the Select series, and that is ignoring the technology and the usage of the strands that goes with it.

The remaining connections were where the magic sort of happened, if there wasn't enough magic happening already. A second cable from the Neo series shipped as well, a NEO-CU. The NEO-CU is made up of 8-wire copper braid (4 stranded & 4 solid-core conductors) running through the center of the cable. The ground comprises 8 stranded conductors braided around the center signal. The difference between the NEO-HB and NEO-CU is that the signal wires are silver in the HB model, rather than copper. The idea is that the ground acts as a passive shield, protecting the signal in its configuration. This one was in an unbalanced, single-ended, RCA configuration. This meant it was easy to move it around the system and use it everywhere.

NEO-HB:
SIGNAL: 8 wire silver braid (4 stranded & 4 solid core conductors).
Center of cable.
GROUND: 8 wire stranded copper braid layered around the signal.

NEO-CU: SIGNAL: 8 wire copper braid (4 stranded & 4 solid core conductors).
Center of cable.
GROUND: 8 wire stranded copper braid layered around the signal.

Although not used in the review, there is a third cable type in the flagship NEO series. The NEO-AG. This one is made entirely of silver. It uses the same technology as the other two cables, but instead of copper, it uses silver. It is mentioned here for completeness' sake.

The next cables provided were a pair of Kimber Select KS-1026 unbalanced, single-ended audio interconnects for connecting the streamer and CD player. They also served to switch between different configurations. The KS-1026 is the NEO-HB counterpart in the Select series. Though it must be said again that while they are both hybrids, they do not share everything. The NEO is a higher-level product, so one should not expect its performance to be equal.

The final two interconnects were unbalanced digital cables. Kimber decided to stop producing the one they had made in the Select range. They do make ones in other places, but for now, the only one that seemed to make sense was the D60, which comes from the Summit series. The D60 is a digital cable that goes back a very long time. It utilizes a solid silver core with dual-layer pure silver shielding, providing 100% circumferential coverage and bonded to the connector shell for absolute immunity to noise. They also included a prototype that I'll mention later.

The final items in my box were the power cords. These came from two different series as well. The PK10 Palladian came from the Summit series. This power cord is at the top of Kimber's food chain. It is meant to handle whatever high power an amplifier can throw at it. The other power cords were PK14 Ascent. The PK14 means it is rated for source components, but the Ascent means it is from a different series; visually, you can tell there is a marked difference. Luckily, cables aren't like anything; it isn't the outside that matters; it is what is on the inside that counts. The cable might not have looked as impressive, but it was certainly made just as well. Just like that, everything was unpacked, and it was time to start setting everything up.

Sound System Setup
The installation of these cables was a dream. Some cables, especially at this level, can be stiff or heavy, but these were none of that. They were, instead, supple and genuinely easy to manipulate and install. The speaker cables, which were the heaviest, were not even a challenge, which, believe me, is something to be counted as a blessing. It took no time at all to get everything in place.

Once the cables were connected. I did a quick check to make sure that everything was properly installed. This is normally where everything would pause until things were broken in. Now, those of you who will argue that cables don't matter might also contend that the break-in period does not either. My experience has shown me otherwise so many times that I do not even care to count anymore. However, in this case, my own curiosity got the better of me, and for a brief time I did satisfy it.

The results here were impressive. In my mind, these cables were not broken in, so working with them was risky at best. Yet, in their rawest form, they were nevertheless already allowing the music to flow in ways that could only get better. They were smooth and silky, with no hint of tonal distortion. Things that I struggle to find in cables, even expensive ones, especially when they do not have nearly enough hours on them.

Of course, experience tends to teach us things, and break-in periods are among them. It always comes back to bite you. It happened a few hours later. There was a slight change in the sonic character. This is hard to track down when you change one cable, but when you change lots of them, it is impossible. If you take anything away from this review, take this one bit because it will save you a world of aggravation later, trust me. The bottom line is, it was the point where I put the system on autopilot, so to speak, and left it to break in for a reduced 72-hour period.

Luckily, the time went quickly, and during that time, the other thing that happened was a bit of settling in for my ear as well. A few times, I took a moment to listen to the system and get more acquainted with its sound. There was certainly a change from my previous cables, and the time allowed me the ability to hit the ground running when it was time to start the review process.

Reviewing The Kimber Kable NEO-HB And NEO-CU High-Fidelity Audio Cable
Just like that, it was time for the review. It almost seemed like I was sitting in front of a brand-new system, to be honest. It is not often that cables make such a marked change; everything just seems different, but that is exactly what happened. Starting up the streamer and putting on my favorite soundtrack station, the scores seemed to come into focus immediately.

The first thing I noticed was that this focus made the individual strands of music seem to shine with a brilliance that radiated energy. There was power that added new life and allowed inner detail to shine through. The harder and more complex the passages in the material, the more detail seemed to present itself. A fascinating example of pulling back the covers to see exactly what might be lying just underneath.

Additionally, the music was more involving. It simply drew you in more than before. Again, without choosing individual examples, the effect was staggering in both its simplicity and complexity. It was really a matter of control. The focus the cables created was the perfect environment to simply stop concentrating on smaller details and allow the larger picture to draw you in. It seems somewhat the opposite of what might normally occur, and yet that is exactly what happened. Everything came into focus, so it was no longer necessary to strain. Things became far more enjoyable as a result.

Drilling down further, the individual passages of more complex works were far more refined and possessed more detail. The speed at which everything moved improved dramatically. The transients of different instruments playing notes came into perfect alignment because these cables provided the required speed and detail. The ability to perceive the separation between the notes also improved because the noise surrounding them decreased.

It was hard to choose which music I wanted to showcase to present. Normally this is the easiest part of the review, but nothing about this was normal. It wasn't all about these cables; to be fair, I had other reviews going on at the time, but they were a large part of it. They simply made everything sound different, and I listened to so many selections that my notes are extensive. It was incredibly hard to choose the best.

My first choice was Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. Those of you who have read my reviews before will know that this is perhaps one of my favorite albums. It also has layers of detail hidden within its depths which require finesse to reveal, and it humbles many systems. My experience has shown that sometimes, even when the detail is revealed, it doesn't come across correctly or is muddled, so it is the perfect test.

My first impression was one of surprise because after the experience with the streaming channel, my expectation was one of total sensory improvement. Everything became clearer and more refined. Normally, the first thing picked up is the number of items that appear in the detail. Certainly, with the increased clarity came an ability to determine a level of detail which might have been missed earlier. However, what captured my attention was the level of improvement in the dynamics. The improvement was so substantial that it was almost palpable. It made the passages become far more lifelike and enveloping. It was truly the closest example of effortless dynamics I've heard in longer than I care to remember.

Something that is near and dear to my heart is soundstage. It is one of the hardest things to get right, and everything needs to be perfect to reproduce it perfectly. Dark Side of the Moon nearly always suffers from something because it is so complex. The detail, dynamics. And the fact that there was no increased noise allowed the stage to bloom. It was impressive. So impressive, in fact, that for the first time, it felt like I was hearing the album in a new way. It also made me question my personal views on what was possible with reproduction technology itself. It took the album to a level that I did not think was possible, and that was mind-blowing.

The second selection was Harry Belafonte's Belafonte Returns to Carnegie Hall. This is another album that I happen to adore because it was so well recorded. It was recorded live at Carnegie Hall in May of 1960 and rose to number three on the Billboard pop charts. The album not only features songs performed by him but also features him sharing the stage with several other folk singers, including Odetta, The Chad Mitchell Trio, and Miriam Makeba. It is once again the perfect album to use because it presents difficult material that offers complexities in various forms.

The entire album was an eye-opening experience in discovery, just like the first selection. The soundstage resolved itself immediately. It was simple to determine the positioning of places and instruments without any fatigue. Nothing was out of place or seemed larger than life. Harry Belafonte's vocal performance shined with its own beauty, and while the music highlighted him, it did not overpower him and vice versa. It was the perfect synergy rather than a fight to see who would win.

There also seemed to be a substantial increase in the ability to render midrange and bass correctly. This certainly added to the enjoyment of the music. In fact, especially with live music, any change makes the music seem more lifelike. So, listening to the album through this new lens is like hearing it for the first time. I repeated the experience a few times to make sure I hadn't heard it incorrectly the first time. Harry Belafonte's voice is difficult to get correct in general, but this was the closest I've ever heard to the few times I have ever heard it live.

This was a long review and, as mentioned earlier, one that required considerable effort. I could keep adding albums, but they all yielded the same results. So, rather than continue, I will add this: one thing that Kimber did add was a prototype digital cable. I mentioned earlier that way back when, people didn't believe that digital cables mattered. Today, we know they do. Kimber Kable gave me the opportunity to experience a digital prototype they are working on, and my only comment is that it makes a huge difference. Now for my conclusion.

The Long-Sought-After Conclusion
Reviews are normally easy for me to write. It has become a sort of skill after 25+ years, but this one is different. The combination of the Ascent, Summit, Select, and NEO series cables that Lonny Gould and Thomas Kimball from Kimber Kable sent has simply redefined my understanding of what is possible from cables. It is true that together with the other components, the system was exceptional, but these cables formed the foundation for that to happen.

Throughout the review, I did switch things around at times. It was possible to individually try some of the cables to some extent. I need to call out that while all of them were exceptional, the Kimber Kable NEO-HB and NEO-CU are next-generation, and I can only imagine what the NEO-AU is capable of! They simply redefine what is possible in a way that few other products I've ever reviewed have done in the past. They not only do things better but also do so in a way that blazes a path into the future. I loved that NEO-CU; it had everything you would want in a cable and did it better than any other cable, but it didn't hold a candle to the NEO-HB, not even close. It left me wondering what would happen if I had used two NEO-HB cables instead of one of each.

My overall conclusion is that Kimber Kable remains one of the highest-caliber companies in the audio industry today. They successfully manage multiple product series and can mix them to meet your budget and needs. The best way to experience this is most likely to go to your local dealer or a local event. If that doesn't work, then calling or using the web is always an option. Whatever you decide, you owe it to yourself to investigate them.

Of course, if you have the means and the system, then looking into the Kimber Kable NEO cable series is an absolute must. Few cables, in my experience, have ever offered as much to a playback system as this one. However, the price of entry is a bit steep, and the level of exposure to detail is also high. Remember, more is not always better. You don't want to do something you'll regret, so think hard before you do it, because you might not be able to go back. I will have a hard time returning these cables. I know for sure I don't want to unless I get to try others, lol  :)

As always... enjoy the music!

Specifications
Type: High-fidelity audio cables
Kimber Kable KS1026 1.5m x2  ($3,885)
NEO HB 1.5m  ($15,370)
NEO CU 1.5m  ($6,100)
D60 1.5m  ($820)
KS6065 15'  ($28,082)
KS9065 20cm  ($2,180)
PK10 Palladian 2m  ($2,176)
PK14 2.0M x2  ($502)
KS Digital prototype 1.5m 

Detailed Specs: Please see Kimber Kable website.

Pricing For 1-Meter Length: NEO-CU: 1-meter pair $5,400 (longer lengths available at added cost)
       NEO-HB: 1-meter pair $11,580 (longer lengths available at added cost)

Manufacturer
Kimber Kable
2752 S. 1900 West Ogden
Utah 84401

Voice: (801) 621-5530
E-mail: info@kimber.com 
Website: Kimber.com