Kimber launch Axios headphone cables at CES

The range consists of a growing selection of dedicated cables for headphones from premier manufacturers such as Sennheiser, Audeze, HIFIMAN, Sony, Mr Speakers and Beyerdynamic (see the full range here). Each cable uses dedicated connections with matched hardwood accents to complement each headphone model perfectly. 



Developing AXIOS

Nate Allen, designer of the new cables, told us:

''The first products that Kimber Kable designed were the 8 wire and the 16 wire speaker cables - such as 4PR and 8TC. The design for AXIOS is based on these original products. The headphone cable starts with an OFHC copper wire braid, comprising 16, individually-insulated 24-gauge strands. The really clever part is where there's a seamless transition to two, eight-braid tails. To accomplish this, we developed an entirely new hand braiding process for remarkably precise and uniform braids within the transition. This is no easy task. The design team braided over 100 cables before the method was perfected and ready for production. It means that there's no solder joint to impair the signal, and rather than simply twisting the tails together, the famous Kimber Kable weave is maintained."

''We've also worked really closely with the headphone manufacturers to develop the connectors. All connectors feature hand-polished wood accents which are matched cosmetically to the headphones. For example, take the cable we make for the Audeze LCD-3. The connectors are finished with zebrawood to complement the LCD-3's appearance. The cables look as good as they sound''.

Format type

The cables can be formatted in the most common and traditional 'Y' format - A single stereo plug at the headphone amplifier end which then splits out in to two cables connected to the left and right headphone speaker. Select 1Y format for this option.

AXIOS can also be configured as a 2Y cable if you have a balanced headphone amplifier with two outputs. The cable will have two connectors for the left and right audio signal at the headphone amplifier end and two connectors for the left and right audio going into the headphones. Cables can be fitted with 3.5mm mini jack; 6.35mm (1/4") jack; or 3 pin or 4 pin XLR.