Kimber Kable Carbon Ci8 Interconnect Cable - XLR to XLR

Carbon Is Kimber's Eight-Wire Helix

Kimber Kable's Carbon interconnect is the newest design in the Kimber line. It is the first to build a carbon polymer into the cable. Eight conductors wind in a helix and run unbroken into the plugs. It is built by hand in Ogden, Utah.

Other length & termination options are available. Call us to discuss your needs.

Eight 19.5 AWG Copper Conductors

Each conductor is 19.5 AWG VariStrand copper. The eight are laid in what Kimber calls an eight-wire counter-opposed helix. Kimber describes a seamless braided transition into the left and right XLR plugs, so the geometry holds right up to the connector.

A Carbon Polymer That Drains Static

Kimber wraps the conductors in a carbon polymer that bleeds off static charge. Under it is a low-loss fluorocarbon dielectric. Kimber says the carbon layer cuts noise caused by movement. It also evens out the voltage gradient inside the insulation. The stated aim is a natural sound that is neither bright nor dark.

The XLR Plug at the End

Carbon Ci8 ends in an XLR plug. Kimber terminates its balanced interconnects with a studio-grade Switchcraft XLR with silver-plated contact pins, and it solders the plug on by hand under nitrogen in Ogden, Utah. The plug latches into the jack and will not pull loose by accident. The silver plating keeps the contact clean.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Martin Colloms, writing in Stereophile on July 17, 2025, summed up the Carbon this way: "My first impression: neutrality. I heard no sins of commission or omission."

Paul Miller, in a Hi-Fi News review first published January 1, 2026, found that "Carbon seemingly brings composure, a quiet calm and dignity to performances." His lab found each conductor made of seven strands in four different diameters.

Who Is This Interconnect Best For?

• You want a cable that stays out of the way — reviewers describe the Carbon as neutral, so what you hear is the recording
• Your rack is prone to microphony — the carbon layer is built to drain static and damp mechanically induced noise, so footfalls and vibration stay out of the signal
• Your sources sit near power supplies — the counter-opposed helix cancels induced noise along its length, so the shelf stays out of the music
• You want a plug that locks — the Switchcraft XLR latches into the jack and its silver-plated pins resist tarnish, so the connection stays put
• Your components have only RCA jacks — the Carbon Ci8 XLR is balanced at both ends and will not fit an RCA jack. Choose the Kimber Carbon Ci8 RCA instead, or call us and we will match the connector

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Run the Carbon Ci8 from a balanced XLR output on your DAC, streamer, CD player or phono stage to a balanced XLR input on your preamp or amplifier. Keep left to left and right to right. Line up the pins and push until the latch clicks. Press the latch tab to release the plug.

Then listen.

Measure the Path, Then Add a Little Slack

Measure the route the cable will really take between your components, around shelves and behind the rack. Then add a little slack. As audio legend George Cardas puts it, "A cable that's just long enough usually turns out to be just not long enough." Keep the left and right cables the same length. We recommend a matched pair.

XLR on Both Ends, or Not at All

Balanced XLR works when both components have XLR jacks, and we recommend using XLRs whenever they do. If one component has only RCA jacks, use an RCA cable instead of an adapter. You only get the possible benefits of a balanced output with a pure XLR-to-XLR connection.

A Long Run Between Components?

If your amplifier and speakers sit far from your source, we recommend a long interconnect over a long speaker cable. A really long interconnect affects system performance less than a really long speaker cable.

When Is It Time to Upgrade?

An interconnect often stays in a system for years, so it is easy to overlook. Look again when something else changes: a new DAC, streamer or phono stage, a better amplifier, or a move to components with balanced XLR jacks.

Pairs Well With

An interconnect is one link in the chain. It usually joins these categories.

• Integrated Amplifiers — the usual input end
• Digital-to-Analog Converters — DAC output to amplifier
• Phono Preamplifiers — phono stage to line input
• Speaker Cables — the last link to the speakers

Frequently Asked Questions

What XLR connector does Kimber use?

A studio-grade Switchcraft XLR with silver-plated contact pins. Kimber names it on its balanced Tonik, PBJ, Silver Streak, Hero HB and Hero AG. Kimber solders it on by hand under nitrogen.

What does VariStrand mean?

Each conductor is made of strands in more than one gauge. Kimber uses this stranding in every interconnect it makes and says the mix of gauges spreads the signal across the bundle.

Is Carbon shielded?

Not in the conventional sense. Kimber relies on the eight-wire helix to reject induced noise and on the carbon polymer to dissipate static charge.

What does the carbon layer do?

Kimber calls it an electrostatically dissipative carbon polymer. It bleeds off static and, Kimber says, reduces mechanically induced noise and evens out the voltage gradient in the dielectric.

Is there a step up from the Carbon Ci8?

Kimber Silver Streak XLR is the next rung. It moves to Kimber's Summit Series and puts two silver conductors with one copper in the balanced braid.

Need a Different Length or Connector?

The most popular configurations are shown on this page. If your system requires a different length or termination, call our audio experts. We’ll help you choose the right configuration and arrange a custom cable for your system.

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Learn More

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