Shunyata, Kimber or Nordost?

I would use solid core cables, especially if its copper. AQ, JPS, Furutech and Tara would be good choices. If you want buy something from the brands you list, The Kimber 3033 or 3055, are much better than the monocle.

Do you have the opportunity to audition?  I think the Nordost and Kimber have very different sonic profiles, the Kimbers being on the warm side.  I also owned the Kimber hybrid 3035 for a while. I agree with the above comment that it is better, more revealing but still on the musical side.

Not sure about the other 2 as I have not heard them in my system but would be curious to hear.

I use all Shunyata cords in my system and am very happy.  When I was using a Classe model 15 amplifier, I used a Shunyata Copperhead pc and it sounded wonderful.

"Nordost SPM"

At least consider their latest iteration. SPM is a 15-20 year old model.

The Heimdall II is starting point for their latest design. You have top gear. I wouldn't consider less than Frey/Tyr II.

The cable company has a huge lending library so you can audition many different cables. It really is the only way to decide. 

The problem in audio is that most people have no idea what the differences are in cables. These brands own totally different properties how they influences the stage and also the sound.

I have sold Nordost for over 9 years of time and I have done hundreds of tests in 9 years of time. I still sell Kimber and have done many tests with them as well.

I even did sell Nordost loudspeaker cables with Kimber interconnects for about 3 yeats of time.

When I did a blind shootout between 100% Nordost or Nordost with Kimber interconnects, all people prefer the last combination.

There is a simple reason for that. The Kimber has different properties compared to Nordost. And what it adds was creating a deeper and wider stage. The instruments and voices became more physical apparent and also more realistic in dimension. Beside this the midd frequency became richer and more musical.

When you test and compare Nordost interconnects, powercables and loudspeakercables you will find out that compared to other brands the stage depth is less deep and wide with the Nordost cables.

Beside this, instruments and voices are less physical tangible like in real and also compared to others.

Shunyata is able to create a deep and wide stage, but also lacks the physical tangible intimate focus of voices and instruments as in real and also compared to Kimber and also Audioquest.

Kimber is able to create a wide and deep stage but with a more intimate and realistic individual focus of instruments and voices. And also a very rich middle frequency.

The Shunyatas also lacj the level of resolution and details which the Audioquest cables are able to reveal. In timing they are also not the best in the league.

When you have no idea what the DNA/properties are of a brand you have no idea which properties you bring in. You also have no idea what the properties are of the other parts of your system.

You will always listen to all the different properties of all the different parts in yous system togheter including the acoustics of your room. That is why it is essential to understand why the stage and sound of your system is what your hear/audition.

When you understand why the sound and stage of your system is whay you hear audio becomes so much more easy to understand it. This makes it a lot more easy to change and create the sound and stage you would like to get.

Cables  still have their own properties, you cannot change that.

Many systems on audio shows with Shunyata cabels proved that voices and instruments were way out of proportion. But the people who gave these demoes could said that they had no idea how big voices and instuments of acoustic recordings should be.

The Purist Audio LE luminist outperformed the Shunyata Python. On all parts you judge cables for.

I also trsted many conditioners and also Shunyata conditioners. There was not test that they were the winner. Audio is alsways about those products who are superior to others.

In 7 years of time I never lost any battle against Shunyata cables or conditiners. I alsways had better options. I am a perfectionst and test all the time. The new benchmark is always the product we want to sell.

Classe equipment demands Cardas! Why buy a Ferrari and put 87 gas in it!