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Art Dudley Listening - Stereophile Dec '09 Nordost

Reading this month's issue of Stereophile, I came across Art's monthly column - Listening. The overall theme was building a foundation for a given system, whether it be physical, mechanical, electrical, etc.

The Nordost boys came to his house with platforms, quantum field resonators, and Nordost cables. At the moment, I do not have the resources to investigate platforms or quantum field resonators even though in the article, they do work to some degree.

My question is concerning cabling. More specifically, Nordost cabling. The folks from Nordost recommended using cables within a similar line and performance specifications. For example, not using Valhalla speaker cables with Blue Heaven interconnects. What caught my attention, and seemed counter-intuitive, was the cabling they chose. From memory, they used Tyr Speaker cable, don't recall the IC, and Vishnu power cables. Basically, the highest, and therefore most expensive, cable was the speaker cables. Cheapest was the power cords.

When assembling my system, it seemed to me that I would be better off moving up the Nordost IC line, then SC, and finally PC's. Am I missing something here? My interconnects are Quattro Fil, speaker is Red Dawn, and PC is Shiva. Should I have gotten better SC and lower line IC's?
gherrera1
gherrera1 OP
88 posts
 
Rfsayles, I completely agree with you regarding his writing style. It did seem as he wasn't too thrilled, but was cordial and professional about it.

I'd be VERY interested to read or hear a comparison between Odin/Thor and Valhalla signal wire. Since I live overseas, I use a PS Audio P500 power regenerator and it works wonders on my system. Before I was using a standard balanced step down transformer, but the P500 took my system to another, although small, level. What helps more? Power or Signal? Definitely something to ponder.

I also think the loom theory has quite a bit to do with perception. When I wash and vacuum my car, it runs better...or so it seems. The same applies to my system. The canare DIY cable sounded good, but there was something missing I couldn't identify. It wasn't until I re-installed my Nordost loom that it all came together. Either way, I'm very happy with Nordost and the only way I would replace my SC or IC is if I move up to Heimdall since it's the first to use monofilament in the wiring. Until then I'll keep enjoying my rig!

Gherrera1
r_f_sayles's avatar
r_f_sayles
872 posts
 
Hey, my car does too! ;^)

I had a PS300 and other than running hot, real hot and contributing to global melting of the ice shelves it sounded very nice (my tabby loved it... winters in Michigan are brutal). I like the premier because it burns a fraction of the energy and is on standby 24/7 without any concern.

My comment came from an enjoyable reading of a Hifi+ issue review/study of max'ing the mains with Nordost's best the Odin and a strong case made for the power of a good power cord in the loom. I recall the notion raised that that cord was given more credit for improvement than an upgrade to the IC's or SC's, in a price no object demo. Can't find which issue.

Happy Listening!
rsrex
45 posts
 
Actually, if you look at what was used, it does make perfect sense. The speaker cables and ICs were both TYR - the 3rd series from the top - Odin, Valhalla, TYR. The Vishnu power cable is 4th from the top - Odin, Valhalla, Brahma, Vishnu. So there isn't that large of a spread. All Nordost was trying to explain was the advantage of consistancy across components, there was no need for an all Valhalla "loom" to explain that.
gherrera1 OP
88 posts
 
Rsrex, you are correct sir.

The "spread" of cabling in my system is rather wide, but I'm happy with the way it comes together. Quattro fil IC, Red Dawn SC, and Shiva PC.
r_f_sayles's avatar
r_f_sayles
872 posts
 
With all due respect to you Rsrex, it may make perfect sense to you, I can't
say, and I well understand Nordost's Roy Gregory and Joe Reynolds objective.

Is it an advancement in the listener's enjoyment of music (in his/her system)?
Not for Art Dudley, and maybe, just maybe not Gherrera1 either. I couldn't
say.

What I can say, in fact, is that Art and I like our completely different Hifi
systems sound, consistently loomed with completely different cables,
whether or not perfect sense has anything to do with it. I think we agree with
Nordost in theory and practice. And maybe we just like different looms from
what they have to sell.

I get the feeling that we sometimes decide there is logic without proving with
our ears that there is something, that's all. Logic and audiophiles are
sometimes strange bed fellows. There is nothing like trying gear in our
system to hear, if in fact, it works for our ears. That's the only caution I
would offer to Gherrera1.

Happy (looming) Listening!
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