Let's forget about being politically correct

Asa, I agree with your Nordost opinion. I ran Nordost QF for around 2 years, and did not make this realization until I tried other ICs. I do not think that I could state as eloquently as what you said about Nordost. I tend to describe the QF as having the effect of filtering music/signal. This filtration does make the end signal sound perhaps a bit cleaner (MP3 is effectively a filter as well that makes CD digital sound cleaner, as well as the CD medium itself is a filter for analogue sampling the wave at 44khz or so), but there is obviously detail that is missing from the QF when compared to other ICs. I have not tried the Valhalla IC, so I have no opinion of it. After hearing the Valhalla SC, however, I can imagine that the Valhalla IC is very good. My personal favorite IC now is the Jena Labs Symphony. The Jena Labs is no nonsense ultra ultra pure copper which is cryoed with no gimmicks. It has a transparency and a naturalness of sound that I have not heard in any IC that I have tried in it's price range ($1100/3' retail). Even at full retail, I think the Jena is worth every penny.

KF

TOK, there is a continuum of this "lack" in the Nordost iterations from SPM onwards, and particularly with the IC's versus the spkr cables. Yes, it feels like "something" is being "filtered," as in removed, or ommitted. Valhalla is better with air infusion in source, but still pull towrds bias of source over void space. Also, earlier lines were more dominant upon upstream components in this existential, spatial and harmonic filtering; as line proceeds it has less tendancy to impose and pass through, but the "filtering" regarding dimension remains. I think its a great SS cable by and large, although not for more harmonically complete SS amps like the Ayre and Pass units.

I haven't heard the newest Jena's, so can't say for sure, of course, but the purist design and reports from others are very close to my impressions of the Walker-distributed Mapleshade Omega Micro Planar copper spkr wire (not IC's). I have heard some very good things about the Jena from some very good systems and ears, mostly running the Valykrie, now yours included with the Symphony. I think you would find some things to like in the Omega Micro too.

Good move from the Nordost to Jena.

Asa, call a spade a spade, the Valhalla is set up for those audiophiles that are into watching tennis matches....This goes for the speaker wire and SE interconnects.....

Yes, wanting to see the sounds as things to watch. In turn, this orientation is reflective of a desire to objectify sound. However, since sound is not a thing, much less musicality (which is an event between mind and musical creation), treating it like a thing is, um, ultimately self-limiting...and, thereby, system-limiting.

Asa, here we go again. At the risk of appearing petty, and not to risk the of continuance of important scientific research. Sound is most certainly a "thing". A quantifiable thing. That sound can have an effect on us that is yet to be accurately or reliably quantifiable is also true.