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Nordost Blue Heaven to SPM Reference

Nordost cables are known to be very detailed, quick and having a fast transient response while their only caveat is in the bass department. Anyhow I don't think this is an issue with me since I am thinking of improving the bottom end of my speakers with a subwoofer.

I have the Blue Heaven speaker cables on my SF Grand Piano and was thinking of upgrading to the SPM Reference. Will I get a substantial improvement? I am just concerned on the ratio of money spent/improvements in sound. If the differences are huge I don't mind getting rid of my Blue Heaven for the SPM. Any comments?

Thanks in advance.
ryder
s23chang
620 posts
 
Yes. SPM Reference is a quantum leap from Blue Heaven. You'll get a real taste in hi end cables. However, you should try to figure out if your speaker cables is the component that's holding you back.
ryder OP
1,690 posts
 
I'm not selling the Grand Pianos as they are great speakers both sonically and aesthetically. I have sold my Classe CAP-100 integrated earlier as it doesn't have the power to make the Grand Pianos sing. I am now using ARC D130 to drive the speakers which proved to me a marked improvement over the Classe. I will be getting the powerful Bryston 4B-ST in a couple of weeks time JUST for the GP's. So you can see I am still changing my *components* to get the detail and speed that I wanted.

I am well aware that cables can do "just much" and it largely depends on the equipment/componenents in a particular system. I am just like everyone else trying to extract the best out of my system using the best cable(for the money).

I know there will be substantial difference from the BH to SPM jump but just trying to justify that the SPM Reference won't be too much of an overkill for my relatively modest Grand Pianos-Bryston 4B ST combination.
s23chang
620 posts
 
You can also consider NBS speaker cables. I had the NBS Master and I like it better than the SPM. More authority and all frequency range. I would definitely prefer the ARC D130 over Bryston 4BST. 4BST is okay for entry level. You can do a lot better with 7BST or 14BST.
ryder OP
1,690 posts
 
S23chang,
Geez this is getting far more complicated than I thought. I've actually posted a thread in the amp section on getting the 4B ST. There's no doubt on the capabilites of the D130 but I am guessing that the Bryston will suit my system better than the ARC D130 with the extra power on tap since the Grand Pianos are laidback in nature. I don't have the budget for the 7B or 14BST.

On cables, I don't know why I still prefer Nordost and nothing else. Anyway will give the NBS a thought though.
rsbeck
887 posts
 
I would wait until you get the Bryston into your system before making the cable change and then I would get some 12 gauge copper cables and put the Nordost BH's in your system for a week and then the 12 gauge copper cables in for a week and see what you think. Then, if you're still unhappy, consider
upgrading your source. The last thing would be a cable upgrade.
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