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Seeking Opinions on Nordost Cables

Hello, fellow audiophiles!

I've been on a quest to enhance my audio setup and recently came across Nordost cables. They've garnered quite a reputation in the high-fidelity audio community for their build quality, design, and the noticeable impact they have on sound quality. From their entry-level offerings to their ultra-high-end series, it seems there's a wide range of options to fit various systems and budgets.

Given their premium positioning and the substantial investment they represent, I'm reaching out to gather your thoughts and experiences with Nordost cables. Whether you've integrated their speaker cables, interconnects, or power cords into your setup, I'm curious to hear about the differences you've noticed. Are they as transformative as some claim?

Here are a few points I'm particularly interested in:

  1. Sound Quality Improvements: Did you notice a clear improvement in sound clarity, detail, or overall audio presentation after integrating Nordost cables into your system? How would you describe the change?

  2. Product Range: Which specific Nordost cables have you tried, and what impact did they have on your setup? Were the higher-end lines noticeably better in performance?

  3. Value for Money: Considering their price point, do you believe Nordost cables offer a good value for the improvement they bring to your audio system?

  4. Comparisons: If you've compared Nordost cables with other brands, how did they stack up? Were there any surprises or disappointments?

  5. Personal Recommendations: Based on your experience, would you recommend Nordost cables to others? Are there particular products or setups they pair best with?

I appreciate your insights and look forward to reading your opinions. Let's keep the discussion respectful and focused on personal experiences, as we all aim to enjoy our music to the fullest.

Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts!

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bigtwin's avatar
bigtwin
1,195 posts
 

As always, make sure you can return any cables without questions.  They can be big money with zero guarantee you will hear any difference, or that you will like the difference you do hear.  All cable advice you will read here are just opinions, including mine.  Until you have a cable in your own system, in your listening room, it's all just speculation.  More $$$ guarantees nothing.  IMHO. 

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
4,926 posts
 

to add…the inquiry looks like a survey. I may be wrong but if that’s the case, you won’t be able to get a good discussion going. Just a note..,

akg_ca's avatar
akg_ca
2,239 posts
 

I’ve had numerous models in prior systems.

at a high level, here are my thoughts 

(1) NORDOST are very system dependent. They can sound great, or they can disappoint mightily,  depending on your associated equipment. For example, CARY tube gear with NORDOST HEIMDALL fall into the latter.

in contrast, there’s a reason why many of audio exhibitors at the major audio expos choose NORDOST VALHALLA and NORDOST ODIN as their go-to best performer cables of choice,

(2) Where they start to excel is in the NORSE strata grouping (and up.) The entry level /  LEIF experiences fir me were a range “ Huh?” To  “Meh?” at best …and with their comparatively higher price-points, they disappoint sonically and fail as a value for money option. . If LEIF strata is your budget, look elsewhere, 

(3) Each NORDOST cable has its OEM serial number on the cable sleeve that matches its packaging details.. NORDOST is one of the most heavily counterfeited by cheap shite build illegal fakes, so ALWAYS insist on the serial number deets to verify it’s legitimacy provenance in case you buy pre-owned.

(4) The current models are much more expensive than the prior V1 series. The latter can be purchased ore-owned   (the legitimate OEM) at a fraction of the current model price, and in my experience the V1 deliver about 95% of the performance of the current model. 

Choose wisely ,

neworleansjazz
11 posts
 

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ghdprentice
6,967 posts
 

Low end Nordost are just OK cables, they can be a little thin. I found other brands to be superior. However, upper end cables and interconnects are stunning. Detailed without a hint of harshness… natural and nuanced. I had the privilege of having a set of Odin 2 interconnects in my system for a couple weeks. They were simply astonishing.

As @Akg_ca points out they are system dependent. I tried a pretty high end Nordost (one level below Odin) AES interconnect between my streamer and DAC and it sound terrible… I mean actively bad. No idea why.

I have experience with most of their product lines, stick with Valhalla or Odin.

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