Seeking Opinions on Nordost Cables

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 ,

🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮

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.

@ghdprentice

+1 on all points , with an emphasis on taking a hard pass on their low-end strata models and going to their better model lines

Another two personal experiences to relay:

(1) When I moved into the upper NORDOST model lines, a special and ethereal symbiosis was evident when I upgraded to a FULL like brand model (or better). That means all of ICs, speaker, and power cables as an “array” or “ loom”,

The audio performance improvement uptick now from a prior ad hoc mix of varying cable brands was clear and unambiguous,

(2) I found many other competing cable brands at the lower price-point budget strata, that easily bested their NORDOST LEIF strata competitors in audio performance, and available at a lower price. These included inter alia, CHORD, ATLAS, AUDIENCE, BIS, CRIMSON, AUDITORIUM, FURUTECH, OYAIDE, et al.

Personally, changing from an all-NORDOST FREY full array to full a CARDAS CLEAR array was a clear and unambiguous upgrade in audio performance in MY system, (emphasis added )

if someone asked me which is the ultimate GOAT cable brand and model I have ever auditioned ….. it would be a NORDOST ODIN full array at several audio expos.. Of course, they were part of a $500K+ and a $1 Million two-channel audio system respectively. It’s only the oxygen breather audiophiles (this ODIN $$$$$ strata excludes me) with like stratospheric $$$$$ audio systems that can dutifully warrant the full benefit provided by the ODINS, AND .,,,these fans can actually afford these thin-air strata cable indulgences as their available “best” choices.

FWIW.

@uavnola 

I purchased a pair of Valhalla 2 XLRs from my source (DAC) into my preamp. I have an all-McIntosh system, excluding my external DAC. McIntosh has beautiful bass/midrange but lacks a little sparkle on top. 

Upon inserting the Valhallas, the top end had far more "sparkle and realism" , however, I did lose some of the warmth in the midrange. I would say the midrange is more accurate now. It took me a little time to get used to this clarity, but now I am accustomed to it and really enjoy that accuracy.