@996turbo911 I experimented with these cables, specifically the Nordost knockoffs for power and interconnects. There are quite a few suppliers of the Nordost type cables, or were when I was looking, so some are surely pure fakes. I spent a lot of time up front comparing the visual details of the various vendor products in comparison to the Nordost products of the day, and purchased those that were virtually identical. I dissected the cables and they are meticulously made with seemingly high quality parts that match the Nordost cable descriptions. However, in listening to the balanced interconnects, I did not find them particularly good. I have tried quite a few others since then, and maybe have a better ear now, it might be worth popping them back in to see how they sound.
Revisiting Chinese Knockoff Cables
Why I don/t know, but the first thread has been removed recently. So, having benefited from it greatly, I felt compelled to recap my journey, so that others of limited budgets might make a huge leap that they otherwise could not afford:
When I first got my EVS 1200 I was using Series 8 WireWorld interconnects, speaker cables and Pangea Premier XL 1.5m coax cable. As you mentioned, I was extremely happy with the amp (compared to PS Audio M700s). Eventually I came across the Chinese Cable knockoff thread and first tried the fau-Nordost Odin 1.5m coax which was/is amazing: as they were so cheap compared to the $169 1.5m Pangea, I also bought a 1.0M Odin, but didn’t try it until after I replaced both the WW cables with Odin 2 XLRs and cables. Then I replaced the 1.5m with the 1.0 and was kinda blown away that 0.5m of the same coax could be THAT much better.
While my all SS system sounded very good, it was a bit too sharp, so I ordered Odin Gold speaker cables (at ~ $170/2.5m). Unfortunately one leg must of had a bad solder joint as it barely sent the music . It took a couple months before they replaced it, which I finally installed 2 days ago: BAM. Even immediately, but of course it needs break in time. The weather here (Ft Lauderdale) has been really bad, I have only left for short quick trips. Today we are under a tornado watch, so won't leave, but as soon as I can get out for a few hours I will put on my XLO burn-in disc, which I use on everything I insert, including the M 700s, EVS, and Voyager which expedites break in, which still takes a good 50-100-200 hours!
Summing this up: cables can/do make or break a system. If I had these cables when I first got the EVS, I probably would never have gotten the Voyager, which of course I am itching to compare again, but could still be awhile
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@996turbo911 I experimented with these cables, specifically the Nordost knockoffs for power and interconnects. There are quite a few suppliers of the Nordost type cables, or were when I was looking, so some are surely pure fakes. I spent a lot of time up front comparing the visual details of the various vendor products in comparison to the Nordost products of the day, and purchased those that were virtually identical. I dissected the cables and they are meticulously made with seemingly high quality parts that match the Nordost cable descriptions. However, in listening to the balanced interconnects, I did not find them particularly good. I have tried quite a few others since then, and maybe have a better ear now, it might be worth popping them back in to see how they sound. |
@zlone Thank you. I've read a lot of similar stories to yours and that makes total sense to me. I was just wondering if anyone had ever discovered a somewhat verifiable story as to the background of these cables. Best case scenario for us is them being from the same factories who already make OEM cables for these big expensive brands. That's also probably the least ethical version. But it would mean at least some of these really are similar in quality to the real thing. Another option is they are just copycats with variable degrees of quality. This is more likely but not as fun of an explanation. There's probably no way to know in the end. |
@996turbo911 Agreed. In the end it can be a perfect replica, but the wire could be junk copper with a tin coating. |
@Zlone, Agreed it can be a perfect replica, but the materials used cannot be the same. I have a fake Nordost Red speaker cable that was given to me as a gift when i was in Asia earlier this year. The fake is stiff and had no markings while my original Red Dawn is more flexible. I tested both on my gear and the fake version presents a sound signature that, IF you have Not heard the original version, one would like the sound presentation. It sounds good and seems like to present music in spades. BUT the true version has more details and somehow the tone is different, the bass of the fake seems to sound loose, while the Origi is tighter and is precise. On the highs, the fake sounds like it has good response, but one listens closely, the texture of the cymbals and the piano notes are muddy.
In the end, if I did not have a resolving system and I did not own the Original Nordost Red Dawn speakers, I would be happy using this Chinese knock off
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