Nordost Valhalla Power Cords

@Audiolabyrinth, Stealth Audio is a US cable company, they operate out of Maryland. They are not that new either, they have been around for 10 years or so. I haven't been as far up the Tara Labs line as you have, the furthest I've been is The One series. As for Stealth, I have owned their Dream power cords and Indra and Metacarbon interconnects, as well as their Hybrid MLT speaker cables.

Stealth is very 3 dimensional and airy up top like the Tara Labs The One series that I've heard, both cables are fairly neutral midbands with just a slight trace of warmth when compared to the Nordost line.
I would say that the Stealth line had a definitive edge in bass, both in definition and power. Again, the Stealth I was listening to was their top of the line at the time, while I haven't heard Tara's top of the line. However, I think that sonically, these two manufacturers have a lot in common.

I've long been a fan of Tara Labs cables, I had the Temporal Continuum line, before the RSC technology over 20 years ago. I had a full system of the TL Decade in the mid 90's. I 'discovered' Stealth about 5 years ago, and enjoyed many of their offerings. I still feel that the Stealth Dream power cord is the best that I've ever heard. I haven't heard the V10 or more recent efforts off Serguei though.

I do not have 1 brand in cables. I use Audioquest, Purist Audio and Acapella. I owned and sold a lot Nordost. These days I sell only 3 brands: Audioquest, Kimber and Purist Audio. Don't get me wrong I still like Nordost a lot. But it need to be used precisely.

The most important thing what I learned in audio is that audio is about personal taste. But some parts you can hear. Depth, focus, resolution, air, black and overwhole sound. Some people like colored music. You cannot say chocolate ice is better than vanilla ice.

Bo, I appreciate your candid comments (Jouw mening is duidelijk, maar je hoeft deze niet meermaals te herhalen). I have been using NordOst in most of my systems and yes they do blend well with tube based systems.

Before going Odin (or more Valhallas and boy are those cables expensive, I bet their margin is north of 80%) I am looking for better alternatives (like the Stealth and PAD which are mentioned favorably by many) so thanks everyone for your comments!

That is not true. I already said a lot about the Le. You find it in this thread. Articulation of voices is the best I eve heard. This sunday I was at a audio show. At the Nordost stand with Odin I played my cd. Bruce Springsteen Brothers under the bridge. At my house the articulation was more clear. Ending words are more easy to follow. Instruments are more 3d. High heads of drums are sharper focused. The bassdrum is more defined and timing is better. Valhalla is not a good cable for poweramps. I have done many amp tests with Valhalla. Never stunning results. The Purist LE is much more talented than the Valhalla. It has more different properties and the parts were a cable is judged for he wins with ease. This cable is the best I ever heard on a Pass Labs. At the show Sunday Pass labs with Aurender and MIT and Shunyata had the same irritating flaws. The speakers were about 3 metres from eachother and the voice was over one metre. Mannnnnnnn I hate this sooooo much. I uppered next shows to use real acoustic live music. Wenn focus is poor and instrumnets and voices are too big in dimension I get really irritated.