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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
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.
subaruguru
1,376 posts
 
I'm in agreement that the SPM improved both the ultimate bass output AND removed a transient edginess existing in the Red Dawn. The extra bass didn't surprise me as the SPMs are larger. The cleaner top octaves was a treat. Yet I bought the SPMs at 70% off used, making them a no-brainer. I found the Red Dawn, Siltech whatever, Discovery Essence and HT ProSilway XLRs almost indistinguishable from the RD, but the SPM was clearly better than all these.
Too bad, as I always like cheap giant-killers.
jayctoy's avatar
jayctoy
4,175 posts
 
Subaru for the price of SPM compare to RD it should
outperform the RD,With respect to you, It depends
on the Siltech model,probably the lower model, I
agree, but the LS120, and the LS188, forget it.Ask
Sonic genius.I have not mention the compass lake yet.
I think very few Agoners knows about siltech, Ernie
this are one of the finest.
jayctoy's avatar
jayctoy
4,175 posts
 
The Red Dawn on my system, sounds very very good,
smooth, transparent,bass is not lacking at all,
Josh Groban is live in my room.
subaruguru
1,376 posts
 
I agree that the RD sounds great, and still use it in the less fussy pre-to-monos XLRs. But the SPM simply removed the psychoacoustic transient "edge" that imparted a slight articiality to the presentation. The SPM simply sounds more natural (less "obviously" high-rez) than the RD on my balanced CDP, as well speaker lines. Again, unless I had found them at 60-70% discounted I probably would have gone sideways instead of "up", as I don't believe in overpriced cables. Yet Nordost's fairly unique Teflon slow-extrusion process and geometry have obvious merit in a well-balanced system. Having a squeaky-clean front end helps, as does proper room damping and proper tweeter integration.
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