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Nordost Blue Heaven vs Heimdahl 2 vs Harmonic Technologies Para S - II

  My wife and I just moved into a new house. I have a Mac 6900 integrated amp and Focal 1027 speakers acquired in 2007. Prior to this move my cable has been Kimber 8TC’s purchased at that time and I was very happy with them – the system sounded great.  Because of the new living room configuration, I will be forced to place the speakers in a location where the 8TC’s would be visible, a situation not acceptable to my wife or myself. There is a large area rug in front of where the speakers would go which can hide flatline cables like one of the Nordost cables. I am leaning towards the Blue Heavens. My question is this: would one consider the Nordost Blue Heavens equivalent in sound quality to the 8TC’s?  Although price doesn’t necessarily determine relative quality, the Blue Heavens (in 2021) would cost approximately the same for the same length of 8TC’s that I paid in 2007. Another question: if I took the plunge and went for the Heimdahl 2’s  in the Norse 2 category of cables (twice the price of the Blue Heavens), would that be overkill for a system like mine?  Or would they be too bright and fatiguing? I have read reviews comparing the Red Dawn cables (one step above the Blue Heavens in this Leif family) and generally reviewers thought they were brighter than the Blue Heavens. I wouldn’t want to pay double for the Heimdahl 2’s  and find them even brighter than the Red Dawns.  Lastly, Harmonic Technologies make a flatline speaker cable – the Para S II but I’ve never seen a review of them. Any thoughts on these? I would appreciate members’ views on this. Thanks.
styleman
5 responses Add your response
tablejockey
3,890 posts
 
I use Nordost Heimdall/Frey II wall to speaker.

You need to try it yourself. SQ is subjective. Only your ears are qualified to determine "too bright" or "fatiguing". Get used, much easier on the wallet. Negotiate towards half MSRP. 
You can always sell it if your ears to agree.

Your concern is flat cable, I would lean toward BH. IMO the difference between BH/Heimdall will be subtle. The Nordost philosophy is start with the power cord for noticeable improvement(if any). Also look at the Purple Flair.
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,385 posts
 
I have a pair of Red Dawn interconnects I use for my tuner.  I specifically bought it to add a little top end sparkle to the tuner sound. It is brighter than Blue Heaven. 
chazzzy007
540 posts
 
I have TYR 2 XLR's and Valhalla 2 speaker cable.
One of the misconceptions about the 2nd generation Nordost cables are that they are silver. They are not. They are sliver over a copper core. I find them to be just on the warm side of neutral with a very musical and detailed sound signature. I cannot sing enough praise about them. They added significant improvement to both 2 channel and HT.

As you go up the Nordost Norse line you tend to get a fuller sound signature. TYR2 added significant weight to the midrange when I changed out my old Clear Day XLR's which are silver. Though my Valhalla 2 SC seem to be a bit more neutral than my TYR2's but adds in refinement.
styleman OP
132 posts
 
Thanks guys.  I also noticed that Neil Gader of The Absolute Spund praised the Purple Flair but I decided to go one step higher with the Blue Heavens. You confirmed my concern about the brighter Heimdahls 2.  I never saw anything written about the Harmonic Technology flatlines.
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