I have an all-FREY array in my “A” system. (NORSE 2 cable level strata ) ( array includes the ICs , shotgunned speaker, shotgunned matched jumpers, power)
I’ve also owned an assortment of the lower LEIF group option cables. ...including inter Alia, RED DAWN PURPLE FLARE et al.
My take: in brief, any and all of the LEIF group choices don’t measure up even to the lowest level cables in the NORSE 2 groupings. IMO, just go straight to the NORSE 2 High Performance strata of cables if you already intend to keep your other .FREY 2 cables. There is a big step up in audio performance improvement of the NORSE 2 over the LEIF.
TAKEAWAY: Go with Option 2 .... the HEIMDALLs .... full stop.
LITMUS TEST
FWIW, NORDOST presented a heavily attended cable shoot- out at a Toronto audio fest a couple of years ago. I attended it and support the following audio mag review of that event bake-off presentation rehashed below.
So here is the CANADA HI-FI reporter’s take from that NORDOST cables bake-off exhibit actually performed live at TAVES.They stopped the progressive cables model bakeoff summit at the Valhallas (one below the Odins) with the inference that a move up the model trendline in improvement keeps going further to the ODINs
http://canadahifi.com/taves-consumer-el ... rge-de-sa/
".....I had a chance to sit in on a couple demonstrations in the Nordost room, giving my feet a well deserved break. I’m very familiar with the benefits of high quality cables and use a full Nordost Heimdall 2 loom with my reference two-channel setup. That being said, I always find the Nordost demonstrations to be an “ear-opening” experience. Michael Taylor from Nordost demonstrated the significant sonic benefits of replacing an OEM cable with a Nordost model – in particular
1) a swap of a single USB cable, from OEM to Nordost Blue Heaven ($250/2m), to Heimdall 2 ($500/2m) and;
2) a swap of a single RCA interconnect, from OEM, to Blue Heaven, to Heimdall 2, to Tyr 2 and finally Valhalla 2.
Along with convincing the audience in the room that cables DO matter, I’ve now got the bug to upgrade...."
FWIW....
I’ve also owned an assortment of the lower LEIF group option cables. ...including inter Alia, RED DAWN PURPLE FLARE et al.
My take: in brief, any and all of the LEIF group choices don’t measure up even to the lowest level cables in the NORSE 2 groupings. IMO, just go straight to the NORSE 2 High Performance strata of cables if you already intend to keep your other .FREY 2 cables. There is a big step up in audio performance improvement of the NORSE 2 over the LEIF.
TAKEAWAY: Go with Option 2 .... the HEIMDALLs .... full stop.
LITMUS TEST
FWIW, NORDOST presented a heavily attended cable shoot- out at a Toronto audio fest a couple of years ago. I attended it and support the following audio mag review of that event bake-off presentation rehashed below.
So here is the CANADA HI-FI reporter’s take from that NORDOST cables bake-off exhibit actually performed live at TAVES.They stopped the progressive cables model bakeoff summit at the Valhallas (one below the Odins) with the inference that a move up the model trendline in improvement keeps going further to the ODINs
http://canadahifi.com/taves-consumer-el ... rge-de-sa/
".....I had a chance to sit in on a couple demonstrations in the Nordost room, giving my feet a well deserved break. I’m very familiar with the benefits of high quality cables and use a full Nordost Heimdall 2 loom with my reference two-channel setup. That being said, I always find the Nordost demonstrations to be an “ear-opening” experience. Michael Taylor from Nordost demonstrated the significant sonic benefits of replacing an OEM cable with a Nordost model – in particular
1) a swap of a single USB cable, from OEM to Nordost Blue Heaven ($250/2m), to Heimdall 2 ($500/2m) and;
2) a swap of a single RCA interconnect, from OEM, to Blue Heaven, to Heimdall 2, to Tyr 2 and finally Valhalla 2.
Along with convincing the audience in the room that cables DO matter, I’ve now got the bug to upgrade...."
FWIW....