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Nordost Power Cables - my latest experience

Years ago I had a bunch of Nordost Vishnu power cables for all components, and a Brahma for the wall-to-distributor cable. In 2012 I then came across a new company called Cabledyne, and thought their power cable (a design which is no longer sold by them) was better than all of the Nordost cables.

But those Nordost models were an old product from 2003. Recently I have auditioned and then upgraded to the new Heimdall 2 power cables.

My experience was inconsistent and I thought to share it here.

Initially I got a Heimdall 2 for the source, an Oppo that is LPM and clock modified, and is just used as a pure digital transport with the audio card stripped out. On this component the Heimdall 2 was really good, far better than the Cabledyne.

I then upgraded power cable feeding the NAS to a Heimdall 2, this was again far better than the Cabledyne.
At this point my system was sounding the best it ever had in years, magical. I got a bit excited knowing I only needed to buy 2 more Heimdall 2's to complete the chain, one for the power amplifier and the other my Pre/DAC.

But when putting another one on my TeddyDAC (a DAC with analog volume stage inside) things went slightly backwards. Then when putting the last Nodost on the power amplifier, things went slightly backwards again.

Overall things are better than before, but this ending was disappointing to say the least.

I went back and looked at all the old comments here regarding Nordost power cables, for example the original Valhalla, and saw some users saying it was great for their CD player, or their source, but did not work well on the amps. That seems to be my experience. Maybe there is something inherent to the mono filament design which works especially well with digital devices, but not so much with analog? I don't know, I'm just hoping with more break-in it will even things out on the analog side.

I don't like to mix and match power cables brands, so it kind of sucks.


agisthos
cincyjim's avatar
cincyjim
122 posts
 
Nordost Power cable Vishnu
in my system is way too bright
i prefer PS Audio
adg101
1,062 posts
 
The Vishnu is a very fast and revealing PC so I could see how it wouldn’t work for many. Also I find it’s a great on digital but would be too light gauge of a cable for a large amp or maybe even a preamp.
jacca
5 posts
 
Firstly, Nordost cables do need burn in. Secondly, it sounds bright but smooth on digital giving you a feeling of airy and three dimensional soundstage. My experience is that in one system one or two of them should be more than enough.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
All testimonies regarding the sound of *anything* subject to being taken with grain of salt for obvious reasons. The same thing goes for any tests.
garebear
1,146 posts
 
..... sitting here on an early Saturday morning and reading this post. I am laughing as nobody has really worked with the OP in helping him with this situation. Instead the usual responses which are so typical from the usual cast of cast characters that add nothing except to be the first to answer every new thread. Although Jacca and Adg101 made attempts to help the OP as Nordost cables as noted ; are system depended like many cables and don't work on all systems as can be attested here over and over again by the many threads addressing this very same issue. Nothing is wrong with you or the cables or your system, it's what your ears hear and what you like which is what makes this '' hobby '' fun and entertaining. To quote ; Jafant ; Happy Listening !!!! Back to my coffee......      
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