Nordost Valhalla 2 Speaker Cable

Based on my experience, you will be a very happy person.  I’m  pleased with my Nordost Hiemdall 2s, which I still use on my second system.  Choose to move on to  Nordost Tyr. Great move. Sound stage opened up even more for my system. I see you too have Try.  Based on my two experiences I’d move to Valhalla but I’m tapped. 
 

Over the years, I have bought many items from Sean at Upscale.  Excellent pricing and even more he never tried to up sale me. Stayed true to my wants and needs. After multiple transactions I saw him at AXPONA 2023. It was a pleasure to meet.  Introduced me to Kat, who was their vinyl gear guru. 

I think you’ll be pleased. Nordost Valhalla 2 cables, whether they be power cords, interconnects, or speaker cables are very good. Other premium cables may bring some desirable characteristics here or there. But on balance, the V2s offer an appealing blend of resolution, smoothness, and tonal balance. Yes, you can get more (Odin 2 for instance) but it’ll likely cost considerably more, too. V2s are as good as anything else I’ve heard in their price range, and better than many. Of course, there will be vocal critics as they’re not everyone’s cup of tea, but that’s just personal preference/biases coming through in my view. 

Enjoy.

All systems are different. Nordost Valhalla 2 power cords , nor speaker cables sound good in my system. There's something about their cables that literally hurts my wife's ears and gives me listening fatigue. That being said, you may love them in your system.

I find Nordost turns at Valhalla. I have not been impressed with the tiers below. But Valhalla are great and get better at tiers above. Getting them cooked is a good idea. You are likely to be really happy. 

You have some great components. Looking at your system there are some big opportunities for improvement through setup. Assuming the photo is still current. You can get huge improvements in sound quality through setup and acoustic treatment. A friend of mine whom I helped pick out his system has completed a year of experimenting and adding room treatments and I have to say it sounds at least two or three times better. 

I will partially agree with @ricred1 in that Nordost cables are system dependent. I will also suggest they don’t particularly “play well” with other cables. But I think this is true of all cables.

Cable deniers - this is a good spot to move along.

There appears to be a synergy to a loom whereas mixing cables (not all, I’m sure, but for some I’m equally sure) that ends up highlighting certain facets. I tried a top end AQ interconnect in one of my systems and couldn’t take it out fast enough as it sounded grating and unnatural where the Nordost Tyr II and then Valhalla 2 sounded very good - much smoother and far more natural. Why? I’ve no idea. I don’t believe AQ cables to be unnatural sounding overall. But something was shining a spotlight on that interconnect.

I could be wrong, but I suspect the same is true for most cable looms. Take your pick: Transparent, AQ, Siltech, Crystal, etc. 

Similarly, I suspect some of those who don’t like the flavor of certain higher end cables might have tried a piece meal approach and had poor results. I was one of those with that experience.

There are certainly well known sonic characteristics (“flavors”) to the various manufacturers and system synergy is really a thing. If you approach it with the understanding that cables can only subtract, it makes more sense.

What are your sonic goals and what should you make sure I do the least harm to? But don’t be surprised if you find better results by sticking with a single manufacturer. That very notion was a difficult pill for me to swallow. Indeed, I haven’t quite followed that rule as I have a mix in both systems as I’m still building out some things. But direct experience suggests it as a shorter path to system development.

I have Valhalla 2 cables, cords, and interconnects throughout my system and my take is that they are a transparent pass through of your front end and they just go away and let your system sing...I love them.

I'm randomly demoing a Crystal Cable Van Gogh interconnect and don't hear much of a difference between the Valhalla 2 and this $22.5K interconnect...not sure if this would be different if my entire system was CC Van Gogh.

Have someone help you do a blind test. Have them connect your current wire to one speaker and the Nordost to the other one and not tell you which is which. Sit in your usual position and play something you’re familiar with and I’ll bet you won’t be able to tell which is which. 

Most people won’t do such things because if they just spent hundred or thousands of dollars on a cable, it dang well better improve the sound. It’s called expectation bias and it’s science. Something that cable makers want no part of.

@roadcykler - I've been on this, and other forums for a long time, and this has got to be THE most dumb suggestion I've ever read! To connect just one cable to each speaker is a complete waste of time. 'Most people will not do such things', as it's DUMB! And I agree that he, or anyone, will not hear any difference using that crazy method.

I agree with @ghdprentice - at a minimum your speakers seem too close to each other, assuming your system pic is current.

I’m curious what motivated you to spend something like 3 times the cost of your speakers on cables (assuming I’ve got the cost/math in the ballpark), rather than invest in maybe end-game speakers first? 

For the record I’m not a cable denier, and I hope you are really happy with your purchase. 

"What the heart wants, and you can afford it, go for it I always say."

Best advice while engaged in audio as a hobby.

"I’m curious what motivated you to spend something like 3 times the cost of your speakers on cables (assuming I’ve got the cost/math in the ballpark), rather than invest in maybe end-game speakers first?"

The retailer maybe had no knowledge of the OP’s setup, since their  claim is to "treat it as their own.’

No amount of "magic cable" can replace compromised speaker setup as well. Focal 936 are quite good.

Focal 936 and associated gear is a Heimdall/Frey at best application(that’s a stretch) Real sonic improvement would be speaker placent/room before cable investment-based on the OP’s pic.

Nordost user here.