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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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@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.
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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.
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"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.
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I have a space constraints and I have always wanted Valhalla speaker cable so when Ithe opportunity and money allowed I went for it. When and if I move to a bigger apartment then I will think of better speakers than Aria 936. For the time being I hope to enjoy the speaker cables. Even if Valhalla gives a 10% boost to the sound I will be satisfied.
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Life in the Nordost line begins at Vahalla 2, I have a full set of Odin 1 - Odin 2 throughout, I had the chance to demo V2 speaker cables on my system, you will be very impressed with detail, clarity, imaging, control, and how they transform your midrange. You get what you pay for, and you will won't be disappointed.
Sit back and enjoy.......
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I have the Valhalla 2's in my system and they just sing! I had mine burned is as well but they will still a hundred hours or so before they are fully mature. Congratulations. You will love them.
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There is a reason why many audio equipment presenters at audiofests.select either NORDOST ODIN / VALHALLA , or CARDAS CLEAR BEYOND / CLEAR cable looms, as the dominant brand cohort
One size does NOT fit all: Each has its own bespoke sonic signature
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You'll be very happy with your Valhallas. I had Valhalla many years ago, and it's a great cable. It's top card is transparency, and it has that in spades.
I have Tyr 2 now, and have for years now, and it's a fantastic cable as well. I am guessing your dealer wants to do the burn-in because Nordost takes hundreds of hours to burn in. One time, I had a brand new pair of Frey 2, and it took them weeks to break in. 300-400 is standard burn-in time for Nordost, and it will sound VERY bright before its burned in. In fact, so bright that you will not want to play music loudly. I remember listening to a Supremes Anthology, and it (the Nordost) was SO bright, I couldn't listen at any volume. It actually hurt my ears, and that was the first (and only) time in 40 years that a cable was that bright. After it burned in, it was great.
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Give the new cables additional 2-3 weeks of play time after the initial burn in by upscale and enjoy.
I am hoping to try the Valhalla 2 speaker cables one day but that won’t be very soon
As to Nordost lines and mixing with other cables…
I use Frey 2 power cords on DAC and amp. I’ve tried a lot of different power cables over the years, these are the best do far. Looking to try Tyr 2 this year. Interconnects are Tyr 2 XLRs. Again, I compared a lot of interconnects and these sound the best to me. Speaker cables are Audience FrontRow. So mixing and matching is key. The system sounds ridiculously good.
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I received the cables on Monday but unfortunately can only listen to them on the weekend. I did not go in for the burn in as I wanted to get my hands on them as soon as possible and Sean (SMO) from Upscale audio said that it will be another week and a half till I get them. I have to say Sean is a great guy to deal with. He kept me in the loop all the way.
Now I am waiting for the weekend to listen to the cables and will let the system break them in by playing them. I like to listen to the cables while they are breaking in and enjoy the subtle changes occurring in the cables. I did the same with Frey 2 speaker cables and loved it. I maybe posting a review when cables are burned in if all of you are interested. Thanks for reading my posts.
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Awesome! Looking forward to your review!
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The unfortunate part of listening to burn in as... at least when I was working it could take nearly a year to burn in at the rate of 45 minutes per day.
I just got myself a modest system that I hook up and leave on for a couple weeks to burn stuff in.
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