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Review: Nordost Red Dawn Interconnect

Category: Cables

I have never been a big believer in high priced cables and had often thought it was just hype. After all, how could those pricey cables make enough difference to justify their cost?

Some of those expensive interconnects I have tried over the years made slight differences in the sound. Some improved the detail slightly, some made the sound bright, and others added more bass, but none of them were worth the $200. to $500. price for such tiny improvements. Was there really a interconnect made that could improve every aspect of the sound and still be affordable?

I was talking to Anthony Padilla of Aberdeen Components one day about different interconnects and he suggested I try a pair of Red Dawns from Nordost. Three days later the Red Dawns arrived and I was ready to give them a try. Now Anthony had already burned the interconnects in, so I could give them a listen without the need to wast weeks before making a decision.

After the first song finished on the Fourplay Heartfelt CD, I knew the Red Dawns were here to stay. The music seemed faster, more detailed, and full. I thought I was listening to a different version of this CD. Instruments I never before heard jumped out of my speakers. The separation of those instruments was astounding. I then played Spyro Gyra
and could not believe what I was hearing, congas off in the distance, trumpets crisp and clear, saxophones smooth and sexy, and keyboards that actually sounded lifelike. These cables revealed every nuance in the music that was simply not achieved by all of the other cables I have tried period.

If you want to hear a huge improvement in your system and have never tried Red Dawn interconnect cables by Nordost, your need to try these interconnects. They made this non believer change his mind and dish out the cash.

John Freeman

Associated gear
McCormack HT-5 Amp
McCormack MAP-1 Preamp
Rega Jupiter CD Player
Denon 3800 DVD Player
Monitor Audio Gold Series Speakers
Velodyne GHS-10 Sub
M&K SS-150 Tripole Surround Speakers
Monster Cable M1.4s Biwire Spaeker Cable
Harmonic Tech Fantasy AC 10 Power Cables
Exact Power EP-15

Similar products
Monster Cable M Series
Harmonic Technology Truth Link
Harmonic Technology Pro Silway III
sailor

Showing 1 response by subaruguru

subaruguru
1,369 posts
 
I've used this fast and exciting RD XLR on my EC EMC-1 MkII to Aleph P, then long asymmetrical XLRS to the Aleph 2 monos, finally using rev II to my Parsifal Encores. GREAT performance, yet still could not get rid of its slight "clickiness" on transients. An ex-dealer warned me that RD is clear, fast, and all that, but NOT perfectly neutral up top...exaggerating transients. There ya go. So eventually I found SPM cables and some XLRS for the CDP and voila...the treble transients are perfectly natural, and the larger gauge DOES result in a fuller balance. I also used the Harm Tech Pro-Silways you have, and found them remarkably similar to the RD. The Truthlink I still use on my tuner to quench those top octave FM birdies a bit.... Nice warmer balance.
For most folks who ask my advice I recommend Blue Heaven as it's half the price of RD, and although it's not quite as resolving, and is equally lean-balanced (unlike the SPM), it doesn't portray small drums or top octave string transients in a metallic way like RD can.
FYI I bought the SPM 1m XLR for $350 (sold the RD for $225), and the 8' cables for $1000 (!), selling the RD for $750. Very cost-effective upgrade indeed. All along I was blaming the Redbook 16bit limitations!
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