Seeking Opinions on Nordost Cables

You’ve left out the most critical information — what improvements are you after and what sound characteristics are most important to you?  Also, what cables are you using now and what’s the rest of the equipment in your system?  Last, what’s your budget and are you looking new or used?

Please list your components and budget as well as what Nordost cable line and model are you thinking about trying. There are significant differences in sound characteristics between lines as well as models within each line.

I’ve tried few Nordost cables and currently have some in my system. I can tell you no cable, including Nordost, is a safe recommendation that’s guaranteed to work. 
So help us help you. 

As always, make sure you can return any cables without questions.  They can be big money with zero guarantee you will hear any difference, or that you will like the difference you do hear.  All cable advice you will read here are just opinions, including mine.  Until you have a cable in your own system, in your listening room, it's all just speculation.  More $$$ guarantees nothing.  IMHO. 

to add…the inquiry looks like a survey. I may be wrong but if that’s the case, you won’t be able to get a good discussion going. Just a note..,

I’ve had numerous models in prior systems.

at a high level, here are my thoughts 

(1) NORDOST are very system dependent. They can sound great, or they can disappoint mightily,  depending on your associated equipment. For example, CARY tube gear with NORDOST HEIMDALL fall into the latter.

in contrast, there’s a reason why many of audio exhibitors at the major audio expos choose NORDOST VALHALLA and NORDOST ODIN as their go-to best performer cables of choice,

(2) Where they start to excel is in the NORSE strata grouping (and up.) The entry level /  LEIF experiences fir me were a range “ Huh?” To  “Meh?” at best …and with their comparatively higher price-points, they disappoint sonically and fail as a value for money option. . If LEIF strata is your budget, look elsewhere, 

(3) Each NORDOST cable has its OEM serial number on the cable sleeve that matches its packaging details.. NORDOST is one of the most heavily counterfeited by cheap shite build illegal fakes, so ALWAYS insist on the serial number deets to verify it’s legitimacy provenance in case you buy pre-owned.

(4) The current models are much more expensive than the prior V1 series. The latter can be purchased ore-owned   (the legitimate OEM) at a fraction of the current model price, and in my experience the V1 deliver about 95% of the performance of the current model. 

Choose wisely ,

🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮

Low end Nordost are just OK cables, they can be a little thin. I found other brands to be superior. However, upper end cables and interconnects are stunning. Detailed without a hint of harshness… natural and nuanced. I had the privilege of having a set of Odin 2 interconnects in my system for a couple weeks. They were simply astonishing.

As @Akg_ca points out they are system dependent. I tried a pretty high end Nordost (one level below Odin) AES interconnect between my streamer and DAC and it sound terrible… I mean actively bad. No idea why.

I have experience with most of their product lines, stick with Valhalla or Odin.

@ghdprentice

+1 on all points , with an emphasis on taking a hard pass on their low-end strata models and going to their better model lines

Another two personal experiences to relay:

(1) When I moved into the upper NORDOST model lines, a special and ethereal symbiosis was evident when I upgraded to a FULL like brand model (or better). That means all of ICs, speaker, and power cables as an “array” or “ loom”,

The audio performance improvement uptick now from a prior ad hoc mix of varying cable brands was clear and unambiguous,

(2) I found many other competing cable brands at the lower price-point budget strata, that easily bested their NORDOST LEIF strata competitors in audio performance, and available at a lower price. These included inter alia, CHORD, ATLAS, AUDIENCE, BIS, CRIMSON, AUDITORIUM, FURUTECH, OYAIDE, et al.

Personally, changing from an all-NORDOST FREY full array to full a CARDAS CLEAR array was a clear and unambiguous upgrade in audio performance in MY system, (emphasis added )

if someone asked me which is the ultimate GOAT cable brand and model I have ever auditioned ….. it would be a NORDOST ODIN full array at several audio expos.. Of course, they were part of a $500K+ and a $1 Million two-channel audio system respectively. It’s only the oxygen breather audiophiles (this ODIN $$$$$ strata excludes me) with like stratospheric $$$$$ audio systems that can dutifully warrant the full benefit provided by the ODINS, AND .,,,these fans can actually afford these thin-air strata cable indulgences as their available “best” choices.

FWIW.

@uavnola 

I purchased a pair of Valhalla 2 XLRs from my source (DAC) into my preamp. I have an all-McIntosh system, excluding my external DAC. McIntosh has beautiful bass/midrange but lacks a little sparkle on top. 

Upon inserting the Valhallas, the top end had far more "sparkle and realism" , however, I did lose some of the warmth in the midrange. I would say the midrange is more accurate now. It took me a little time to get used to this clarity, but now I am accustomed to it and really enjoy that accuracy. 

Better Nordost cable are overpriced. Better look for alternative.

It’s amazing to me that the OP seems to have gone on vacation after posting. Why are you wasting your time answering this?

Good question @spenav. 

2 posts and 1 reply in 13 months. Don't hold your breath.

Yep. A survey of all 4 lines of Nordost cables.
Pure 🐂 💩 

Some people find that the Nordost Heimdall 2 is the sweet spot when comparing cost vs overall performance of their lineup. As previously mentioned, some cables can be system dependent. Since I don’t own a system worth a lot of money, I opted for the Heimdall 2 speaker cables, interconnects, and a few power cables - almost a complete loom. I am running a CJ tubed amp, CJ pre, CJ CD, Lampizator DAC, Lumin U2 mini, and B&W 805 D3’s. Nothing crazy but the Hem 2’s sound fantastic. I spoke with a number of people on the CJ forum before considering Nordost. I have absolutely no desire to upgrade the cables. I’m simply enjoying music and my system.

This doesn’t work. It’s like you are asking us to test drive a car for you. 
There are a lot of Nordost dealers. The only way you should be doing this is by borrowing the cables you can afford. It is very system dependent. I would even say it’s room dependent. First, My advice is to first spend the money on treating the room. Second would be start at the wall with power cords. They make really great power cords but they are expensive. Third start with your foundation. That’s speakers, speaker wire, amplifier or integrated, and/ or preamp/ integrated. Last would be call the manufacturers of your equipment. Some manufacturers do not think their equipment sounds good with Nordost. It’s usually the speaker companies. If you don’t get your foundation right your system will fail and you will spend loads of money going down the rabbit hole. 

@ortodox …”Better Nordost cable are overpriced.”

Which of the better Nordost cables have you tried and what better sounding alternatives did you find. Also, what was the system you were using to compare? There is a place to put photos and identify your components under your user ID. This is really helpful as it allows us to understand where you are coming from.