I have the Nordost FREY series 1 array (ICs and shotgunned speaker cables with matched jumpers).
Note: The shotgunned with jumpers array worked better than bi-wires, but let’s set that secondary debate aside herein.
My take:
(1) First and foremost, like all cables, the FREY audio performance is system dependent. One size does not fit all.
(2) After a very lengthy 6 month comparative audition head-to-head shootout, at their pricepoint, they bested all contenders and pretenders in MY system (emphasis added on the "MY" qualifier .)
(3) I also have the lesser model NORDOST Purple Flair cables in my "B" system. It is my experience that as you move up their product line , they just get better and better.
The tension arises in the entirely subjective value judgement as to how far up the chain do I go that is in conflict with the drain on your wallet as to where the model selected is "good enough".
There is a litmus test to this observation in the following summary extracted from a Canadian hi-fi magazine reporter. This is a repost of the CANADA HI-FI reporter’s take from the NORDOST cables bake-off exhibit actually performed live at a Toronto audio expo held annually -"TAVES". They stopped at the hierarchy of a progressive higher model bakeoff summit at the Valhallas (....one below the current top ODINS ...) with the inference that a move up the model trendline results in improvement as one keeps going further.
http://canadahifi.com/taves-consumer-el ... rge-de-sa/
".....I had a chance to sit in on a couple demonstrations in the Nordost room, giving my feet a well deserved break. I’m very familiar with the benefits of high quality cables and use a full Nordost Heimdall 2 loom with my reference two-channel setup. That being said, I always find the Nordost demonstrations to be an “ear-opening” experience.
Michael Taylor from Nordost demonstrated the significant sonic benefits of replacing an OEM cable with a Nordost model – in particular a swap of a single USB cable, from OEM to Nordost Blue Heaven ($250/2m), to Heimdall 2 ($500/2m) and,
a swap of a single RCA interconnect, from OEM, to Blue Heaven, to Heimdall 2, to Tyr 2 and finally Valhalla
(Along with convincing the audience in the room that cables DO matter, I’ve now got the bug to upgrade..."
FWIW....
Note: The shotgunned with jumpers array worked better than bi-wires, but let’s set that secondary debate aside herein.
My take:
(1) First and foremost, like all cables, the FREY audio performance is system dependent. One size does not fit all.
(2) After a very lengthy 6 month comparative audition head-to-head shootout, at their pricepoint, they bested all contenders and pretenders in MY system (emphasis added on the "MY" qualifier .)
(3) I also have the lesser model NORDOST Purple Flair cables in my "B" system. It is my experience that as you move up their product line , they just get better and better.
The tension arises in the entirely subjective value judgement as to how far up the chain do I go that is in conflict with the drain on your wallet as to where the model selected is "good enough".
There is a litmus test to this observation in the following summary extracted from a Canadian hi-fi magazine reporter. This is a repost of the CANADA HI-FI reporter’s take from the NORDOST cables bake-off exhibit actually performed live at a Toronto audio expo held annually -"TAVES". They stopped at the hierarchy of a progressive higher model bakeoff summit at the Valhallas (....one below the current top ODINS ...) with the inference that a move up the model trendline results in improvement as one keeps going further.
http://canadahifi.com/taves-consumer-el ... rge-de-sa/
".....I had a chance to sit in on a couple demonstrations in the Nordost room, giving my feet a well deserved break. I’m very familiar with the benefits of high quality cables and use a full Nordost Heimdall 2 loom with my reference two-channel setup. That being said, I always find the Nordost demonstrations to be an “ear-opening” experience.
Michael Taylor from Nordost demonstrated the significant sonic benefits of replacing an OEM cable with a Nordost model – in particular a swap of a single USB cable, from OEM to Nordost Blue Heaven ($250/2m), to Heimdall 2 ($500/2m) and,
a swap of a single RCA interconnect, from OEM, to Blue Heaven, to Heimdall 2, to Tyr 2 and finally Valhalla
(Along with convincing the audience in the room that cables DO matter, I’ve now got the bug to upgrade..."
FWIW....