Nordost Norse 2 Speaker Cables + Interconnects


I had the opportunity to demo the new Norse 2 Line by Nordost through my local dealer (Audio Two).

I took home the Frey 2 speaker cables shotgun. As soon as I installed them the liquid shimmer was everywhere. The music had a sense of relaxed and openness. My system consists of all tube gear and Chario Academy Sovran Speakers.

Nordost is a great company with the R&D to back it up. Consider Nordost as a component upgrade. Very happy with what the Norse 2 Frey did to my system.

Will be making a purchase as soon as my full review is complete. I will be updating the thread with my ongoing experience.

Please chime in with your thoughts.
kosta123
* Upgraded to the NORDOST FREY shotgunned speaker cables with matched Heimdall shotgunned jumpers;
* balanced XLR FREY ICs;
* married up to REGA OSIRIS amp/REGA ISIS VALVE cdp/REGA R9 speakers

THE RESULT: a quantum leap step-up improvement in everything. Simply put, they work .
Hi Listen1,

Am very interested to hear further on your experience in the upgrade from Heimdall 2 to Frey 2 SC and IC.

I have two Heimdall 2 PC and i like the way the highs are more defined, mids are less impressive though so i repaired that with my Valhalla IC running from CDP to pre.

I still have Tyr v1 IC from pre to amp and Red Dawn LS SC. am thinking of upgrading them but would love to hear your experience with Frey 2 vs Heimdall 2
I am only bothering you all with this because I saw the thread one day after a trial of Heimdall 2 (which I already had), Frey 2 and Tyr 2 speaker cables. The Frey 2 was instantly, and very significantly, better to my ears and system. With much trepidation -- because the cost is relatively astronomical -- I put in the Tyr 2, expecting another quantum improvement which would have meant laying out the huge cash for a cable. To my great surprise --and actually relief -- there was no such expected improvement. A bit more deep bass perhaps, but less (to my ears) everywhere else, compared to the Frey 2. I have ordered the Frey 2 sc, and also a pair of I-C to compare to my present H2s. BUT, given the difference in conductors and specs, I don't understand why I didn't get a major increase in performance from the Tyr 2. I have wondered whether it may be because I have Mag 3.7s which have a notoriously quirky load. Or my ancient ears which are even more so.
Nordost cables to me compared to other ones within there price range offer the best value and quality that I have seen in a long time. The timing and precise imagery from any of there line ups whether its from there Lief all the way to there Reference Series will work for almost and speaker and amplifiers out there. We sell them in our and store and use them for pretty much all or our equipment and we use most of there line ups in the store to compare sonic and timing difference in sound, though when using different amps and different speakers they will all sound different so you have to go on what you hear because everyone's hearing is different and also depends on the environment that its a controlled environment. As far as the new Valhalla2 nothing has been announced yet from my rep so once I know I can let you know because Im sure we have them in the store try out.
My hunch is yes. They will have more metal and proprietary plugs.

Not too much to ask for.
I just placed my order for the Tyr2 IC's. It was a tough choice between upgrading my original Frey's IC and SC. I like the sound from the Tyr2 IC more than the Frey2 SC. Of course both sound the best but I can only afford 1 upgrade at the present time.

On a side note - If you have used Eco3 Nordost now has Eco3x.
I think they are still using the WBT's on the upper level wires,which leads me to believe it's a cost thing.

Concerning the Bi wires, I felt that two single runs per speaker was the way to do it with all cables.

Splitting a cable in half never made sense to me.
My Nordost dealer told me that they went back to the moon glo connectors for better sound. Not sure if that is the real reason or cost. Nordost also discontinued bi-wire speaker cables (something about a phase-shift).
I have two pair of Heimdal series one interconnects.

I just purchased the Frey tonearm wires Norse series 2, but they don't have the WBT Nex Gen connectors like the Lower cost Heimdals of the series 1.

Other than cost, what was the reason for doing this?

I am quite happy with the Frey 2,all interconnects are now Norse series,but I just can't help wondering if the Frey 2 tonearm wire would be even better if they had the WBT plugs?
The series 2 is awesome. I am still trying to figure out what is going on because I replaced everything but a couple of Valhalla cords. I would say they have much improved clarity and slightly more transparency, with much more emotion. Maybe that is what you call liquid but to me it is more, hate to use it--organic sounding.

I am listening to music much louder and with more interest since installing them.
I've experienced the same too. As an original Frey Ic and Sc owner I have the demo case and found something else very interesting. My system is an Octave V70SE tube integrated driving Dynaudio C1 Signature speakers with a Meridian G08 source. I also have a Rel B3 sub.

That being said I started listening to the series 2 without the sub. Much more liquid sounding with more low end without losing any of the speed - detail and highs. But when I connect my Rel back up I have to cross it over even lower to get a seamless integration. In my opinion the sub makes up for a lot (but not all) of what the series 2 does better than the originals.

In my opinion without the sub the series 2 is a major upgrade and only a minor one with the sub.
I experienced the same effect earlier this week when I replaced a pair of somewhat inexpensive IC’s with a pair of Frey IC’s.