QUOTE: " ....something close to the performance of the Nordost Tyr 2 for quite a bit less...."
Your quote extract above is asking for a wishful but impossible task that is at odds with the time-honored axiom in this hobby: you get what you pay for....full stop.
I currently have the FREYS (both the ICs and matched speaker cables) after having both HEIMDALLs and also lesser grades in my prior systems. There is a a direct correlation between improved performance and the product model with its matched price.
At the TAVES audio expo in Toronto in late 2014, here's the CANADAHIFI mag review summary supporting the same.
...." Nordost
I had a chance to sit in on a couple demonstrations in the Nordost room, giving my feet a well deserved break. Im 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
1) a swap of a single USB cable, from OEM to Nordost Blue Heaven ($250/2m), to Heimdall 2 ($500/2m) and;
2) a swap of a single RCA interconnect, from OEM, to Blue Heaven, to Heimdall 2, to Tyr 2 and finally
Valhalla 2.
Along with convincing the audience in the room that cables DO matter, Ive now got the bug to upgrade..."
My takeaway on Nordost :
(a) I now appreciate why many reviewers have the Valhallas as their reference cables.
(b) Nordost is not the silver bullet or Holy Grail for everyone for sure and and there are other fine cables out there..... BUT .... if you are indeed looking for that unique and upscale NORDOST sonic signature and its particular matched performance, I highly doubt that you will find a NORDOST TYR clone elsewhere and especially not in any cheap price strata.