Nordost vs Shunyata speaker cables- and the winner is . .

Just to be thorough I would listen to what ever is on there for a couple weeks... not listening to the cables... just the music. Then switch for two weeks. Then back. Typically this will substantiate my quick A/B comparison, but reveal more of the gestalt effect on the system. Sometimes this has surprised me. 

Hilde45

I did this myself so it was not double blind even though I did close my eyes ; )

I did not level match- the SPL remained the same- should it have changed with a "passive" change like spkr cables? 

A few days into the new cables my opinion holds. The only other thing I noticed is that I am playing music louder than previously (with no fatigue). Not sure if this is a good thing. Probably not.

@ritter06 speaker cables should have no difference on SPL.  Glad you're enjoying the cables!  I use analysis plus blacks in one system and shunyata venom x in the other and have been pleased but each system is different.  I did not like nordost power cabling in my system, even the expensive ones.  But have not tried their speaker cables. 

Each product line can be pretty different I've found.  And each system can work well with different cabling.  I think that's why it's good to be open to trying new cabling especially after making a big component change like speakers, amplifier, or a major leap in DAC/source.  Getting a demo on a few different cables can be super helpful!  And yes digital cabling matters if your system is highly resolving!

No winner, no loser, just what matches best to your system, and your ears. 

I am not surprised the Nordost are better with your Mac amplifiers. I have no idea which mac's you have, but of course we all know historically they are on the warmer side, not in the highest echelon of resolving, so I would be surprised if the current products deviate from that, and therefore would match up better with some higher resolution cables. (Assuming that definition applies to Nordost's speaker cables- never heard them but we all have read this regarding Nordost's products )

I haven't heard Shunyata speaker cables either, but if those are voiced similar to my Alpha V2 powercord, which was recently placed on my DAC, they would be very smooth, refined, and a little darker in detail, not the highest frequency extension, and a little silkier than other offerings. Gabriel claims to be very opposed to hear any "digititus", and that is how I hear this power cable compared to a few others I have. I know I have read others describe Shunyata Alpha V2's as bright, but not in my system to my ears. FWIW how Jay Leong (Audiobacon) has described this as the "Shunyata house sound" is bang on with what I hear. 

Perhaps I’ll try the same comparison with the other system (KEF Blade 2s, Burmester, Revox, Jay’s). 

Yes, please do! It would be interesting to see if that system likes them as much as the Mac/Wilson system, to your ears anyway. 

Just to be thorough I would listen to what ever is on there for a couple weeks... not listening to the cables... just the music. Then switch for two weeks. Then back.

@ghdprentice Agreed. Quick A/B comparisons are useful, I do them, but sometimes long term results contradict those inital results. Not to mention the philosophy of having the entire system reach equilibrium after a few days, beyond burn-in periods. If you know, you know. 

I would agree that Nordost adds ’nothing’ to the signal, but it does subtract from the signal. It is still "lightweight" in the upper bass and lower midrange, although far better than the first generation, top of the line Nordost cables (circa 2001).

I’ve had  Shunyata (still do), Nordost (still do) and Alpha Core Goertz cables, which are remarkably similar to the Nordost. Shunyata has the lowest noise floor, Nordost is the most transparent, and the Alpha Core resembles Nordost in many ways.