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Question About NORDOST cables

I got a pair of Red Dawn II speaker cables. I was really impressed by these cable; the speed, dynamics, vocals - it's transformed the sound of my system. unfortunately not all is good; the bass suffered from a major roll off, and to make matter worse it's also lost its definition. really bad.

if it wasn't for the bass I'd hit the jack pot with these cables. I really like what's done to the system. in fact, I just got a pair of Heimdall's IC's. there's a general improvement, and the bass has also improved a little, but I feel like there's some kind of imbalance between vocals and other instruments.

the Red Dawn has to go. that's clear.

what I'm not sure of is whether I should stay with Nordost, and upgrade to the Heimdall's speaker cables, or move to something else. I'd really like to get the Siltech 330L, but is out of my budget atm. I can get the Heimdall now, or wait until have enough funds for the 330L's.

I really could with some other opinions/thoughts on the matter.
many thanks,

Massimo

speakers: Paradigm S1v3(P-Be)
youngatheart
youngatheart OP
21 posts
 
thanks guys for the replies - interesting info

about my comment on hearing some kind of imbalance... after I made the comment out of curiosity I checked the wires signal direction, and somehow I plugged one of the IC in the wrong way, so that's probably why I was ailing for balance.

before the Heimdall's I was using Blue Heaven's. in my system the Heimdall's are a HUGE step up from the BH's; I was really ailing for the bass loss from the Red Dawn's, and the Heimdall's have somewhat cured that!

I'm really enjoying the sound much more. the bass is better defined and extended again, and everything is more musical, balanced - better presented.

the Heimdall's IC's are here to stay for sure. I can live with this sound as it is, but I must, must replace the Red Dawn's; it was good for a taste of Nordost's, but that's about it. the bass suffers from a serious roll off, and loss of definition... must go.

now I've to decide whether to go with bi-wire or shotgun...heh
mt10425
1,138 posts
 
I had a Heimdall phono I/C which was used both for phono connection and as a regular i/c. I also used the BH between various components. Nordost sounds like what you all have described. It's just that they "do" something instead of being neutral. I sold them all. Now, I use DIY neotech for all my interconnects.
xti16
1,525 posts
 
I don't recall exactly why Nordost is Not making bi-wire anymore but I think they found there was phase shift with the bi-wires.
ssglx
203 posts
 
I'll add that though I like the Blue Heaven speaker cables, I was not enamored with the Blue Heaven IC's. They were very clean and extended, but rather wispy and lightweight in my system. The BH speaker cables are not that way.
ptmconsulting
1,000 posts
 
Half off pricing definitely points to Nordost trying to dump these, for some reason, I would guess. New model coming out, or perhaps trouble identified with the current model.

Where did you hear about phase shift with the bi-wire version? Could be due to the proximity of the 2 runs of cable to each other? So Nordost is not making any bi-wires anymore? That still doesn't explain why they are also discounting the shotgun version.

I feel bad for the guys who bought this at $1800 and are asking half price used. Now they have to trim that down by 30-50% again in the used market?
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