Nordost Heimdall Speaker Cable

jm1

I discovered that one of the local retailers has a pair of Dynaudio Confidence C4 speakers in house. A customer purchased these speakers along with Ayre mono blocks and the store was breaking them in before being sent to their new home.

I inquired if it would be possible to listen to these speakers before the customer retrieved them. Over the weekend I brought some music to the store and spent a relaxing time with these speakers and amps along with a Bryston pre-amp, Bryston and Ayre CD players, VPI Scoutmaster TT with Sumiko Blackbird cart and some Nordost Tyr speaker cables. I did not notice the ICs or the phono stage.

This system and speakers are extremely good in the acoustically treated room. It was wonderful to experience this level of detail and clarity. I have the C4’s sibling, the C1’s, and was somewhat reluctant to return home to determine if I obtain the same performance level as the store system. After re-listening to some of the same material at home, I was relieved to discover that I do have most of what was presented by the other system.

I was able to bring home some Nordost Heimdall speaker cables to try within my system. The cables are bi-wire so an adapter was also necessary for use with the C1’s.

After relaxing with some music using the Nordost cables, I switched back to my Harmonic Technology Pro-11 cables. The HT cables produce a darker overall presentation than the Nordost. The Nordost have a more balanced presentation which is more neutral overall and does not favor any portion of the audio spectrum.

Nordost cables are said to be more quick or dynamic. I found the opposite with these two cables as the HT had a slightly more dynamic presentation.

There was some more clarity within the details of the music with the Nordost cables.

It was interesting having the Nordost cables within the system.

daveyg2

Nordost tends to be a very revealing cable. They can be very bright as well, but with the right gear in front and behind, they can very much make a system. Nordost is an excellent choice when you want to bring the detail out.

jm1

There was a difference between the HT and Nordost cables. It was interesting to experience a new cable in the system.

reeltrouble1

Nordost is a neutral cable best used with gear designed the same way. The Heimdall has been extremely well received as an alternative to the much higher costing Valhalla line.

As stated you will hear what ever your produces using the cable.

RT1

Spacedeckman

Yep, great cable. Too much for my budget, but, some day.....

Story of my life

Mark

madmax

jm1 wrote: »

I was able to bring home some Nordost Heimdall speaker cables to try within my system.

Hmmm... Me too!

I tried these cables for an evening of listening last night. The differences between the Nordost and common Audioquest type IV cable are noticeable.

Please note I have absolutely no idea of cost or the documented mumbo jumbo associated with these cables other than what JM1 said above. I thought it would be an interesting experiment to try them first before having my mind altered by hype.

I used manley gear (phono pre/preamp/amplifiers) and the DQ-10 speakers which I have recently become familiar with in my setting. Vinyl, of course.

I noticed a clean type sound. The midrange, although fully there, did not excessively dominate the sound. It seemed more controlled, not diminished. (less midrange noticed but only because it seemed to be controlled better). The bass of the DQ-10s normally sounded a little detached. With these cables it seemed to have a better continuity from bass through treble. (more of a flat curve with less things sticking out). The treble was not as harsh as normal but seemed to be full.

I believe these cables were putting some control over the amplifiers rather than letting them ring out whatever they wanted. (like standard wires do). All results were better than the type IV cable and well worth whatever they cost.

I can't compare performance characteristics at all to the MIT's I used to have because I had never used them with my present speakers.

So, what do these cost? $200? $500? $1000? $5000? I don't know but if sound is any indication I would guess towards the higher end.

Do I want a pair? Oh yea!

madmax

reeltrouble1

Yea Max, but what about the Shotgun???

RT1

madmax

reeltrouble1 wrote: »

Yea Max, but what about the Shotgun???

RT1

You mean the one that will shoot me if I loose these cables?
madmax

reeltrouble1

HEHEHE, well no, I mean what about the MIT for comparison, I was very very close to pulling the trigger on the Heimdall which BAT recomended after the Valhalla for their gear.

I really like the MIT Shotgun with the MF/BAT/Amazings set up, but always willing to look at something when tweaking. I suppose I should just do the demo and get it over with.


RT1

dorokusai

I haven't heard the newer Nordost lines but did try the Red Dawn, Blue Heaven & Solar Wind. They all stunk.

reeltrouble1

BAT more or less in a nice way said the same thing about the Blue Heaven with their gear when I talked with them.

RT1

madmax

I can't compare performance characteristics at all to the MIT's I used to have because I had never used them with my present speakers.

I looked these up but couldn't find any US pricing info. Is there anyone who sells them in the US?
madmax

dorokusai

I found the Red Dawn to be just like some comments above, very revealing and crisp but they had zero low end and the midrange was a little light. I've yet to find a cable as versatile as MIT but alas YMMV.

reeltrouble1

Max,

I talked to a dealer who was willing to send me a demo pair, I cannot remember who it was now, I recall I just googled Nordost Heimdall or got it off their website. The demo thing was reasonable and similiar to others you get the cable for a short time and have to give your CC number.

RT1

tonyb

Spacedeckman wrote: »

Yep, great cable. Too much for my budget, but, some day.....

Story of my life

Mark

Why don't you jump up to the 8 tc speaker cable?Big diff.compared to the 4,and for not alot of coin.

Spacedeckman

tonyb wrote: »

Why don't you jump up to the 8 tc speaker cable?Big diff.compared to the 4,and for not alot of coin.

I'm biwiring with 2 runs of 4TC. I essentially have 8TC.

Mark

madmax

I returned the Nordost cable I was using back to the rightful owner and connected my speakers with standard speaker wire for the time being. Whats that song? You don't know what you got till its gone?? It just isn't the same now.
madmax