Nordost FREY interconnects [Archive] - The Art of Sound Forum

Marco

06-05-2011, 20:50

'Tis true! :)

Most so-called 'hi-end' interconnects in comparison are a total waste of money, otherwise I'd be using them. It's as simple as that.

The only hi-end cables I'd entertain using are those from Furutech and Oyaide, as I believe that, although expensive, you're paying for serious Japanese know-how and quality - much of it genuinely innovative.

Marco.

MCRU

06-05-2011, 20:55

You'll be telling people next that my ultimate power cord is better than the valhalla!

Those WBT connectors are gobsmackingly good (and Mark's cable obviously), only wish I could afford some!

Marco

06-05-2011, 21:00

You'll be telling people next that my ultimate power cord is better than the valhalla!

I wouldn't insult your power cord by mentioning Valhalla in the same breath!! ;)

Yep, the WBTs make all the difference, and transform an already superb interconnect into a veritable giant-killer....

Andrew, I'd seriously recommend that you try some G2000HDs before buying The Frey. Mark offers a money-back guarantee, so you can't lose :)

Marco.

Wakefield Turntables

07-05-2011, 13:45

I wouldn't insult your power cord by mentioning Valhalla in the same breath!! ;)

Yep, the WBTs make all the difference, and transform an already superb interconnect into a veritable giant-killer....

Andrew, I'd seriously recommend that you try some G2000HDs before buying The Frey. Mark offers a money-back guarantee, so you can't lose :)

Marco.

Thats fannytastic, I'll get in contact with Mark Grant then :eek:

Effem

07-05-2011, 15:42

hifinutt

29-05-2011, 12:17

i recently bought a high end nordost interconnect to replace my analysis plus silver oval which is an excellent cable.
i was thinking to sell it soon afterwards but instead of a thin bright sound all i got was much better sense of presence and imaging, needless to say i can`t bring myself to sell it yet

having said that the frey speaker cable does not score very well in martin colloms line up

Abbey Road Reference 28
Abbey Road Monitor 25
Audio Quest CV-4.2 55
'Bell Wire' ( 5m ) 8
Cardas Golden Reference 90
DNM Precision 43
Kimber Monocle XL (single wire version) 40
Kimber Black Pearl 110
Kimber KS 3035 72
Kimber KS 3038 95
Kimber 8TC SE 72
Microphonic Audio 'Reference' 21
LFD 'Loudspeaker', flat copper ribbon cable 50
Nordost Frey 35
Nordost Heimdal 30
Transparent Reference XL mm 100
Transparent Reference XL mm 100
Transparent Reference XL mm2 155 !
Transparent Reference MM 96
Transparent Music Wave Plus 69
QED Silverline Anniversary XT 17
QED XT 400 12
Russ Andrews/Kimber Crystal 24 47 Kimber spades
Russ Andrews/Kimber Crystal 24 52 WBT 4mm
Van Den Hul Royal Jade 28
Van Den Hul Super Nova 35
Van Den Hul CS122 ( better at longer lengths) 31
Van Damme Classic 2x1.5 mm twin axial 14
Wireworld Atlantis 5 42
Wyrewizard Dreamcaster bi wire 31
Yter (best below 4 m length) 85

Wakefield Turntables

30-05-2011, 08:38

I bought some £8 belkin interconnectes of $bay the other month and they are excellent, I still havent gone back to my Valhalls's yet. :stalks:

kt66

05-06-2011, 08:56

To answer the original question, the Frey is a different cable than the usual "house sound" that Nordost are notorious for. They don't have that thin bass and shrill top end and that too goes for all their cables ranged above the Frey but not I am afraid beneath.

Pound for sound though the MG cable betters it.

I have used Solar Wind, Blue Heaven and now Red Dawn for many years
and if that is what you are hearing then there is something seriously wrong with the rest of your system, room, music or ears.

After spending all day in a recording studio, Nordost to me are the best at accurately reproducing musical instruments. Townshend Isolda also does the job correctly. To me other cables mask treble and are just a poor EQ

Effem

05-06-2011, 09:46

I have used Solar Wind, Blue Heaven and now Red Dawn for many years
and if that is what you are hearing then there is something seriously wrong with the rest of your system, room, music or ears.

After spending all day in a recording studio, Nordost to me are the best at accurately reproducing musical instruments. Townshend Isolda also does the job correctly. To me other cables mask treble and are just a poor EQ

That is of course your opinion on the matter, the same as mine is of course ;)

But, let me align my experience with yours. Having been a cable maker for a good number of years, listened to so many cables I have simply lost count, plus having a regular churn of system components, moved house a few times, attended many bakeoffs too, my opinion of the Nordost range has not varied in all that time or situations, so I fail to see how you can generalise by saying my hearing, system(s), rooms and music are all seriously wrong :scratch:

If to you other cables are masking the treble, then could it be that the Nordost cables are acting as a high pass filter, hence they seem to excel in the treble registers and are blocking the lower registers.

No argument here, just each to his own I say.

marble

19-02-2015, 13:43

Hi Andrew,

The short answer?

Buy some Mark Grant G2000HDs. You'll obtain much better performance and save yourself a fortune!! ;)

Marco.

Hi,
I was really thinking of buying a pair of Nordost Frey or Valkyrja interconnects when I stumbled on this thread.
So now I am really questionning myself about Mark Grant's G2000HD Ag or not.
Has anyone here compared G2000HD with Nordost, even if it was with Heimdall or Red Dawn interconnects ?
I already do have Nordost LS Purple Flare and Blue Heaven... but I'd like to go "upstairs".
Like Andrew, I would value any input on this... Thanks !

Wakefield Turntables

19-02-2015, 14:30

I've got mark grant IC and I would recommend then any day over nordost.

marble

19-02-2015, 14:52

I've got mark grant IC and I would recommend then any day over nordost.
Thanks Andrew.
I was also intrigued by Reference Fidelity Component cables, although they are made of high quality Furutech µOFC cable. I already know how is Furutech own OCC signature (I just sold a pair of Furutech Alpha Line Plus), and it does not match best in my system (Wireworld and Nordost better them in 4 out of 5 aspects). Anyway, I would be interrested in anyone opinion about Paul's RFC vs Mark's GX000HD...

cyclopse

19-02-2015, 18:39

Hi,
I was really thinking of buying a pair of Nordost Frey or Valkyrja interconnects when I stumbled on this thread.
So now I am really questionning myself about Mark Grant's G2000HD Ag or not.
Has anyone here compared G2000HD with Nordost, even if it was with Heimdall or Red Dawn interconnects ?
I already do have Nordost LS Purple Flare and Blue Heaven... but I'd like to go "upstairs".
Like Andrew, I would value any input on this... Thanks !

I wouldn't do it. Another option to place into the mix;-

http://http://www.back-promo.co.uk/html/222connect-litz.html (http://www.back-promo.co.uk/html/222connect-litz.html)

hifinutt

19-02-2015, 18:59

hi marble
the rfc cables are excellent . beautifully made and highly rated

I have had many high end cables and really rate them , I have a mark grant 2000 hd wbt arriving soon so will keep you posted

the lat 300 is also very good vfm s/h and pretty good

the back promo I have had too and they were excellent

Wakefield Turntables

19-02-2015, 19:47

I also own Yannis 222 interconnects. They are my IC of choice in my £50K Refernce system. Excellent value for money and very very hard to beat

marble

19-02-2015, 21:53

hi marble
I have a mark grant 2000 hd wbt arriving soon so will keep you posted

Me too.
Just received Nordost Red Dawn today, so pratically, I will roll IC cables soon.
How's Yannis 222 (back promo) compared to Mark Grant G2000HD Ag (or Cu) ?

walpurgis

19-02-2015, 21:57

Just received Nordost Red Dawn today

Nice. I like Nordost cables.

Andrei

19-02-2015, 22:57

Hi guys!
i was just wondering if any of you had any experience with these and what your thoughts were about them. I'm considering getting a pair but would value any input.
Not had Norse interconnects but I've had several from the Leif range and they were just fine, so I would guess going up to the Frey should be excellent. Nowadays I prefer silver interconnects.

marble

23-02-2015, 13:15

Me too.
Just received Nordost Red Dawn today, so pratically, I will roll IC cables soon.
How's Yannis 222 (back promo) compared to Mark Grant G2000HD Ag (or Cu) ?

Hi,
MG G2000HD WBT Ag are upon arrival so I will keep posting to tell you what I found about them. Anyone compared those with MS Audio / Klotz MC5000 ?
I am a bit lost with all threads regarding this... thanks !

Wakefield Turntables

23-02-2015, 14:36

I own nordost Valhalla IC and tbh think they are crap. My yannis 222 and mark grant cables produce markedly better performances for markedly lower prices. ;)

Anthony K

23-02-2015, 15:41

I own nordost Valhalla IC and tbh think they are crap. My yannis 222 and mark grant cables produce markedly better performances for markedly lower prices. ;)

Crap??? my offer still stands :rolleyes: Let me see how crap they sound and I'll through in a mains cable of you choice :whistle:

cyclopse

24-02-2015, 08:55

I own nordost Valhalla IC and tbh think they are crap. My yannis 222 and mark grant cables produce markedly better performances for markedly lower prices. ;)

I made the change away from Nordost Valhalla as well.

Wakefield Turntables

24-02-2015, 08:58

I made the change away from Nordost Valhalla as well.

Bet you didn't regret it.

Marco

24-02-2015, 11:34

I own nordost Valhalla IC and tbh think they are crap. My yannis 222 and mark grant cables produce markedly better performances for markedly lower prices...

And that’s the success of AoS. Both Mark Grant and Yannis cables are AoS-endorsed ‘house’ products… One day, all genuine and sensible enthusiasts will acknowledge and accept the concept of ‘SPPV', and shun overpriced ‘badge-fi’ [such as Nordost]! ;)

Marco.

Gazjam

24-02-2015, 12:28

Hi,
MG G2000HD WBT Ag are upon arrival so I will keep posting to tell you what I found about them. Anyone compared those with MS Audio / Klotz MC5000 ?
I am a bit lost with all threads regarding this... thanks !

Yup,
compared them directly in a few different systems.

I preferred the Klotz, both are great cables though.

Gazjam

24-02-2015, 12:31

And that’s the success of AoS. Both Mark Grant and Yannis cables are AoS-endorsed ‘house’ products… One day, all genuine and sensible enthusiasts will acknowledge and accept the concept of ‘SPPV', and shun overpriced ‘badge-fi’ [such as Nordost]! ;)

Marco.

As are Brian's home-brew Klotz/MS Audio cables, must be if the Boss uses 'em! ;)

marble

24-02-2015, 13:42

all genuine and sensible enthusiasts will acknowledge and accept the concept of ‘SPPV', and shun overpriced ‘badge-fi’
Yay :eek:, how you did know ? I received my Mark Grant's yesterday, will post back very soon. Sorry for my poor english... what 'SPPV' stands for ? Thanks.

Wakefield Turntables

24-02-2015, 14:03

SPPV = sound per pound value

Marco

24-02-2015, 14:28

As are Brian's home-brew Klotz/MS Audio cables, must be if the Boss uses 'em! ;)

Indeed - all three are quality products and exemplify the concept of achieving high SPPV :)

Marco.

Marco

24-02-2015, 14:32

Yay :eek:, how you did know ? I received my Mark Grant's yesterday, will post back very soon.

Enjoy, David! :)

Marco.

cyclopse

24-02-2015, 17:33

Bet you didn't regret it.

No, and it's fantastic to support the individual business model rather than a national company that is also working in the medical and aero industry with their cable solutions. I am left the feeling that Nordost has a sonic signature on the bright side of neutrality.

Wakefield Turntables

24-02-2015, 18:48

Nordost has been described as "lean". I used a lot of Nordost products when I had my LP12 and the sound was more relaxed, I wouldn't say it was bright but I appreciate that cables will sound different in different systems. ;)

hifinutt

24-02-2015, 19:20

Wakefield Turntables

24-02-2015, 19:23

I have had a number of nordost cables . including heimdall and Valhalla . the former was ok `ish the latter was extremely good . very natural and had real space and air around the sound . I admit to being rather impressed

Thats fair enough Phil. My Yannis tonearm cable trounced my Nordost "TYR" which cost £1400 :eek: The Yannis cable cost a hell of a lot less. The "TYR" now sits on my 301 where it seems to perform quite well.

Wakefield Turntables

24-02-2015, 19:24

To add insult to injury I also have some Nordost SPM reference speaker cable. I prefer my Black Rhodium twist which cost about £4/m :eek::eek:

Marco

24-02-2015, 19:32

Wakefield Turntables

24-02-2015, 19:39

Lol… You’re slowly but surely being ‘cured’, Andy! :eyebrows:

Unfortunately, some folk need a ‘fancy badge’ stuck on their gear, in order to feel good, not only about their system, but about themselves…. ;)

Marco.

I really should get around to selling these cables and reinvest in some lovely vintage gear, or maybe even a Radford STA100 / Glenn Croft 7R monoblocks :eyebrows:

marble

04-03-2015, 08:56

Enjoy, David! :)

Marco.

Plugged in MG G2000HD a few days ago and managed to get some NAC A5 also... I think both are going to stay. Really, I am not sure I could do much better .
Anyway, I will try forth and back with my other I/C (Nordost and Wireworld) to check whenever one of them suits better my taste but I am actually pretty sure Mark Grant's will stay.