Exotic $13k Speaker Cables from 2001 vs 2024 $39 Amazon Specials... WHOA!

[@geraldmosley2195]

There is a SUCKER BORN every minute, but if you're the drug dealer on the block, you are a baller 😂

[@evil_twit]

At 10 Minutes I just couldn't take it anymore.

[@dexterpeart9058]

Boring, boring...wasted 5 minutes of my life

[@ubtrippin9980]

Why not use the same wire as inside the amplifier and the speakers? Simple 18Ga copper wire. Why aren’t there Nordost upgrade wire kits for inside the amp and speakers?

[@T_Burd_75]

And what about the in-wall cables? lol

[@JorgeCordero]

@@ubtrippin9980 the cable resistance depends on the length of the cable, so for short distances it does not make a difference. So you need a proper gage cable for the power of the amp, and the length of the cable. You don't use tiny cables to connect your dryer, same thing here. Also aluminum with copper cover cables have more resistance, that's why it's better to go with pure copper.

[@tordarbast]

And when the recording was made you need to switch out the cables to nordost as well😂😂😂

[@deputy3690]

I can't believe you kept a straight face when saying 13k. It's not normal behavior not to react to something beyond belief. What has this society become? Now $39 is back to reality.

[@lucv13]

LOL my bottleneck is the small pensions I receive....

[@fierychilipeppers494]

Jay’s audio lab did an A/B with cables costing $200,000 versus lamp cord. The listeners chose lamp cord.

[@seanb3303]

But didn’t big Jay determine that the listeners had unrefined tastes?

[@glenschneider5978]

@@seanb3303not exactly. They selected the cables that were more detailed as the expensive ones. And they were 100% consistent. Then Jay theorized that the expensive ones needed time to break in and open up.

[@patrickmeylemans9627]

@@glenschneider5978break in for cables…. Sure and use some used motor oil, from an Harley and threat them with it. Your sound will change day and night… cables do make a difference, removed mines ones and there was no more sound😮

[@quma001]

To be fair, it was against a $20'000 cable. Those Magico's needed a bit of warmth ;)

[@carlosoliveira-rc2xt]

The system is beyond anything that they own that they may have even picked a coat hanger.

[@victorjohnson7512]

Reality check: there may be a few hundred bucks worth of silver in those cables, but your just paying an extra $12,700 for the hype. The internal wires inside those triangle speakers are just copper.

[@ChrisDied]

Expectation bias is an extremely strong thing

[@chinmeysway]

confirmation bias

[@jungleking9703]

I think this expensive cable sound being superior to cheaper cable sound is the same psychological effect as people who talk about burn in when it comes to headphones. Basically it's I your head already that you are connecting something expensive and therefore you are already expecting it to be superior to the cheaper one.

[@eugenefudge3685]

I use mogami speaker cable for my Audio Research system at $4.00 a foot . Sounds great. No need to spend more.

[@tgxperience]

Placebo effect is real.

[@user-ci4fh7ts8m]

I would have placebo effect too if I set my self back 13k on 20$ worth of copper 😂

[@jakobgooijer]

Thinking about 13K active Speakers without the need of Nordost's

[@diyfullrangehifispeakers]

I'm no expert in this area but line level cables carry much lower voltages so wouldn't they be even more sensitive to cable quality?

[@superspeeder]

So if the cable opens up the sound so much, why would you put them in the bottom banana plugs and feed the woofers directly, and mids/tweeters through the bi-amp bridges which are just blocks of coated brass?

[@lssht]

I was looking for this comment, as I just asked approx. the same questions in other words 😉

[@hansemannluchter643]

Go away with your reason and logic, this is a cult-meeting! Their First Commandment is: 1: Thou shall not perform Randomized Controlled Trials!

[@MaksRom]

​@@hansemannluchter643мабуть це як гіпноз, хтось піддається на нього, хтось ні.

[@Scottyyoung-bu3gx]

Placebo effect. Evidently the laws of physics don't apply to speaker cable.

[@gqaeaudio]

Made in China ?

[@EskWIRED]

I don't understand talking about cables in terms of what they bring to the sound. Cables are not an active component. To a greater or lesser extent they either let the signal through unmolested, or they distort the signal. If a cable sounds warm, it is because it is attenuating the other frequencies. If a cable sounds like it improves clarity, that is because it doesn't damage clarity as much as the other cables. Cables cannot improve a system. They can only damage it to a greater or lesser extent.

[@Pete.across.the.street]

They all distort or color the signal at least a tinny bit

[@EskWIRED]

@@Pete.across.the.street Yeah. And I think that's the best way to evaluate them

[@humanitech]

Don't cables pass signal ?

[@EskWIRED]

@@humanitech yes, they all pass signal.

[@MayonaiseSailor]

@@EskWIRED braided cables produce capacitance.... thats what they hear

[@frodobaggins7252]

Do they sound $12,960 better? How much do you suppose they cost to make? $200? $300 at the absolute high end? The profit margin on these is up there with the sale of million dollar homes.

[@eugenefudge1883]

I love my mogami rca interconnects bought on Amazon for $36 made by wireworld, they sound great

[@ericschoonmaker7222]

Cables definitely affect sound, but... I use the best cable made by Mogami.

[@Final_Resolution]

If you really feel that you need $13,000.00 cables, then something isn't right!!! I mean lets be real now. It’s funny though!!

[@TheDjcarlos67]

People calling themselves “audiophiles” believing they can hear a significant difference are deluding themselves. Anyone daft enough to spend that much on cables deserves to be taken for a ride by the cable companies

[@RobinMarples]

@@Final_Resolution do people need a 500 000 € watch ? No . The same. Those are more than sound improvement, they are also nice objects

[@santadavid3320]

FYI: Timbre, in English, is not pronounced “timber.” It’s pronounced “tam-ber.” It’s a French word, but nobody in America expects te French pronunciation, which would be “tom-bru.”

[@seanmangan2769]

Absolutely correct 💯

[@noblesavage23]

Sounds like the argument I'd make to my wife if I wanted to purchase $13,000 speakers cables.

[@markc8773]

To think that there's still two levels above the Valhalla with the Odin 2 and Odin Gold. I'm happy with the sound of my Heimdall 2 used throughout all my interconnects and speaker cables.

[@mauricecuffee7220]

You should also get some Nordost jumpers to replace the brass jumpers.

[@rayfabbri3759]

I use brown lamp cord.

[@mistersunny3636]

I use them too. The brown cords have much more soul, drive and are more bodyed than the white cords. I feel the white ones absolutely sturdy built and clean sounding, though some might be kind of hard sounding, especially the german ones. 🤣🤣

[@rayfabbri3759]

@@mistersunny3636 you are correct. The white loose a little hi end around 9.5K

[@mikaelfredrickson3856]

@@mistersunny3636 😂😂😂

[@mjseeker4459]

I've become a believer of many things in life and I can accept that these cables would make that much difference. Maybe someone can help me.I'm having a hard time seeing the cost justification. is it really the result of manufacturing, materials and R&D. I'm not being sarcastic. I just want to see an explanation I can consider.

[@hansemannluchter643]

Look up the Randomized Controlled Trials on "cables" .

[@NosTubes58]

In my 46 years in our shared hobby ( passion ) over the course of the last 6-8 years, I’ve to say aloud that the IC’s placed closest to one’s source ( DAC in my case ) actually did made or break the collectively whole system wise, as long as the SCs are neutral, the IC’s set the tone voicing wise.

[@Youtuber-ku4nk]

You will hear another level of layer if you listened to CD or an uncompressed rip.

[@DRFyfe-yb8hc]

Clean gold connectors (spade, banana, etc.) and OFC 10 Gauge cables are all you need for speaker wires. Keep them away from other electronic signals. The expensive ones just change the sound with hidden electronic components in the cables.

[@pitfisch1]

Any example for this hidden stuff?

[@Dave30867]

I agree with you i use 10 gauge myself 😉👍

[@pitfisch1]

@@darrinfyfe7728 So far no example, as expected.

[@mistersunny3636]

Possible are electric comp. (filters), though no electronic components. Electronics need a power-source to work. And there soulden´t be on at an intercon-cabel. 😉

[@justadad2304]

It's important for people actually trying to make a decision to remember that yesteryear's models always present outstanding value propositions - for everything (preamps, amps, speaker, cables, and of course the music itself when buying physical media - assuming things aren't broken or, if they are, are easily repairable). Although, this is different from recommending that the secondhand market become the dominant part of the the culture, since those who consume reviews and keep up with industry developments just for the pleasure of it most likely want to focus primarily on the latest and greatest. In other words, secondhand gear = rules for actual purchase value; latest and greatest products = dominant part of audiophile culture.

[@gsanchez922]

If you can hear studio noise that studio has issues

[@steenstube]

The way Nordost is made, the inductance is higher than most other cable. In some combinations of amp and speaker that can make a difference, but not generally. Could that be the case in your system?

[@hansemannluchter643]

They need to make a Bifrost "cable", so we can connect Asgaard and Midgaard properly!

[@finscreenname]

I've had an EQ since I was 12 years old (some 45+ now). Never cared about the speaker and interconnect cable wars. Whatever they can do I can do better with a simple slide.

[@tobias7104]

Great review. But how am I going to incorporate the Nordost speaker cables in my Sonos setup 🤨?

[@jC-kc4si]

The no name version of the $39 cable was recently on sale for $13 for half the length.

[@David-ik8wj]

I have Pure Audio Project opan baffle speakers. I run Anticables speaker wires from the amp to the crossover and from crossover to the drivers. Sounds fine. I have a 5 foot run on some connections to the drivers. If you own large speakers, open them up. you might be surprised at the quality of internal wiring. Try upgrading the internal wiring with something better than zip cord. You will get improvement. Small speakers with short wires dont matter. Long runs of cable diminish the quality keep cables as short as possible and away from magnetic fields and power cords.

[@2madamimadam290]

Tried similar flat Nordost speaker cables in the early 2000's. (Cheaper ones). Nice clarity and detail but definitely robbed you of bass.

[@tylerhackman6832]

Talking about timber like you’re in the woods 😂

[@AH-wr1ir]

Yes! FYI for those who don't know....timbre is pronounced tam-burr

[@steverees1936]

Could it be the systems your listening to that is making the biggest difference? Your comparing to two different sets of speakers and components with two different speaker cables, so it's only logical that the sound is going to be vastly different. Just a thought. 🤔

[@kingmonkey88]

Yes, they should be comparing different cables in the same system.

[@tomthompson7400]

please try a bit of twin and earth solid twin core cooker cable , ideally 6mm or the likes , I would be curious to hear your thoughts ,,, ever looked inside the speaker cabinet to see what they are wired with ,, no point in having a 5 lane highway to get to the venue if theres still only a single gate into the event.

[@iamtoothewalrus]

100% audiophiles spent their youth playing D&D in the dark.

[@kingmonkey88]

D&D?

[@iamtoothewalrus]

@@kingmonkey88 A metaphor.

[@kingmonkey88]

@@iamtoothewalrus Dungeons and Dragons...

[@rmartin1679]

You should have tried great cables and a great DAC on the As3200… I don’t think you heard its full potential. The Yamaha will let you hear every little change in the system (you need a reference cable loom for sure)

[@AndrewB23]

There's no difference bud

[@Final_Resolution]

A reference cable loom?? Come on please stop!!!

[@randysalsman6992]

They let you on the internet at the mental hospital?

[@Gassten]

Biggest snakeoil ever is cables !

[@toddt5562]

Shocking that apparently you thought it was advisable to review high end gear with $39 cables from Amazon...😅

[@eTannoys]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@steverino5054]

I buy all my 'high end' gear used....very used. lol

[@tubefreeeasy]

I use 14 gauge silver (not silver plated copper) with 8 gauge teflon jackets that offer clarity and openness.

[@bigaldallas]

link please or brand

[@tubefreeeasy]

⁠search: tempo electric

[@Josal]

Great review 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@wouterkolkman]

Upgrading speaker cables: I settled on Red Dawn - no regrets. Now using active ATC 50s - now with balanced Ricable from Italy:-)

[@shafe8860]

This is hilarious!

[@MichaelBruunCph]

Mogami 3104 from japan is the ticket. Resistance and capacitance are the only things that truly matter. Buying something like these is snakeoil

[@truescotsman4103]

What's the profit margin on a $200,000 set of speaker wires? For the manufacturer? For the retailer?

[@samhalsey5051]

So the question is why are they better?

[@damirhlobik6488]

333 times beter/expensive

[@JorgeCordero]

Cable is just resistance, inductance and capacitance. You need to move the power from the amp to the speaker, that's all, for 3 feet... All of the poetry about cables is just that. Poetry. There are no physics that justify any of these claims.

[@Pete.across.the.street]

Why does the poetry sound different then?

[@StefanoDallAgata]

@@Pete.across.the.street placebo.

[@IliyaOsnovikov]

The Stereophile published the engineering experiment with various speaker cables that had different resistance, inductance and capacitance. And it demonstrated that the matter is not a mere power transfer but rather a complex interaction in a system including an amplifier, a cable and a speaker.

[@BlaBla-jj6sh]

@@IliyaOsnovikov That's a fancy way of saying 'it's all in your head, but we need to keep the overpriced cable producers happy, since they're also our advertizers'.

[@IliyaOsnovikov]

@@BlaBla-jj6sh That experiment had demonstrated different levels of test signal distortion at speaker terminals and it didn't include any expensive cables.

[@wojtekwojtkowy869]

the only real test of cables will be when someone changes them so that you have no idea which cables are connected now, you will only know that cables a, b or c are playing. After an hour test, choose the best cables. 99% of the time they will not be the most expensive cables.

[@realhi-fihelplarry8047]

They use Odin internally in Verity Sarastro speakers. The big brother to Valhalla.

[@hans-ingo3039]

@@realhi-fihelplarry8047 But Verity Audio is out of business if I remember correctly.

[@anonymohipp9097]

This has been my experience too. Wanted to believe they are all the same, but I've heard differences in terms of soundstage and imaging with different cables.

[@bobb.9917]

My Lamp Cord is Magic(o)! 😀

[@matthewbarrow3727]

You should check out the Silversmith Audio Fidelium speaker cables. They are also a ribbon type cable, and work using the skin effect.

[@MaksRom]

Але скін ефект впливає на частотах які значно перевищили 20 KGz.

[@marksmith7930]

Those cables would make a great antenna.

[@jgeeme1]

Could you get a pair of "Valhala 2s" off Ali Express for $50 and compare? I suspect I know the answer, but might be fun for us fans.

[@erickruse4679]

I was just googling the same thing. Shape and design of the cables makes a difference. I wonder if a cheapened version of the cable gets you some of the effect.

[@speedgarageanthemsvol.7830]

It's pronounced "tamber", not timber

[@HiFiHuff]

@@speedgarageanthemsvol.7830 the word is Timbre. Not tamber.

[@HiFiHuff]

“The timbre of an instrument is its unique sound quality that distinguishes it from other instruments, even when they play the same note. Timbre is also known as tone quality, tone color, or voice. “

[@chelillingworth9466]

​@@HiFiHuff the word is spelled timbre but is pronounced as "tamber" The previous commenter is correct,

[@chelillingworth9466]

Sounds like Tam-br

[@guystpierrecomposer]

Another reason to buy Buchardt A10 (no câbles needed!) ;)

[@therealgoetz]

@@guystpierrecomposer Same here, haha.

[@claudiochiarini9793]

Original jumpers? 13.000 k for speakers cable and original jumpers still on ? Really?

[@saintedward318]

@@claudiochiarini9793 Exactly, doesn't make sense.

[@gqaeaudio]

😅😅😅😅😅

[@Istocemosad111]

How much nordost pay you?

[@michaellichnovsky8397]

Why so cynical?

[@aerotecvideo1270]

Try separating the 2 wires for most or all of the cable, to avoid stray reactance. It makes sense that the inter connects are the most sensitive bc the signals are much lower there. You must have a well matched system to hear the difference so clearly,..

[@laurieharper1526]

$13k for cables? Hilarious. You can buy an excellent pair of active monitors for that. No need for speaker cables at all.

[@photo_n_art]

Wait a minute... and how do you connect the active monitors??

[@kurtzcol]

oh sure it did

[@thomaslanser926]

Agreed - thank you for telling it as it is! I just upgraded to a Heimdall 2 setup. Speaker, XLR, USB, Power cables and Qbase! What a huge impact.

[@davidrivera2165]

Speaker cables and interconnects can make some sonic improvement. It is power cables for amps and dacs that can indeed deliver a substantial improvement. For $20K I would upgrade my mono amps way before upgrading any cable. If you already own $20K or higher amps, then indeed high end cables will deliver higher sound quality.

[@randysalsman6992]

No they won't. lol What a loser.

[@hansemannluchter643]

You should check out how many feet of $20K "cables" there are in a professional recording-studio.. Or check out the frequency response curves of some of the "workhorse" microphones.

[@jjguillen65]

An here I am thinking that my monoprice speaker cables were the best 😂😅

[@ericp8094]

Cables .. outdated?

[@graybeard7408]

The mind believes what it wants to believe🤣

[@jamesminotto8036]

All I use in my systems are the $39'ers. Thanks to your reviews.

[@eightrodway]

Cables are an important component of an audio system. Without commensurate quality cables, you won't hear what your speakers and electronics are capable of.

[@normansteinbach2007]

This amazon cables are super. Now after 6 months i replace it against a 1000$ cable. The soudstage brakes.. 39 versus 1000$ wins. 😂😂

[@gqaeaudio]

many Cables made in China

[@Duhduh-w7b]

When you said Goldfrapp I was a fan of you.🎉❤

[@CheekyFest]

how much would the 13k cables cost now? ["$1 in 2001 is worth $1.78 today"]

[@awboat]

sigh.

[@selassie123GA]

I wonder what you might think of QED speaker cables.

[@scummymulisha]

What if thr aliexpress knock offs that cost 200$ sounded the same 😂. Do a comparison!

[@philjimenez4874]

if you open up any components their guts use copper I'am going with it all depends on the recording

[@Vexation4632]

And I can drive a Lamborghini to get groceries at Walmart. I used to read about this "stuff" pre internet. I am surprised this hasn't just died a slow death after all these years.

[@CarolynArmstrong-bu1tq]

I have the Nordost Heimdall 2 cables throughout my system and I wouldn’t be without them

[@jakedavis2838]

Is there any reason for the ribbon style? Not sure why they make them like that.

[@ericlubow4354]

So they can charge more…

[@randysalsman6992]

To be able to place a rug/mat/carpet over top of them and when you walk on the rug/mat/carpet you won't hurt your feet walking on thick cables.

[@JOAOSANTOS-lo4fz]

That you say that the system gonna sound as the worse equipment in is true and that’s what ricardo franossivici says, the real diference between the vahalas and the kimber 3033 is that have resolution without be a freeze sound

[@donk1822]

Looks like it was designed to torture an electronic signal not transmit it.

[@rbattson7171]

The emperors new clothes!

[@justadad2304]

Did you think of that one all on your own?

[@De132an]

Used used Valhalla’s just went up 25%!

[@John-jl9de]

If you have a revealing system, you can hear differences in every component in the system. If you can't hear any differences in cables or components, your system in not that revealing, period.

[@oldphrt]

You can imagine all sorts. Period.

[@Avalon_sunset991]

Ahh the standard argument, system is not revealing enough, bla bla bla..

[@christianolsson834]

Case in point, we did tests with signal paths on out new extremely detailed bass guitar speaker and heard quite a difference on different signal preamps. queue in the old Trace Elliot 1048 and no difference whatsoever. So it all depends on what you're running.

[@oldphrt]

@@christianolsson834 There are people claiming that power leads make a difference when they can't, and therefore don't.

[@heinzmeyer8888]

What does it take to wake you up from hypnosis😉?

[@tonygunz21]

Placebos gonna placebo

[@MayonaiseSailor]

Its not placebo ... it is braided cable capacitance.... all these high end cables have braiding that induces capacitance.. and that acts as a pass filter.... the thing is... get a o2 free rj 45 nework cable putspeaker terminals, and it will be enough to get them all hyped....because of the braiding.... it is basically fools gold... if the expensive cable is not braided they hear nothing .... thats why super expensive is never single core.... you spend 13k usd to basically to take your speakers out of neutrality ... this is just eq magic without a eq ...in a super expensive way

[@DRFyfe-yb8hc]

@@MayonaiseSailor well said.

[@AndrewB23]

Lol no 😂😂😂😂😂

[@mikehuntington4440]

Yes....😂😂😂😂😂

[@hithighs]

Has anyone tried John Van Gent, thoughts? How did they compare to say Timbre, Nordost or anything else?

[@hithighs]

Or Jena Technologies

[@peterpeters4553]

I have the John van Gent silver/gold RCA and the silver/gold XLR interconnects. They are in my system from 2010 uptil now. I also had Siltech cables but the JVGent are still in my system.

[@floydwilliams3321]

Wow I didn’t know

[@ut2500]

been a believer in cables for well, ...forever. You're right however, they have to match the system cost wise. Connectors make a difference as well.

[@randysalsman6992]

No they don't. lol You could use a metal coat hanger and if you didn't know it was being used you wouldn't hear a difference, even in the slightest.

[@Pete.across.the.street]

​@@randysalsman6992only if you're deaf

[@damonsbest]

@@Pete.across.the.street😂

[@joyojoyo8]

do the valhalla v belden , please...

[@HOBBYBEAT]

@@joyojoyo8 nobody would dare put Belden or especially Canare against their stoopidprice unicorn tinkleberry cables. . .the Belden and Canare would wipe the floor with them. . .

[@Legotyres]

We had the babies Nordost connected onto a £50k system at the showroom and Nordost came in for some training and this system using incremental step ups was significant Like you mentioned, it wasn’t just the depth, width and height that was so noticeable and the accuracy What was even more amazing was when we dropped back the the basic Nordost cable, the £50k system sounded flat and lifeless So, even comparing Nordost cables against others in the range have a step up which I know I didn’t expect as I thought our system would be two limited P.S. Great review 👍

[@georgekoutromanos112]

I love Siltech

[@uccelino]

Any one that has tried using the same speaker cables as the internal cabeling in the speakers? Currently using Jorma speaker cables on my Marten Design speakers. It sounds very natural and sets a beautifully deep and wide soundstage. The Jorma cables are very expensive, but I got to try a friends even more expensive high(-est) tire Audioquest cables, and lost much of the natural / organic sound of the Jormas. The Audioquest cables sounded great too, but not as natural, perhaps a bit etched sound.

[@Douglas_Blake_579]

Most speakers are wired with 18 ga stranded copper wire. Go ahead, try it.

[@DaveJ6515]

@@Douglas_Blake_579 Most speakers below 20K do. Most speakers above don't.

[@nathanevans6277]

I've internally rewired quite a variety of speakers with the same or similar cables as used externally. The quality of internal cables used by manufacturers tends to be shockingly bad. Quite noticeable improvements have been achieved.

[@Douglas_Blake_579]

@@nathanevans6277 That's not the same as using the same wire as inside the speakers for your amplifier leads.

[@Dawizbuffy]

Do you gave The Coltrane Statement? Awesome speaker.❤

[@G-ra-ha-m]

I've never heard cables make any difference, unless the amplifier was faulty.

[@bean7750]

then youre just a rookie in audio.

[@G-ra-ha-m]

@@bean7750 Sure, it's my fault, right? LOL

[@bean7750]

@@G-ra-ha-m yes it is indeed.

[@G-ra-ha-m]

@@bean7750 LOL

[@truescotsman4103]

One pair? So you get to run a single speaker? ROFL