2025 Blog Round-Up!

Posted on January 16, 2026 by Nordost

What better way to start off the new year than by giving the people what they “liked” most throughout the past year, all in one spot! This 2025 blog round-up includes our posts from last year that received the most engagement, whether that be likes, shares, comments, retweets, Instagram reactions, or however you feel like measuring nowadays. Here are your favorite blogs of 2025!

QB4 Compact in Size but Powerful in Performance!

Most Nordost fans are familiar with our QB8, but some don’t know about the more compact option: the QB4. For those who make the mistake that half the size means half the power – Not true! This blog gives you a little more information about the QB4 and corrects some common misconceptions!

How to Upgrade your QKORE Ground Unit

If you’ve already integrated a Nordost QKORE Ground Unit into your audio system, you’ve most likely experienced the remarkable improvements in pacing, soundstage, and dynamics that the QKORE system brings to your audio setup. But, what if we told you that with just two simple upgrades, you could unlock even more benefits from your previous QRT investment? Find out how, here!

Nordost Receives 15! Editor’s Choice Awards from the Absolute Sound for 2025

In 2025 Nordost was showered with awards from several hifi publications, including 15 Editor’s Choice Awards from the Absolute Sound. See which products were given this distinction in this blog…

Questions and Answers: Digital Cables

When we introduced our Blue Heaven 3 Digital cables, we thought it would be helpful to share some of our most frequently asked questions around digital cables. We came up with some Q&As to help demystify digital cables as a whole and give insight into what makes Nordost digital cables, from Leif 3 all the way up to Odin Gold, special!

Debunking Cable Myths

There’s no shortage of opinions about audio cables in the hi-fi world. Some swear by high-end cable upgrades, while others argue that “a cable is just a cable.” At Nordost, we’ve been designing some of the most reputable hifi audio cables in the industry for decades. We decided to set the record straight with this blog!

A Sort Kone Case Study

A story from the field of how Sort Kones made massive improvements in a real-world setting! See how the story unfolded and the sound-quality improved here… and see how it can be implemented in your own system.

Questions and Answers: QNET7

When you launch a new product, there is obviously excitement and enthusiasm, but there can also be a lot of curiosity and questions that comes with that. In this blog, we share some of the most frequently asked questions regarding our QNET7.

Facts of Leif

By now you have probably read about our Leif 3 cables, but what makes these cables different from other options on the market? Here are the facts to help you see what Leif 3 really is…

The Absolute Sound Reviews the QBASE Reference

“With the insertion of the new QBase Reference, I heard an audible and immediate improvement in clarity, scale, bass extension, and detail.”…

hi-fi+ Reviews QNET7 and Awards it hi-fi+ Winner 2026 for Network Switch

Posted on January 13, 2026 by Nordost

We’re ending 2025 with a bang and starting 2026 off strong, thanks in part to the QNET7 Network Switch! The QNET7 received a glowing review in the December issue of hi-fi+. In it, reviewer Alan Sircom dives deep into the performance and design of the QNET7, highlighting how it builds on the legacy of the original QNET, further reducing noise and enhancing musical clarity over its predecessor.

In his article, Alan also explains that the QNET7 not only delivers technical improvements, but also imparts measurable musical benefits, bringing listeners closer to the heart of the performance itself, “…peeling away layers between the listener and the music, rather than adding or changing the sound.”

In fact, Alan was so impressed by the results he experienced with the QNET7 that it has already been awarded the distinction of hi-fi+ Winner 2026 in the category of Network Switch, an honor also given to the original QNET when it was released in 2022.

You can now read Alan’s full review of the QNET7 Network Switch here: Nordost QNET7 Network Switch

Our Favorite Demo Tracks

Posted on January 8, 2026 by Nordost

At Nordost, a large part of what we do is share what our audio components are capable of through live product demonstrations. To help do this, we spend a lot of time putting together playlists that highlight specific qualities in music and sound, so that you can appreciate the improvements that our cables and audio enhancers bring to a system. To begin 2026, we thought it would be fun to share our favorite demo songs of the past year with you. Some of these selections may have made an appearance in past playlists, but all of them are hits in our eyes (or ears!). As always, some may be classics, some may be brand new, some may not even be to your tastes, but we hope that there is something here for everyone to start off the new year on the right note.

You can listen to these tracks on our monthly playlist, here: TIDAL | SPOTIFY | QOBUZ

Tell Mama – The Civil Wars – The Civil Wars
While My Guitar Gently Weeps – Santana – Guitar Heaven: The Greatest Guitar Classics Of All Time (Deluxe Version)
Normal – Katie Pruitt – Expectations
Love Hurts (Live) – Emmylou Harris – Spyboy (Live)
Stand by Me (Live at the Late Show with David Letterman) – Tracy Chapman – Greatest Hits
Walk with the Dreamers – Ambala – Volume 1
Messy (Stripped) – Lola Young – Messy EP
When The Lights Go Down – Prince – The Vault – Old Friends 4 Sale
Black Mambo – Glass Animals – ZABA
Veto – SOHN – Tremors

Nordost’s Year, Wrapped

Posted on January 6, 2026 by Nordost

As we start 2026, we can’t help but look back at the last year with pride. It was a year full of music, momentum, and memorable moments!

Nordost spent the year on the road and in listening rooms, co-hosting 59 events, as well as performing product demos at 15 trade shows! We love any opportunity to showcase our products, and appreciate all the face time we were able to spend with each of you, talking about your individual systems and figuring out which of our products could help you make the most of the components you already own and love.

What were you most interested in hearing? Leif 3 Power Cord demonstrations were most requested this year, followed by demos of the QNET7 Network Switch, and QRT Plug-Ins!

But, as far as the reviewers and the press were concerned, Red Dawn 3 stole the spotlight as our most-reviewed product. We’re happy to share that, thanks to those same reviewers, we proudly took home 22 awards along the way!

2025 also brought seven new product launches, including:
QNET7 Network Switch
White Lightning 3 Tonearm Cable
While Lightning Power Cord
Leifstyle Tonearm Cable
Blue Heaven 3 USB Cable
Blue Heaven 3 Ethernet Cable
Blue Heaven 3 Digital Interconnect

Thank you all for making 2025 such a fun and successful year. We’re already looking forward to what we’ll create, listen to, accomplish, and celebrate together this new year!

Interested in seeing what else Nordost was up to this past year? Check out our full Nordost Wrapped here!

Nordost Playlist – December 2025

Posted on December 8, 2025 by Nordost

Nordost products are designed to allow you to enjoy your favorite performances as they were intended to be heard. All of us here are passionate about great music, and want to share our passion with you. Each one of us has our own style… We listen to a wide variety of artists and genres but, in a way, we appreciate them all. We thought that we would share a few of the songs on our own personal playlists with you each month. Some may be classics, some may be brand new, some may not even be to your tastes, but we hope that there is something here for everyone.

Here are some of the songs that we will have on rotation this December.

You can now listen to our monthly playlist here: TIDAL | SPOTIFY | QOBUZ

Buckle – Florence + the Machine – Everybody Scream
Let’s Dance – M. Ward – Transfiguration of Vincent
A Good Song Never Dies – Saint Motel – The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Famous Blue Raincoat – Leonard Cohen – Songs of Love and Hate
Let’s Fall In Love – Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan – Getz Meets Mulligan In Hi-Fi
Nightclubbing – Grace Jones – Nightclubbing
Ghosts That We Knew – Mumford & Sons – Babel (Deluxe Version)
Ride Across The River – Dire Straits – Brothers in Arms
Spanish Stroll – Mink DeVille – Cabretta
Dirty Work – Steely Dan – Can’t Buy A Thrill

Nordost Playlist – November 2025

Posted on November 5, 2025 by Nordost

Here are some of the songs that we will have on rotation this November.

You can now listen to our monthly playlist here: TIDAL | SPOTIFY | QOBUZ

Voodoo – Sonny Clark Memorial Quartet – Voodoo
Running Up That Hill – Theo Bleckmann – Hello Earth!
When the Lights Go Down – Prince – The Vault – Old Friends 4 Sale
Bonjour cherie (Tag) – 2raumwohnung, Dieter Meier – Nacht und Tag
I Remember When – Stan Getz, Eddie Sauter – Focus
Miss Sarajevo – Passengers, Luciano Pavarotti – U2 The Best Of 1990-2000
I Still Want You – Richard Hawley – Hollow Meadows
Somewhere Over the Rainbow (Live) – Keith Jarrett – New Vienna (Live)
Jenny Again – Tunng – Comments of the Inner Chorus
Found A Light (Beale Street) – BADBADNOTGOOD, V.C.R – Found A Light (Beale Street)

Nordost at Toronto Audiofest 2025

Posted on October 16, 2025 by Nordost

Come and see Nordost at the Toronto Audiofest! Please join us, October 17th – 19th, at The Westin Toronto Airport Hotel. This year we will be showcasing a system, put together by our amazing local retailer, Executive Stereo, featuring Nordost cables, Canton loudspeakers, Chord and Wiim electronics, and a Michell Audio turntable! Throughout the show, our sales representatives and product specialists, Amy Hansen, Michael Taylor, and Atma Maraj will be in the Nordost room (437) performing live demonstrations to show attendees the difference that Nordost products make in an audio system. But Room 437 isn’t the only place you can experience Nordost products at TAF. We’ll also be featured in incredible systems from Sonic Artistry in Plaza A (pictured below), Audio Eden in room 219, and EQ Audio in Sutton B.

We are excited to announce that, in honor of our long partnership, we will be sponsoring exclusive listening and talkback sessions with musician and founder of Newvelle Records, Elan Mehler. Newvelle Records is a unique recording company dedicated to artists and their music. In each project they work on, from recording to pressing, they set out to create the highest quality work, so that you can experience the artist’s vision in your own listening room. That’s where Nordost comes in. Newvelle has been using Nordost cables during their recording process since the beginning. Now, Newvelle are about to celebrate their 10^th anniversary with a special collection: Newvelle 10!

Dealer Spotlight: Northern Audio

Posted on October 10, 2025 by Nordost

By Jacob Goldwax

Nestled in the hills of Pittsburgh lies a unique stereo shop, carrying a wide variety of products and brands. You might have visited the attached record store without even knowing what lies above it! If you head upstairs, you’ll find a haven for hifi lovers.

Allow me to introduce Northern Audio: a one-of-a-kind store that will wow you with every turn. Beautifully curated displays not only look great but also sound fantastic. These guys aren’t just for show, either. Between Mark and Greg, they have decades of experience with hifi, and they are excellent guides to help you along your hifi journey. This isn’t your typical stereo shop. Mark prides himself on carrying products that range from the well-known to small boutique brands.

Mark and Greg also pride themselves on taking care of their clients. With your experience and satisfaction being their number one priority, you can rest assured you are in good hands! They bring a passion for audio that can be infectious, so be prepared when you visit. You might just hear something you love!

Northern Audio LLC

Address:	3003 Babcock Blvd. Pittsburgh, PA 15237
Phone:	(412) 931-5850
Email:	info@northernaudio.com
Web:	Www.northernaudio.com

Nordost Customer Testimonial

Posted on October 9, 2025 by Nordost

Nordost is always thrilled to receive and share glowing reviews from journalists and experts in the industry. However, when we get testimonials from our devoted and satisfied customers, it means that much more!

Thank you to Faris from Portland Oregon, for sharing his Nordost journey with us. Putting together a dream system takes a lot of work, a lot of time, and a lot of listening. We are so happy that we could help make his vision of an inviting, relaxing, musical sanctuary come to fruition!

“Three years ago, I started the search for a truly high-end audio system and a listening room dedicated for that. To me, such a listening room had to not only be musical but inviting and relaxing, sight and sound blending together to make the perfect environment to spend a lot of time in. I wanted a warm musical system, with grand sound stage and presence, a detailed yet true fit for the type of music I listen to most often, namely Classical and Jazz.

Being an electrical engineer by profession also meant I paid a lot of attention to the design details of all the equipment I auditioned and considered. For warm sound, I knew I wanted some element of tubes. For punchy and detailed sound I knew it also had to have the resolution and precision of solid state with absolutely no distortion. I found all of this in T+A Amplifiers & Preamplifier paired with Sonus Faber Lilium speakers. Here, T+A’s top of the line HV (high voltage) components provided the absolute power, high current, and unbelievable reference class resolution and noise floor that is hard to beat. The Liliums were as warm to listen to as they are to look at, and in addition to that can be Tri-Amped. So, the amplification comprised of one stereo amplifier for super-low-base, and two mono-block amplifiers (which are hybrid tube and solid state stages) configured in high current class A bi-amp mode to drive the highs, mids and high-base. Add to that T+A reference streaming DAC, reference SACD transport, and Acoustic Signature turntable with DSAudio Master3 Optical preamp and cartridge.

To connect all of the above 10 components I selected Nordost Valhalla V2 Reference Cables thanks to the advice and support from the wonderful people at Pearl Audio Video in Portland, who’ve been with me since day one in this search. I was impressed with the auditions I had with a few Nordost cables and from reading through the specs and construction. This setup includes three sets of speaker cables, power cables, several XLR interconnects with a couple of special splitter XLR to accommodate having only one preamp ‘out’ to feed three amplifiers. Thanks to Nordost for working with us to accommodate this custom request. The Valhalla V2 cables do a perfect job conveying what this system is truly capable of, with no effort or interference. I believe it was the best decision I made and a perfect match to this high-end system.

It all came together superbly, thanks to all the engineering work that went into this, from electronics to cables to speakers. I am enjoying the music and the time spent in this sanctuary room I call ‘Sala Stradivari’, where every moment is bliss among the true sounds of instruments such as violins cellos pianos saxophones and vocals. It is like being planted in the middle of a concert hall or jazz club the moment you hit Play.”

Faris’s system uses Valhalla 2 and QRT Plug-ins

Nordost dealer: Pearl Audio Video

Visit our Customer Testimonials page to see what more Nordost fans like Faris have to say!

Have your own Nordost journey to share? What’s your Nordost story?

Questions and Answers: QNET7

Posted on October 3, 2025 by Nordost

We have received an exciting amount of enthusiasm for our new QNET7 Network Switch since its launch this past spring. With this enthusiasm comes a lot of curiosity and questions. So we wanted to share some of the most frequently asked questions regarding our QNET7 here!

Q: What is the QNET7

A: The QNET7 is Nordost’s high-performance Layer-2 Ethernet switch, designed to enhance digital audio quality. Unlike typical modified consumer-grade switches, it minimizes noise and jitter for a cleaner signal path and superior sound quality. It features seven specialized ports with varying speeds and functions, including one offering optical connectivity. The QNET7 Network Switch delivers improved clarity, imaging, and musical fidelity.

Q: How does the QNET7 differ from the original QNET?

A: The QNET is already considered a high-performance network switch, and the principal design concepts of both network switches are similar. However, several distinct elements in the QNET7 offer impressive sonic improvements.

It embeds the traces in its multi-layer PCB design, increasing signal speeds, eliminating crosstalk, and protecting the signal from ground noise.

It uses nine separated, completely independent, ultra-low noise linear power supplies within the device.

It features two onboard temperature-compensated, high-precision clocks.

Port 7 is a fixed 1000Mbps (1G) SFP port compatible with external 1000Base-T (IEEE 802.3ab) and 1000BASE-LX/SX [802.3z-1998 (CL38)] SFP transceivers/modules, supported by single- and multi-mode fibers.

Q: How do I know which SFP modules are compatible with the QNET7 to use in “Port 7”?

A: Refer to Nordost’s continually updated “Compatible SFP Module List” to verify SFP compatibility.

Q: How can I optimize the performance of my QNET7?

A: To get the best performance from your QNET7, Nordost recommends the following:

Upgrade the switch-mode power supply provided with the QNET7 to the QSOURCE Linear Power Supply.

Integrate the QRT Stand Mount along with Nordost Sort Kones, which can be used to support both the QNET7 Network Switch and the QSOURCE Linear Power Supply.

Use Nordost Ethernet Cables, available in a range of specifications and price points, to upgrade your digital system.

Q: Can I use the QSOURCE Cable I use for my QPOINT or “original” QNET to power my QNET7 with my QSOURCE?

A: No. For the protection of your products, each cable connector is uniquely keyed. You will need to purchase a dedicated QNET7 QSOURCE Cable to power your QNET7 with the QSOURCE Linear Power Supply.

If you have any additional questions, or would like to arrange a demonstration of the QNET7 Network Switch, contact your local Nordost Dealer today!