The tonearm cable is the most critical and sensitive cable in any vinyl-sourced hifi system. The delicate signals generated by pick-up cartridges in these systems demand purpose-built, low-capacitance cables, in order to protect from signal loss and image smearing. However, to truly get the most from a tonearm cable, proper attention must be paid to grounding as well. Without proper grounding, the noise that could be picked up could render a system virtually unlistenable. To combat this, Nordost’s new Tonearm Cable + redesign optimizes every aspect of tonearm cable construction, from conductor layout and shielding to grounding capability, in order to ensure the fidelity of signal transfer and reveal subtle musical nuances, while completely eliminating noise from the signal chain. Nordost’s Blue Heaven, Heimdall 2, Frey 2, and Tyr 2 Tonearm Cable + provide the best analog connection for every system, no matter the price-point.

The design for Nordost’s new line of tonearm cables comes directly from the recent Valahalla 2 tonearm cable redesign. As with the V2 Tonearm Cable +, which was released in the summer of 2019, Nordost’s new tonearm cables are constructed using four, silver-plated, solid core OFC conductors, arranged in a twisted pair design. Using a twisted pair design on its own naturally helps to minimize noise. However, Nordost now goes the extra mile, separately wrapping the left and right channels with silver, braided shielding, in order to completely eliminate inter-channel cross-talk.

 

The most exciting feature found in all of Nordost’s new tonearm cables comes in the form of a new, comprehensive grounding solution. This two-part design is guaranteed to provide proper and complete grounding, offering a solution for every combination of components and connections found between all the different turntables and phono stages on the market. Part one is a completely isolated, silver-plated bond wire. This bond wire is wrapped in Micro Mono-Filament before being extruded in FEP insulation and separately shielded within the cable jacket. Part two consists of two, detachable, silver-plated ground whips, complete with Micro Mono-Filament technology, which are included with each cable. When needed, these ground whips connect to the cable’s shielding, totally eliminating any noise that could be introduced during signal transfer.

HEIMDALL 2

Insulation: Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene (FEP)
Conductors: 4 x 28 AWG
Construction: 2 Twisted pairs individually shielded. Mechanically tuned lay and lengths. Micro Mono-Filament.
Material: Silver plated 99.99999% OFC Solid Core Conductors
Bond / Grounding Whips: 24 AWG silver-plated, stranded OFC, Micro Mono-Filament.
Termination: MoonGlo® Straight or 90० low-mass 5-pin Din, RCA, or XLR connectors. Whips and bond wire terminated with gold-plated 5mm spades.

FREY 2

Insulation: Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene (FEP)
Conductors: 4 x 26 AWG
Construction: 2 Twisted pairs individually shielded. Mechanically tuned lay and lengths. Dual Mono-Filament. Twisted pairs individually shielded.
Material: Silver plated 99.99999% OFC Solid Core Conductors
Bond / Grounding Whips: 24 AWG silver-plated, stranded OFC, Micro Mono-Filament.
Termination: MoonGlo® Straight or 90० low-mass 5-pin Din, RCA, or XLR connectors. Whips and bond wire terminated with gold-plated 5mm spades.

TYR 2

Insulation: Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene (FEP)
Conductors: 4 x 25 AWG
Construction: 2 Twisted pairs individually shielded. Mechanically tuned lay and lengths. Dual Mono-Filament.
Material: Silver plated 99.99999% OFC Solid Core Conductors
Bond / Grounding Whips: 24 AWG silver-plated, stranded OFC, Micro Mono-Filament.
Termination: MoonGlo® Straight or 90० low-mass 5-pin Din, RCA, or XLR connectors. Whips and bond wire terminated with gold-plated 5mm spades.

After its sneak peek at HIGH END in Munich this past spring, we are happy to announce the official launch of the highly anticipated QSOURCE Linear Power Supply, now available at Nordost dealers, worldwide.

External switch-mode power supplies have become a standard within the audio industry, provided with products ranging from music servers and Network switches to DC DACs and phono stages, and everything in between. While these power supplies may be efficient and convenient, they are unquestionably lacking in terms of audio fidelity. Generic power supplies regulate output voltage through a pulse width modulation (PWM) switching process, which generates high noise output levels that inevitably find their way into the audio reproduction chain. Nordost’s new QSOURCE is the first Linear Power Supply designed specifically for hi-fi audio applications, guaranteed to enhance the audio imagery of a sound system by improving sonic articulation, heightening dynamics, and expanding the sound stage.

The QSOURCE is a fanless Linear Power Supply that provides a stable, clean output of DC power at select voltages while maintaining extremely low noise levels. The QSOURCE uses a top-of-the-line transformer with a unique circuit design to convert AC to DC power while an internal QRT module removes electrical anomalies and noise artifacts from the line and smooths out the DC output, so that audio components are running on the highest quality DC power possible. From a sonic perspective, this clean power makes all the difference, providing excellent regulation, very low ripple, and outstanding transient response, allowing your components to achieve their peak performance.

While the QSOURCE was designed to enhance and power as many as four of Nordost’s new QPOINT Resonance Synchronizers, which subtly manipulate all electromechanical resonances in order to enhance the coherency and timing of components, it was conceived with versatility in mind. In addition to the four, 5V outputs designated for QPOINTs, the QSOURCE provides two outlets that can supply 9V, 12V, or 19V and 12V, 19V, or 24V respectively, which can be chosen to match the requirements of your electronics. To complete the transmission chain, Nordost has designed purpose-built QSOURCE DC Cables to fit the QPOINT and any other DC-run components in your system.

Whether using it in conjunction with the QPOINT, or as a standalone power supply for DC-dependent audio components, Nordost’s QSOURCE Linear Power Supply will bring new dimension to your sound system, allowing you to enjoy richer and more nuanced musical performances.

The most precious information being passed through a hifi system is the delicate signal carried from the phono cartridge to the phono stage input. In order to maximize the performance of an analog system, every aspect of your tonearm cable, including the conductor layout, quality of connectors, versatility in termination, and grounding capabilities, must be entirely optimized for its application. Our newly redesigned Valhalla 2 Tonearm Cable + is the only cable on the market to excel at every one of these important design aspects, exceeding the performance requirements that high-quality analog replay requires.

The Nordost Valhalla 2 Tonearm Cable + uses four, silver-plated, solid core 99.999999% OFC conductors, arranged in a twisted pair design to create a left and right channel. Both channels are then individually wrapped in a silver, braided shield, eliminating inter-channel cross-talk. In order to dramatically increase its signal speed, and expand the cable’s bandwidth capabilities, these conductors implement Nordost’s proprietary Dual Mono-Filament technology, reducing insulation contact by 85%. A separately shielded, silver-plated bond wire, wrapped in Micro Mono-Filament, is then incorporated to enhance performance and minimize the noise level.

The largest hurdle to overcome in tonearm construction is noise. Providing proper and complete grounding has historically been a challenging feat, given the overwhelming combinations of ground options available between the turntable and phono stages. In order to address this problem, we have designed the most versatile solution on the market, including two, detachable, silver-plated ground whips, complete with Micro Mono-Filament technology. When needed, these ground whips connect to the cable’s shielding, totally eliminating any noise that could be introduced during signal transfer, regardless of the unique construction of the components being used in the sound system.

As with all Valhalla 2 cables, the Tonearm Cable + is cut to mechanically tuned lengths. This technique reduces the internal microphony and high-frequency impedance resonances of the cable. The V2 Tonearm Cable + is then terminated with our proprietary HOLO:PLUG® Straight or 90० low-mass 5-pin Din, RCA, or XLR connectors, which have been specifically designed to accommodate the cable’s unique design.

The Valhalla 2 Tonearm Cable + is handmade in the USA, ensuring the highest level of production quality and precision, which is necessary when manufacturing the most crucial signal cable in a sound system. This reference level tonearm cable delivers these very delicate signals seamlessly, while eliminating noise from the signal chain.

A complete sound system is the result of several factors working together in harmony to produce a cohesive, pleasing, and authentic representation of sound. As audiophiles, we are accustomed to examining how several factors, including components, cabling, power, vibration control, etc. work together in order to create the “best sound” possible. However, there is an element present in every system that has been chronically neglected until now: electromechanical resonance.

Every component in a sound system has several individually resonating parts within them. When these electromechanical resonances oscillate concurrently, but not in unison, these discordant vibrations become a source of electrical noise, resulting in smeared, muddy sound. At the High End show in Munich, happening now, we are previewing an exciting new product which solves this exact problem.  The QPOINT eliminates this internal electrical noise, enhancing the coherency and timing that is typically lacking in even the most high-end audio systems.

The QPOINT is the latest development in QRT technology. The QPOINT Resonance Synchronizer emits a subtle field which manipulates all electromechanical resonances within its immediate proximity so that they resonate in unison with each other. In order to accommodate its effects to all of the various electronics in the industry, including but not limited to solid state or tube amplifiers, digital or analog source components, traditional line stages or modern digital processors, and even to tailor results to the personal preferences of the user, the QPOINT has been designed with two modes. Mode I and II each generate unique resonances, which emphasize different musical characteristics as they lower the noise floor. Users can switch from Mode I to Mode II instantaneously to evaluate which sonic properties fit the needs of each unique electronic device in their hi-fi system.

Nordost’s QPOINT Resonance Synchronizer ensures your electronics are all working in concert, in order to enhance the coherency, articulation, and musical structure of your system.

The QPOINT will be available at select Nordost dealers, worldwide, this summer.

Suggested retail price: $749.99 USD

Nordost is proud to introduce the new Frey 2 USB Cable and Frey 2 USB C Adapter. The Frey 2 USB Cable is the first of Nordost’s USB offerings to provide both USB C and 3.0 compatibility. The Frey 2 USB C Adapter pairs with cables using Standard-A USB connectors (both 2.0 and 3.0 compatible), allowing them to be used with components that require a USB C termination. Both of these exciting products allow customers to continue to enjoy the benefits of Nordost as they upgrade their components. Nordost’s Frey 2 USB Cable and C Adapter are the perfect solutions for hifi audio enthusiasts integrating computer audio into their sound systems when using components that require USB C connectors, whether they are interested in a new, upgraded USB cable, or would rather extend the life of a previous investment.

The Frey 2 USB Cable uses solid core, silver-plated 99.99999% OFC signal conductors. Implementing a solid core design is essential when working with a cable of this caliber, completely eliminating the negative effects of strand interaction and skin effect. Each conductor is precision wound to correspond accurately with USB’s unique, hybrid twisted pair/non twisted pair geometry. The new Frey 2 cable utilizes Nordost’s proprietary FEP Micro Mono-Filament technology, which lowers the capacitance of the cable, both increasing signal speed and bandwidth. The conductors are shielded with a dual layer of braid and foil shielding in order to eliminate EMI and RFI and even comply with 3.0 standards. Finally, before being terminated with C to Standard B (2.0), Standard B (3.0), or Micro B (3.0) plugs, the Frey 2 USB is cut to mechanically tuned lengths, which reduce internal microphonics and high-frequency impedance resonance.

The Frey 2 USB C Adapter utilizes the exact same cable construction as the Frey 2 USB Cable. From conductors to Micro Mono-Filament technology, shielding to mechanically tuned lengths, the Frey 2 USB C Adapter has all the makings of a high quality, hifi USB cable, creating an extension of your existing USB cable to ensure an identical sonic signature and performance level throughout your system. Terminated with a male USB C connector on one end, and a female Standard-A connector (both 2.0 and 3.0 compatible) on the other, the Frey 2 USB C Adapter will extend the life of your current USB cables while maintaining the hi-fidelity performance of your home sound system. Designed, manufactured, and hand-terminated entirely in the USA, both the Frey 2 USB Cable and Frey 2 USB C Adapter guarantee the accurate construction required to produce the best possible performance from computer audio equipment.

The Frey 2 USB Cable is available in lengths from 0.6 Meters to 2 Meters while the Frey 2 USB C Adapter is 17cm. Both the Frey 2 USB Cable and C Adapter will be available for purchase at select Nordost dealers, worldwide. To find the Nordost dealer nearest you, visit the “Where to Buy” page on www.nordost.com.

While computer audio is by no means a newcomer to the realm of hifi, developments to this ever-changing technology are keeping manufacturers on their toes, in order to stay in step with modern components. The Red Dawn USB Cable is the first of Nordost’s USB options to offer USB C plug compatibility, which is quickly becoming an industry standard due to its adoption by Apple in its newest line of laptops. Nordost’s Red Dawn USB Cable is the perfect solution for hifi audio enthusiasts integrating computer audio into their sound systems when using components that require USB C connectors.

The Red Dawn USB Cable uses silver-plated 99.9999%, OFC signal conductors, optimally designed for digital signal transfer. Each conductor is precision wound to correspond accurately with USB’s unique, hybrid twisted pair/non twisted pair geometry. The new Red Dawn cable also utilizes Nordost’s proprietary FEP Micro Mono-Filament technology, which allows it to transcend the speed and precision necessary for higher bandwidth and high speed, digital signal transmission. The conductors are then shielded with a dual layer of braid and foil shielding, in order to eliminate EMI and RFI and surpass USB 2.0 standards.

This cable is available terminated with C to Standard B (2.0), Mini B (2.0), or Micro B (2.0) plugs. The Red Dawn USB ensures that all the necessary information will be delivered with the efficiency and diligence needed to maintain the correct impedance to dramatically lift your hifi system to a new level of performance.

Designed, manufactured, and hand-terminated entirely in the USA, the Red Dawn USB Cable guarantees the accurate construction required to produce the best possible performance from computer audio equipment.

The Red Dawn USB Cable is now available for purchase at select Nordost dealers, worldwide. To find the Nordost dealer nearest you, visit the “Where to Buy” page on www.nordost.com.

• Fully manufactured and terminated in the USA
• Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene (FEP) insulation
• Micro Mono-Filament technology
• Silver-plated 99.9999% OFC stranded conductors
• Dual layer of silver braid and foil shielding
• RoHS Compliant
• Specially designed for USB C connectors