Questions and Answers (September 2015)

Our product specialists receive questions on a daily basis about Nordost products, their application, and hifi in general.  We thought that we would take a minute to share some of our most recent and frequently asked questions here so that everyone can get the answers they are looking for!


QandA2

Q: Is it okay to have multiple Nordost ranges in one line, or is it important to pick one range and stick with it throughout your system? For example, can I have Blue Heaven interconnects with Red Dawn Speaker Cable?

A: You can easily switch between several lines within one system.  Our products are designed to be linear and use the same basic cable philosophy, so that you can go up and down the ranges, and even the cable families. So of course you can have Blue Heaven Interconnects with Red Dawn Speaker Cables (which are both in the same Leif family), or even Frey 2 Speaker Cables (which are in the Norse 2 family) with no issues (although, we would recommend upgrading you interconnects before your speaker cables).


QandA3

Q: Is there a significant difference between your Heimdall 1 and Heimdall 2 XLR interconnects?

A: Yes, there is a huge difference between Heimdall series 1 and Heimdall series 2.   While both models are constructed with 4 conductors, the gauge on the conductors went from 26 to 24, giving Heimdall 2 more body and resolution. We also enhanced the performance of the Heimdall 2 by using Dual Mono-Filament, where Heimdall 1 used Micro Mono-Filament. Lastly, we implemented asymmetrical ground in Heimdall 2 with new connectors in order to lower the noise floor. This gives series 2 more body and resolution.


Q: Please tell me how the cables change the signal from the amplifier to the speakers in order to improve the sound quality.

A: The typical properties of a cable are resistance, inductance, and capacitance. A cable will never add anything to a system, but it can take away from the end result since it has a tendency to act like a filter.  Bad cables can take what your amplifier is sending to the speakers and distort it. Better cables send the signal faster and have less influence on the signal, resulting in better qualities.  They allow more of the unaltered signal to pass. Take impedance for example: the lower the impedance of a cable, the less frequency roll off it causes.


QandA4

Q: Do I need to connect the external ground to my QBASE?

A: No, it is not necessary to connect the external ground to have the QBASE work effectively in your system. However, if it is possible to run a ground wire, like Nordost’s QLINE, to an external ground rod, you will experience a noticeably lower noise floor as a result. You should consult a local electrician to ensure that the improvements you make on your sound system remain to code.


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