We are happy to share a new Ethernet cable review! This Valhalla 2 Ethernet Cable review, written by Andrew Harrison, was published in the September issue of Hi-Fi+. Not only does this in-depth review explore the construction of our Reference Ethernet cable, it speaks to the audible differences that cable lengths make!
For Harrison, the V2 Ethernet Cable transformed his system, allowing him to experience tighter, more controlled bass, improved top-end detail, lower noise floor, and a more natural performance from his listening sessions. In the conclusion of his article, Harrison states, “…this is a network cable that’s not just a bit sonically different, it’s a palpable triumph in digital audio sound reproduction.”
You can read Hi-Fi+’s Valhalla 2 Ethernet Cable review in its entirety, along with many other fantastic write-ups on the Reviews page of the Nordost website.
This past February, Nordost was absolutely delighted to add Woodbridge Stereo/Video to our fine roster of authorized dealers. Located in Woodbridge, NJ, this NYC metro area dealership was established in 1971 and has grown steadily during the past 50 years. Their longevity in the marketplace is quite admirable having faced many challenges over the years — a devastating fire in 1978, store expansion, the birth of the custom home theater industry (along with its proliferation of numerous inexperienced/unqualified “integrators” working from the trunks of their cars), as well as several US economic downturns. However, these challenges ultimately made Woodbridge Stereo/Video stronger and more dedicated to adhering to their core, guiding philosophy: consumer electronics should be a fun labor of love, focused on the music and the technology behind it. This was their guiding principle back in 1971 and it remains just as important to them today!
Tom Altobelli joined this company in 1980 and began its expansion into high end audio. He carefully brought in many high-end audio lines that met his high standards. They were lines that paid careful allegiance to the accurate reproduction of music, and had robust build quality and longevity in the marketplace. This growth and adherence to superior music reproduction continues today! These folks intimately know (and love) the gear they sell to their legion of dedicated customers. In addition to their two channel audio offerings, Woodbridge offers a wonderful array of custom home theaters and home automation services. These services run the gamut from the initial design stage all the way through installation, all done in-house. They are dedicated to competently building robust yet easy to use systems. Custom designed for each individual client, these services include lighting control, distributed audio, home networks, motorized window shades, HVAC and so on.
However, that does not mean they have minimized their dedication to putting together awesome home audio systems for their loyal clients. After all, this was their first true love that guided them 50 years ago when opening this wonderful retail environment. Woodbridge S/V has several well appointed and acoustically treated sound rooms in which to demo the fine gear they offer. Brands like Mark Levinson, Revel, KEF, Hegel, JL Audio, Krell, Martin Logan, Moon, Prima Luna, Sony, Totem, VPI, Thorens, Music Hall and many more, now including, of course, Nordost!
No stuffy salespeople here either! Tom and his dedicated staff are just about the friendliest and most passionate group of folks you will ever meet. Tom’s vast knowledge of this industry, honed over a forty year plus period, is second to none. This passion and expertise for putting together great sounding audio systems for his clients is based on one major premise — everyone is different, so throw out the cookie cutter formula. Getting to know each client individually is paramount to building a unique system that satisfies their needs and tastes.
You will greatly enjoy a visit to Woodbridge Stereo/Video because they love what they do and they love their clients! Next time you are in the area, please drop by to get a demonstration of Nordost products from a very talented group of individuals who will make you feel at home and help engage you in this wonderful hobby we call high performance audio!
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 those questions here so that everyone can get the answers they are looking for!
Q: I have seen that Nordost advocates using jumpers instead of links that come with loudspeakers. Why is this? I would have thought the links are better.
A: The metal plates that speaker manufacturers supply with speakers are far from ideal connectors. The plates are not of ideal material nor are they even the proper shape. They are supplied to allow the speakers to work if the customer doesn’t bi-amp or bi-wire them. Jumpers, on the other hand, are small runs of proper signal carrying cables, just like the cables from your amplifier to your speakers. That consistency yields better results.
Q: Right now, I am currently running Red Dawn Speaker Cables and would like to slowly upgrade all of my cables to Nordost. Ideally, I would like to stick to the same series of power cords (i.e. Red Dawn) for the entire system. However, due to budget constraints, does it make sense to prioritize based on component…for example, Red Dawn for my pre-amp, and Blue Heaven Power Cords for the rest of the system?
A: We completely understand why it might be hard to stick with your “ideal” cable throughout the system, so prioritizing does make sense. One of the reasons why we design our cables the way we do is so that they can easily be upgraded and mixed throughout your system without any drawbacks. In terms of prioritization, we recommend that the BEST power cord in your system be placed from your wall to your distribution bar. Once you have that covered, then you are correct in saying that your pre-amp (or integrated) should be next in line. After that, you want your amplifier(s) covered. Following that, it’s a question of “what is used most”. For example, if you mostly listen to CDs, use your better power cord on your transport, however if you use your server more, then prioritize your DAC, etc.
Q: Is there any benefit in connecting a component through multiple QKORE Wires to a QKORE?
A: No, once a component is connected to a QKORE with one cable, connecting additional cables will not enhance it further. Just one cable does the trick!
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 October.
You can now listen to our monthly playlist here: TIDAL | SPOTIFY | QOBUZ
Tamala—Joe Driscoll & Sekou Kouyate—Monistic Theory
Three O’Clock Blues—Eric Clapton, B.B. King—Riding With The King
Days of Wine & Roses—Jacintha—Autumn Leaves (The Songs of Johnny Mercer)
Beat Hotel –Allan Taylor—Closter To The Music Vol. 1
When It Rains It Poors—Twiddle—Somewhere On the Mountain
A Night on Bald Mountain—Modest Mussorgsky, Dimitri Mitropoulos, New York Philharmonic—Tchaikovksy: Symphony No. 6- Mussorgsky: A Night on Bald Mountain
Your Bright Baby Blues—Jackson Browne—The Pretender
So What—Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Bill Evans—Kind of Blue (Legacy Edition)
Lost It—ZHU—DREAMLAND 2021
Ravel: String Quartet, M. 35: II. Assez vif – Très rythmé—Maurice Ravel, Quatuor Ébenè—Debussy, Fauré & Ravel: String Quartets