Monthly Archives: June 2025

Questions and Answers: Digital Cables

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In honor of the recent introduction of our NEW Blue Heaven 3 Digital cables, we thought it would be helpful to share some of our most frequently asked questions around digital cables. Hopefully, these will help you demystify digital cables as a whole and give you an insight into what makes Nordost digital cables, from Leif 3 all the way up to Odin Gold, special! 

Q: If a digital signal is basically just 1s and 0s, how can audiophile USB cables make an audible difference?

A: The signal that flows through a USB cable is actually analog in nature. It’s composed of high-speed square waves that represent 1s and 0s. Losses in the shape and speed of those square waves can cause equipment like DACs to misinterpret the conversion to an analog musical signal and cause distortion.

Q: Are Nordost Ethernet cables shielded?

A: Yes, because of how susceptible they are to RF interference, shielding is something we took to new levels when we designed ALL of our Ethernet cables. The twisted pairs inside our Ethernet cables have their own shielding as well as a dual braid shield over the cable assembly.

Q: Why do Nordost 75 ohm digital cables come with BNC to RCA adaptors?

A: The correct termination for true 75 ohm impedance is always a BNC connector because of the mechanical spacing of the center conductor relative to the outer insulation. If you terminate directly to an RCA connector, you can’t maintain that impedance. We’ve found that keeping the integrity of the 75 ohm cable with a BNC termination and using an RCA adaptor always provides better sonic results than a direct RCA termination. It also means the cable can be used easily as a clocking cable, which typically uses BNC connections for superior performance.

Q: What technologies differentiate Nordost USB 2.0 cables from their competitors’? 

A: Nordost cables utilize high-purity FEP insulation with either Micro Mono-Filament or Dual Mono-Filament technology, which enhances the speed of transmission, as well as advanced shielding techniques that maintain the integrity of the signal. These technologies allow our cables to perform to spec, even at extended lengths, with no loss of information. Additionally, the connectors of our Blue Heaven 3 USB 2.0 Cable are constructed using ESD material, which dissipates electrostatic charges from the cable and prevents those charges from ever building up, before they can negatively impact performance. 

White Lightning 3 Tonearm Cable Available NOW! 

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After its introduction at the High End show in Munich last month, the White Lightning 3 Tonearm Cable is now available! Nordost’s newest tonearm cable brings a high-performance connection to analog setups of any level. Whether you’re setting up your first serious turntable or fine-tuning an established system, this cable is designed to elevate your listening and let the details your system may be lacking shine through.

What sets the White Lightning 3 apart is its careful, precision engineering. With the tightly controlled twisted pair construction and dual shielding of its solid core, silver-plated OFC conductors, it maintains clean channel separation and minimizes the type of noise that can ruin a listening session. There’s also a dedicated ground wire, enhanced with Nordost’s Micro Mono-Filament technology, which helps keep background interference to a minimum. The result is a quieter, more open soundstage and a greater sense of presence in every performance.

If you’ve been thinking about making a small but meaningful upgrade to your analog system, the White Lightning 3 Tonearm Cable might be the missing piece. It’s available now through Nordost retailers worldwide. For full specifications and details, see here or ask a Nordost retailer near you!

Nordost Playlist – June 2025

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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 June.

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

  1. Wuthering Heights – Cécile McLorin Salvant – Ghost Song  
  2. Karaköy – Brazilian Girls – Let’s Make Love  
  3. Volver, volver – Buika – Niña de fuego 
  4. Carmensita – Devendra Banhart – Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon  
  5. Nothing Else Matters – Miley Cyrus, WATT, Elton John, Yo-Yo Ma, Robert Trujillo, Chad Smith – Nothing Else Matters 
  6. Appalachia Borealis – Phil Cook – Appalachia Borealis
  7. Hey Hey, My My – Battleme – Songs of Anarchy: Music from Sons of Anarchy Seasons 1-4 
  8. The 4 Seasons: Violin Concerto in F Minor, Op. 8, No. 4, RV 297, ‘L’inverno’ (Winter) : I. Allegro non molto – Takako Nishizaki – Vivaldi, A.:The 4 Seasons/Concerto Alla Rustica 
  9. Elderberry Wine – Wednesday – Elderberry Wine
  10. Down to be wrong – HAIM – Down to be wrong