In today’s society it is of the utmost importance that our technology be completely mobile. Along with the rest of the tech industry, music has also been “mobilized”. However, many audiophiles are unwilling to sacrifice quality for the convenience that portable audio provides. But with the launch of Nordost’s new iKables, there are no more concessions—the LS Blue Heaven and Heimdall 2 iKables finally make it possible to enjoy hifi quality sound from all of your portable audio devices.

At their core, both the LS Blue Heaven and Heimdall 2 iKables are constructed from 4 silver plated solid-core 24 AWG OFC conductors and employ Nordost’s innovative precision FEP extrusion technology. This process greatly reduces the dielectric properties in the cables in order to increase signal speed and accuracy in signal transfer. This on its own makes a significant improvement upon the standard interconnects used with portable audio devices.

However, the Heimdall 2 version takes it a step forward. The Heimdall 2 iKable uses Nordost’s proprietary Dual Mono-Filament technology, suspending the conductors in a virtual air-dielectric which decreases the resistance and signal loss even further than what is possible with the Blue Heaven. Additionally, the Heimdall 2 iKable utilizes mechanically tuned lengths which are proven to reduce internal microphony and high frequency impedance resonance.

Nordost iKables are the perfect solution for today’s modern hifi enthusiast. They are made specifically for auxiliary inputs in aftermarket radios, car and home audio stereos, and are compatible with all portable audio devices. With the LS Blue Heaven and Heimdall 2 iKables you will never have to suffer through substandard sound again, regardless of your location.

LS Blue Heaven iKable     Heimdall 2 iKable

Nordost has always maintained that the single most important cable in a hifi system is the one coming out of the wall. The power cord is responsible for the AC current that is running your whole system. In other words, without your power cord, you are without sound. Likewise, with a poor quality power cord, you have equally poor quality sound.

Last week, at the High End Show 2014 in Munich, Nordost released the newest addition to our AC mains, the Tyr 2 Power Cord. Though still a part of the Norse 2 family, the Tyr 2 Power Cord benefits from the extensive research made in creating Valhalla 2, which also made its debut in Munich (in 2013). As with V2, the Tyr 2 Power Cord uses a combination of Nordost’s proprietary Dual Mono-Filament technology with a precise method of FEP extrusion over the conductors. This guarantees the most efficient transfer of power in the industry, putting this cable a step above its Norse 2 brothers and bounds ahead of the competition.

The Tyr 2 Power Cord is constructed with 7 silver plated, solid-core 16 AWG OFC conductors, giving it complete material consistency with Norse 2 interconnects and speaker cables. Additionally, the Tyr 2 Power Cord implements mechanically tuned lengths, reducing internal microphony and high frequency impedance resonance.

The result is a high performance, low loss cable, capable of the dynamics, color and texture required to not only produce sound, but recreate true, lifelike performances.

Nordost Tyr 2 Power Cord

Nordost is reintroducing the System Set-Up & Tuning Disc.  This test CD contains everything that you need to get a system sounding its best – and keep it that way. An extensive range of proven diagnostic tracks (plus a few innovative and extremely useful ones) helps with speaker placement and sub-woofer integration, performance checks and assessment, problem location and system conditioning.

The disc comes with its own instruction book, which clearly lays out the purpose and benefits of each track.  In addition to basic channel and phase checks, there are discrete left and right channel pink and white noise tracks, as well as alternating ones, which are ideal for checking that speakers are working properly and voicing them in-room. The computer generated LEDR tests provide a repeatable method for mapping and adjusting sound-staging and toe-in while uncompressed drum tracks test dynamic range and rhythmic integration. As well as conventional sweeps, there is a timed low-frequency sweep that will allow you to identify principal room modes. Used in conjunction with the discrete low-frequency tones this is a huge help in diagnosing problem environments, placing speakers and integrating and optimizing sub-woofers. Throw in system burn-in and degauss tracks and you can see why we consider this an invaluable part of our audio arsenal.

The System Set-Up & Tuning Disc will get you on the right path to having your system sound its best.  For more tweaks and helpful hints:

The QKOIL is a load resonating coil (LRC) which generates a passive electronic field that provides a vital solution to the issues of AC quality in audio/video performance. The QK1 uses Nordost’s proprietary Micro Mono-Filament technology in a loading application to prevent time delay and distortion of the transmitted signal, making the AC current as close as possible to the desired “distortionless condition”. In addtion to improving the overtones and pacing of music, the QKOIL opens up midrange frequencies and improves the attack of transient details in the music. Visually, the QK1 increases clarity of imaging by adding depth and focus.

The QK1 is housed in a mechanically tuned carbon-fiber body and equipped with either a US (NEMA) or EU (Schuko) connector. It is compatible with voltages from 110V to 240V, and can be used with an AUS or UK adaptor if required. The QKOIL is now available at select Nordost dealers, worldwide. To find the Nordost dealer nearest you, visit the “Where to Buy” page on www.nordost.com.

Like all QRT products, the benefits are cumulative and the QK1s are even more impressive when applied collectively. It can be used as a “stand alone” product or to complement a full QRT system with a QBASE, QX2, QX4 and especially the QV2. Plug the QKOIL into any spare socket on your system’s AC line and experience first-hand the surprising yet indisputable effect it will have on your A/V components.

QKOIL: QK1

As the use of music servers, hard-drive stored music and high-resolution audio downloading grows increasingly popular, and in some cases becomes the standard choice, it is critical to use a high quality USB cable that can meet the demands of music fidelity. Improving upon Nordost’s Blue Heaven USB 2.0, the new Heimdall 2 USB 2.0 is the high-end digital cable that will deliver ones and zeroes with the efficiency and diligence necessary to maintain the correct impedance to dramatically lift your hifi system to a whole new level of performance.

Thanks to the experience acquired in the fabrication of successful products such as the Blue Heaven HDMI and USB 2.0 cables, Nordost can now further refine digital leads through its most current, proprietary technology. The Heimdall 2 USB 2.0 is constructed from 4×20 AWG stranded, silver-plated 99.99999% OFC conductors, arranged in a precise, twisted double helix in order to ensure character impedance, reduce noise and minimize cross-talk contamination. In order to increase dielectric, the conductors are suspended in Nordost’s proprietary FEP Dual Mono-Filament, which is newly optimized to increase flexibility and mechanical dampening.  Add a dual layer silver foil jacket and silver braided shield and the Heimdall 2’s extreme data transmission speeds surpass the USB 2.0 standards.

To further up the ante, the new Heimdall 2 USB 2.0 is now implementing mechanically tuned lengths. This technique, used in Nordost’s Odin, Norse 2 and Valhalla 2 ranges, reduces internal microphonics and high-frequency impedance resonance, which ultimately allows you to enjoy the dynamics, coherence and balance of live music played in the comfort of your own listening room.