Our product specialists receive questions on a daily basis about Nordost products, their applications, and hifi in general. We decided to take a minute to share some of those questions here so that everyone can get the answers they are looking for!
Q: Do Leif 3 Cables sound good alongside their predecessors?
A: Nordost’s Leif 3 Cables share the same basic design philosophy as all of our cables, and therefore have a cohesive sonic signature. This ensures Nordost customers that they can use their Leif 3 cables alongside any of Nordost’s previous or current lines of cables and continue to upgrade their cables as needed without drawbacks.
Q: Are there any sonic differences between the QBASE 15/10amp and a QBASE 20/16amp models?
A: Yes, because of the difference in construction between the two models, there are slight audible differences. The QBASE 20/16amp version, which uses an IEC C-20 option has both larger traces as well as heavier gauge internal wiring, in order to support higher current. Similar to a power cord, when you use heavier gauge conductors, there will typically be better sonic performance.
Q: Why do cable companies recommend a minimum power cord length of 2 meters? I have seen this said at Nordost and elsewhere, but I have never understood why.
A: A huge consideration in cable construction is how the conductor resonates. There are several factors in that equation, but one of them is the conductor length. The resonant properties of materials change, in part, due to the length of the materials. A 2m cable (where the conductors are cut to a 2m length) will resonate in more of a broad-banded fashion and sound a bit smoother than a 1m.
Q: Because of space constraints on my audio rack, I am thinking about stacking some components. Can I place a QX4 unit on top of a QKORE that is supported by Sort Kones?
A: Technically you can stack units that are on Sort Kones, as long as the weight of the combined units is under the recommended weight (each Sort Kone can support 100lbs). However, it isn’t recommended. You should try to avoid stacking components on top of one another while using Sort Kones, because it will minimize the effect of the Sort Kones.
`Hello: I apreciate this opportunity to reflect upon something which I find quite distressing. I am a resident of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and feel a certain pride in knowing that Nordost products are sold by a Massachusetts company. For a number of years, I have owned and enjoyed Nordost cables – they are certainly industry leaders. Nowadays, I see cables made in China advertised and sold with the Nordost brand name on them. These “knockoffs,” as you know, are being sold for ridiculously low prices.
What steps, if any, are you taking to address this situation? If I may make a suggestion, perhaps a printed article in the audio press, alerting potential customers of these “fake” products would help. Just a thought.
Best regards.
Edward Boucher in
Somerset, MA
Thank you for your concern. In general, we know that people who see these scams are RARELY tricked by these knockoffs. And someone who would only spend the impossibly low prices that are being offered by these frauds would probably not be a REAL Nordost customer. However, we have written blogs warning about these scams, we have a warning on our website, and we petition websites like Amazon, Alibaba, and AliExpress to take down these fakes on a weekly basis. We are doing what we can, and appreciate you being vocal about the existence of these knockoffs to your peers.