Soundstage, detail, and it's involving character

none, absolutely none !

My first close encounter to this candy-paper like wire, was in May this year. At first I had no clue that this could be an High-End LS. cable, costing a fortune (to me). Had to try this, because the sales men told me that this was the answer to all loudspeaker connetctions worldwide... Hmm, don't think so Sir... 'Till it was hooked up between my SET 12 Watt and AudioNote AN J SPx boxes. Boom, close encounter in the highest standard. Never heard my system that way before. Overall impact, sleepless nights and a fight with my girlfriend, because I've got to get these !But the price, hell, these wire's cost twice as much as my amp and a little hundreds more than my speaker system. Is it worth it, don't I use this money to upgrade my amp, for example... No. It was making my system that good that, untill today, I never want to shut it off ! So of course I bought them, and I am allmost the happiest audiophile on this plannet...One last advise, don't wrap any candy in it, just plug it in and enjoy. Believe me, you will ENJOY.

System:
Audion Sterling SET (modified),
AudioNote AN J SPx,
AH Tjoeb 99 (fully modified, check out Hall of Fame),
Siltech 4-56 's,
Thorens TD 321 (modified with Linn Power Suply),
Audion phono-pre (triode, and modified),
Solid Steel,Pulsar Points,SSC pucks,CopenhagenTransformers,IsoCoins,M.Green Roomtune,etc,etc and so on... Last WISH: SPM interconnect...

Similar Products Used:

Siltech FT 12 Mk 2, MIT

Just for the record --if you actually read my netpage http://www.cardas.com/insights/index.html
you will see that The Nordost is a multiple parallel solid core..
not a ribbon conductor (Ribbons are like tinsel in you phone handset cord)
and would be silly indead, I don't know of any ribbon that has found any
success as an audio cable -- the multiple solid core design has found
successin several audio designs the Nordost and the XLO for example.

George

Focus, Timing, detail, separation

can seem bass light (slightly)

My all SPM Reference set-up was very slightly bass light - otherwise great, so I upgraded to Quattro Fil interconnect and I can find no fault with SPM Reference L/S cable!

I'm sure the alleged George Cardas review below is bogus. If you read his web page, George specifically excludes ribbon cables from his analysis of great cables. I e'mailed and asked why. He actually responded, which was kind of him. His response was that ribbons were, in his mind, clearly "silly" designs, but perhaps he should have been more clear to the public as to why. (Incidently, he went on to praise Magnan cables, but it should be noted that Magnan uses Cardas' ends!) Nordost, he stated, had lost contact with all other aspects of cable design, in favor of raw speed. If I would only listen to his Golden Cross vs. the SPM, I'd know how much better his designs are. Well, I've A/B'ed the Golden Cross vs. the both the Nordost Blue Heavens and Red Dawns. Both Nordost products were superior, in absolute terms, and especially for the dollar. I haven't heard SPM's, but I assume they're better still. Thanks for the good advice George - I purchased Red Dawns.

I've gotta admit that these Nordost beats the pantz off the rest of the pack. good little objects and fine value. Wreckomended!

I use SPMs throughout my sytem, balanced interconnects and spaded speaker cables. The system sounds great and Im sure the cables help. Ive never tried any other cables and Im suprised people claim to try so many diffrent kinds of EVERYTHING before buying. I bought my amp and pre-amp because I heard they were good, same for the front end(digital and analog). The only thing I spent alot of time on was speakers, this took me weeks to find what I liked. Anyway, to be honest, the system sounds great and the cables look cool. The price wasnt an issue, so, based on NO knowledge of other products ( total honesty here) Im giving the SPMs 5 stars.

Vwey well made. Beautiful looking cable

Very expensive, somewhat fragile due to ribbon construction

This is a fairly exclusive speaker wire, at the top of Nordost's line-up of high end audiophile speaker wire, with a high price tag. These are in a biwire configuration, but can also be purchased in a single wire style. The lavender color is unusual, soft on the eyes, and very attractive looking. These wires boast a high conduction velocity according to the manufacturer, and have favorable LCR parameters. They are very flexible, making them easy to route, but don't expect them to lay flat on the floor, despite their flat ribbon construction technique. Be careful not to bend them sharply or accidently step on them as this will not only detract from the otherwise attractive appearance of these upscale speaker wires, but will risk irreparable damage to the silver extrusion on the copper conductor cores. These wires came with Nordost's Z banana plug terminators, which are well made, afford a reliable grip, and allow for ease of connection and disconnection. However, I chose to remove these in favor of WBT solderless locking banana plugs for reasons of personal preference. There is no need to worry about the sound of these wires. There was absolutely no audibly detectable colorations or other sonic characteristics that could be detected with the SPMs in the chain. I was able to get the same audible performance, however, with the other cables listed, at a considerably lower cost as well, but these lack the degree of high end appeal and exclusivity that the SPMs will bring to an audio system.

Similar Products Used:

Nordost Blue Heaven, Nordost Red Dawn, Recoton 12 AWG OFC