Nordost Cable @ HIGH END 2019
By Steven R. Rochlin

  During HIGH END 2019 in Munich Nordost gave us a preview of three new products. Valhalla 2 Tonearm Cable +, QPOINT Resonance Synchronizer, and a special sneak peek of their QSOURCE Linear Power Supply. Nordost's Valhalla 2 Tonearm Cable + is $4,999.99 for 1.25 meter length ($625 each additional 0.5 meter), QPOINT is $749.99, and Q source is $2,499.99 (accompanying QSOURCE DC Cable is $259.99 for 1 meter, add $50 for each additional 0.5 meter). In fact Nordost cables were within a variety of systems at HIGH END.

Nordost's newly redesigned Valhalla 2 Tonearm Cable + utilizes recently discovered breakthroughs in tonearm cable design, which delivers high-quality analog replay for such a small signal to pass through.

We must remember that the signal is extremely low from a phono cartridge, so cable wires are extremely important as are the quality of connectors. There are four silver-plated solid core 99.999999% OFC conductors, which are arranged in a twisted pair design plus are individually wrapped in a silver braided shield to reduce inter-channel cross-talk. Each Valhalla 2 Tonearm Cable + is equipped with two detachable silver-plated ground 'whips'.

Expanding on Nordost's highly acclaimed accessories with their new QPOINT. It addresses electromechanical resonances and further seeks to stabilize DC Power. QPOINT Resonance Synchronizer addresses problem by emitting a subtle field which manipulates all electromechanical resonances within its immediate proximity so that they vibrate in unison with each other. Nordost suggests that their QPOINT be placed directly under or on top of targeted components.

Nordost's new QSOURCE is their first Linear Power Supply designed specifically for hi-fi audio applications. The QSOURCE is said to provide a stable, clean output of DC power at select voltages, while maintaining extremely low noise levels. This unit employs a top-of-the-line transformer with unique circuit design to convert AC to DC power, while an internal QRT module smoothes out DC output and removes electrical anomalies and noise artifacts from the line. A very interesting approach that appears to work extremely well.

The above three new products are only a small sampling, as Nordost produces an extremely wide variety of cables, from entry level to ultra-fi. During 2015 Enjoy the Music.com's Brett Rudolph did a full Nordost complete system review, and he said, "My experience with the Nordost cables leaves me speechless, if that is even possible. Overall, the difference is nothing short of spectacular. In fact, during the review several friends and colleagues remarked that the reference system for this review has never sounded nearly as good. Personally, I have to agree with them wholeheartedly." You can read our Nordost cable system review at this link.

Want to learn more? We also have an interview with Joe Reynolds of Nordost Corporation at this link.

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