First Sounds: Nordost

Valhalla 2What Nordost’s Valhalla 2 means for the existing Valhalla owner

by Dennis Davis, January 6, 2014© www.theaudiobeat.com

ordostValhallahasbeenaconstantinmy systemsince2005.OtherthansomeVPIBricks andaVPIrecord-cleaningmachine,nothingremainsfromthe20thcentury,andoverthatsametimespaneverythingfromcartridgetospeakershascomeandgoneseveraltimesover.ThatstandsasreassuringlypowerfultestimonytojusthowsuccessfultheoriginalValhallahasbeen--howsatisfyingitsperformancehasbeen,nomatterhowothercomponentschangedaroundit.It’snicetohaveatleastoneelementinthesystemthat’sstableandreliable;it’salmostunheardofforthatconstanttobeacable.

ButthenacoupleofyearsagoIheardthefirstmutteredrumorsofNordostdevelopinganewproduct,shroudedinmysteryandknownonlyasV2.Iassumedthateven

Odincouldn’tbringWernhervonBraunbackfromthedead,soitdidn’ttakemelongtofigureoutthatNordostwasupdatingitsvenerableValhallaline,whichledtothenext,inevitablequestion:howmuchbettercouldacablelikeValhallareallyget?Rapidlyfollowedbytheequallyinevitableconcern:woulditactuallybebetter,orwouldthebabydisappearalongwiththebathwater,lostsomewhereintheattempt?

Bothquestionswereansweredafewmonthsago,whenIgottocomparefourdifferentNordostspeakercablesinmysystem,includingValhalla,OdinandaprototypeofthenewV2.I’veheardthiskindofdemonstrationmanytimesatshowswherethedexterousNordostcrewrunsthroughcomparisonsthatstackupdifferentcables,butnothingbeatshearingthesamethinginyourown

1

N

REPRODUCEDFROM

theaudiobeat.co

m

system.Theresultswerefairlydramatic.Notonlywouldnoamountofblindfoldinghavemadethesefourspeakercablessoundthesame,butthesuperiorityoftheV2wasblatantlyobvious--andnotjusttotheoriginalValhalla.Whatreallywhetmyappetitewasthefactthatinmanymusicalrespects,theprototypesoundedsignificantlybetterthanOdin.

MuchhasbeenmadeintheentertainmentpressofBeyoncé’srecentsurprisereleaseofanewalbum,withouttheusualmarketingbuildup.ButNordosthadalreadytestedthesewaters--BeyoncéwasjusttakingapageoutofNordost’sV2marketingplan.Withoutanypre-announcements,pressbuilduporreviews,NordostreleasedV2in2012andletitsnewproductspeakforitself.Theresulthasbeenamassiveworldwidesuccess--innosmallpartdowntotheeffortsofNordost’swell-establisheddealernetwork.Butitalsotellsastoryaboutjusthowmusicallyimpressivethisnewcablereallyis.OncethefullV2complementarrivedinmylisteningroomafewmonthsago,itwasobviousthatthiswasmorethanjustafacelift.WhiletheV2isinstantlyidentifiableasaNordostproduct,ifnotforthelabelingIwouldnothaveimmediatelyrecognizeditasValhalla.Thenewinterconnectslookquitedifferentfromtheoriginals,andwhiletherearesomeobvioussimilaritieswhenitcomestothepowercordsandspeakercables,thesetooaredistinctlydifferent.ThrowintheuniqueappearanceoftheHolo:Plugterminationsandyou’ve

gotaproductthatbothlooksverydifferentandfeelsdifferenttoo.

ThereasonforthosedifferencesiswhatsetsV2apartfromnotjusttheoriginalValhallabut

alsotherestoftheNordostrange.Thereareplentyofcommonelements:theflatspeakercables,theMicro

Mono-filament(MMF)construction(dualMMFinthiscase,justlikeOdin),thesolid-core,silver-platedcopperconductorsandtheall-FEPinsulation.

ButexperiencedNordostwatcherswillhavenotedthetermmechanical tuningcreepingintothecompany’sliterature,firstwiththebudgetLeifseriesandthentherevisedNorse2cables.Infact,workingwiththecables’mechanicalcharacteristicsstartedwiththeOdinandhasbeenslowlybutsurelybecomingmoreandmoreimportanttoeachsuccessiverange.ButjustastheoriginalValhallamarkedastep-changeforNordost,introducingthefirstcompleteMicroMono-filamentcablefamily,V2marksanothertechnologicalleap.ItrepresentsNordost’sfirstfullymechanicallyoptimizedcables,afamilyofproductswherethemechanicaltuningextendsbeyondthe

cablesthemselvesandintotheterminations,astepthatinturnnecessitatedthedesignandmanufacturingofNordost’sfirstin-houseconnectors.OneglanceattheHolo:PlugsontheV2willtellyouthatthey’renotlikeotherconnectors,butI’llleavethefullstorytoMarcMickelsonandhisforthcomingreviewoftheV2family.It’senoughtosaythatNordostbelieves(andtheoriginaldemonstrationalsoshowed)thatthenewconnectorsareamajorpartoftheV2’sperformance.

2

REPRODUCEDFROM

theaudiobeat.co

m

REPRODUCEDFROM

theaudiobeat.co

m

Onamorepracticalnote,Ienvythosewhohavenospacerestrictionsandcanplacetheirequipmentracksfarenoughoutintheroomtobeabletowalkbehindthecomponentstopositionanddressthecablesattheirleisure.Therestofusplacecomponentracksincloseproximitytoawallandspendconsiderabletimeonhandsandkneesattemptingtodresstheresultingsnakepitofcablingforbestsound.Inthisrespect,V2issomewhateasieronmyknees.First,thepowercordsarestifferthantheoriginals,sotheyholdashapebetter,allowingmorepreciseplacement.Thenewinterconnects,ontheotherhand,aremoreflexible,perhapsafunctionofthedifferent-lookingand-feelingoutersheath.ThisaddedflexibilitymakesthemfareasiertodressandgetpositionedjustsoonmyShunyatacableelevators.

Butthegoodlooksandslickertactilequalityareoflittleconsequenceunlessthenewcablessoundbetter,andatthiselevatedprice($7600permeterpairofinterconnects,$9600per1.25-meterpairofspeakercables),V2willhavetosoundalotbetterthanthealreadyexcellent-soundingoriginalValhalla.Iknewfrommysneakpreviewofthespeakercablesthattherewasasignificantimprovement,buthowwouldacompleteloomofV2sound?

Ratherthandancearoundthisone(I’llalsoleavethattoMarcandhisreview!),letmesayrightfromthe(almost)startthatIwasstunnedattheimprovementdeliveredbytheV2overoriginalValhalla.MyimmediatereactionwasthatIwashearinganadvanceintheoverall

integrationandmusicalgeometryunmatchedbyanyotherupgradeI’veheardinmysystem.Ever.Consideringthatrecentsignificant

systemadvancementsincludetheadditionoftheLyraAtlascartridge,Iwasnotexpectingtobebowledoveragainanytimesoon.Indeed,Iwasbeginningtothinkthatimprovementsinelectronicsandphonocartridgesoverthelastfewyearshadrevealedsomuchdetailpreviouslyhiddeninmyrecordcollectionthattheonlywaytomakeasignificantimprovementwouldbetomovemysystemintoanewcustom-builtroomwithmuchlargerspeakersthanIcannowaccommodate.AsmuchasIknewhowimportantcablingandcomponent-supportstructuresaretomusicalpresentation,andasmanytimesasIhaveattendedorhelpedpresentprogramsintendedtodemonstratethecriticalimportance

ofthesefoundationalsystemingredients,IwasillpreparedforthedelugeofnewmusicalinformationexposedbytheswitchtoV2.

Whatkindofinformation?Bloggers,andevensomewriterswhoshouldknowbetter,dismisshearingmoredetailasirrelevantbecause,theyclaim,addeddetailismerelytheartifactofaboosteduppermidrangeorsomeothertrickthatbringsoutthingsbestleftunheard.Theylistenforthemusic,thevibe,orjustsomethingtogettheirtoestapping.Theycan’tbebotheredwithbuildingasystemthatimprovesthedefinitionofachairscrapingalongthefloorofthestageorrevealsthatsurprisinglyexplosivequalityofacoughintheaudience.Certainlytherearemusicalcretinswholookforandgloryinthese

3

REPRODUCEDFROM

theaudiobeat.co

m

things.However,thesuggestionthatcapturingmoredetailisantitheticaltomusicalenjoymentislittlemorethanaconjurer’stricktosuggestthatlessrevealingcomponentshaveasmuchcapacitytoaccuratelyportraymusicaleventsassystemsthatdeliversufficientdetailtofleshoutafullthree-dimensionalmusicalimage.Musicismadeupofmyriaddetails--andthereisabigdifferencebetweenhighlightingtheuppermidrangetomakecertaindetailstandoutandallowingasystemtoreproducemoreinformation.SowhenItalkaboutdetail,Imeanallthemusicalandspatialinformationandcuesthatbringgreatertexture,dimensionalityandpatterntothesoundwemakeoutoftheelectricalsignalsthatcompriserecordedmusic.

AndthatispreciselywhereV2excels,preventingthefullbenefitsofyourfront-endandamplificationfrombeingchokedintosubmission.Whywouldameresetofcablesbeabletodeliveranysignificantenhancementinpresentingtherichesofdetailinherentinrealmusic?Onceyouthinkofthecablingasanessentialfoundationforyoursystemandanalogizetophotographicreproduction,thepointisnotdifficulttograsp.YoucanusethefinestLeicacamera,composingthemostsublimeframe,butifyoudon’tknowhowtosetthecameraorcan’tholditstill,theresultingcompositionwilllooknobetterthananInstamaticsnapshot.Likeafinecamera,thebestcartridgeandphonostagewillneverbeabletodeliverontheirpromisewithoutaproperfoundation.WhileWilliamBlakewasnottalkingaboutmusicalappreciation(ortakingdrugs)whenhewroteaboutcleansingthedoorsofperception,hisobservationsareanaptcommentaryontoday’sdevolutionofmusicalreproduction.ListeningtomusicthroughasetofearbudsandanMP3deliverysysteminvolvesslammingthedoorsofperceptionclosedinthefaceofmusic.AsBlakeobserved,“...manhasclosedhimselfup,tillheseesallthingsthroughnarrowchinksofhiscavern.”Andwhatbetterwaytocleansethedoorsofmusicalperceptionthanexperiencingagoodaudioreproductionsystem?

HowmuchcleansingisV2capableof?IleftthenewlyarrivedboxofV2unpackedforaweekorsoandfirstlistenedtoanarrayofLPsandCDsthatI’vehadinconstantrotationfordecades--musicIknowsowellIcanplayitbackinmymemorywithoutneedofelectronicsorcable.Unlikeacomponentthatcanbeswitchedinandoutofasystem,acompleteloomof

cablingtakesabitofefforttochange.Andcablesoundsbestleftinplaceratherthanmovedabout.

FirstupafterthecableswitchwasFairportConvention’sUnhalfbrickingLP[IslandILPS9102],apink-labelgemIthoughtIhadsqueezedeverynuanceoutofafteryearsofequipmentswaps,yetmylisteningnotesexclaim“Whatadisappearingact!”RichardThompson,SandyDennyandcrewwerebeamedintothespacebetweenandaroundmyspeakersasneverbefore,asthoughtheStarshipEnterprisetransportermechanismhadfinallybeenperfectedandthemusiciansappearedwholeforthefirsttime.

NotyetreadytoleavemyvisittotheBritishIsles,IpulledoutNickDrake’sPink MoonandlistenedtoboththerecentreissueLP[Island3713433]andtheoriginal[IslandILPS9184].Pink Moonisoneofthoseincrediblywell-recordedLPsthatsoundsogoodthattheymakevirtuallyanystereosystemsoundgoodtoo,whileatthesametimeholdingenoughmagicinreservetoshowoffjustwhatanexceptionalsystemcando.AsgoodasitsoundedonlyadayearlierusingtheoutstandingoriginalValhallacables,listeningtoPink MoonwiththeV2mademefeellikeIwashearingtheentiretyofDrake’slushguitartoneforthefirsttime,revealingmusicalcuesthathadescapedmebefore,bringingNickDrakebacktolifeasneverbefore.

Amonglargerworks,IlistenedtoMartyPaich’sI Get A Boot Out Of You[WarnerBrosRHI1360572],aKevinGrayremasteroftheoriginalandoneofthebestbig-bandsessionseverrecorded.Justasimportant(andunlikesomewell-recordedaudiophilebig-bandLPs),thePaichisalsoanoutstandingmusicalperformance.LikePink Moon,thisLPcanmakeanysystemsoundgood,anditwillalsoclearlyshowimprovementsinthereproductionchain.Whatshowedupimmediately,withthisandotherlarge-scalemusicplayedthroughtheV2,wastheincreaseindynamiccapacityandthesenseofalmostunlimitedheadroom.IcouldcrankupthemusicmorecomfortablywiththeV2withoutthesoundstagecollapsingandwithoutthesensethattheamplifierorspeakerswererunningoutofsteam.WithoutfailandwiththeV2installed,eachofmytestLPscametolifeasneverbefore,andbeforelongIwasoffonanexplorationunfetteredbythedemandsofreviewmethodology.Simonand

4

REPRODUCEDFROM

theaudiobeat.co

m

Garfunkel’sBookends[ColumbiaKCS9529],Stravinsky’sPulcinella[ArgoZRG575],RCAsandMercuries,andvirtuallytheentireBeatlescatalogwerethrownattheV2,andeachLPinturngaveupnewsecretsandanewsenseoflifeintheperformance.

Attheendoftheday,whileIcandescribetheimpactoftheV2intermsofitsmorecoherentandunobtrusivesoundstage,betterheadroomanddynamicsandgreaterresolutionandunforcedsenseofmusicalorganization,theseindividualcharacteristicssimplydon’ttellthewholestory.WhatreallymattersaboutV2istheremarkablesenseof“rightness”itbringstothemusic--toeverypieceofmusicIlistenedto.Whileitdidn’t

5

REPRODUCEDFROM

theaudiobeat.co

m

stopmyyearningforalargededicatedlisteningroom,V2didallowmymodestlysizedspeakerstodelivermorelife,detailandalarger

soundstagethanIpreviouslythoughtpossiblewithoutasignificantstepupinspeakersizeandcost.

Mosttimesinaudionewisjustdifferent;othertimesit’sawholelotbetter.ThisisoneofthoserareoccasionswhenaproducthaschangednotjustmyexpectationsbutwhatIthoughtwaspossible.Thegoodnewsisthatforthoseluckyenoughtobeabletoaffordit,V2offersnotjustaslightlywiderbutawholenewwindowintothemusic.Forthosewhocan’t,V2’sintroductionshouldmakeforalotoforiginalValhallacableavailableontheusedmarket.It’sstillagreatcable,butit’snotV2!