David Cahill

Concerning Shunyata, some years ago before I started upgrading my Nordost power cables, I was exclusively using Shunyata Diamondback power cables, which retailed for around $250 at the time. A Nordost dealer let me try the entry-level Nordost Magus power cable, which went for about $200. There was an immediate improvement in sound using the cheaper, Nordost cable. At the higher end, I defer to Daphne, but I'm not about to get rid of my Nordost Valhalla and Frey 2 power cables.

Well, I had no idea my comment would unleash such a long stream of new comments. Thanks for all the informative responses! I stand by my claim that Nordost cables dramatically improve the sound quality, of my system at least, and the more expensive the cable, the greater the improvement. I cannot speak for other cable brands, other systems, or the question of "synergy." But I would not have shelled out $1,000-$3,000 for individual cable upgrades (after careful, repeated and patient auditing) if there hadn't been striking differences. I cannot explain the reason for these differences in any technical terms (I don't have the technical knowledge). But the differences were very real. It remains simply dumbfounding to me how merely plugging in a more expensive power cable into the wall can do this - lurch a system's sound into an altogether higher-quality bracket, just as if one had upgraded to a new greatly more expensive amp or speakers. It means that these high-quality cables are just as important as the individual audio components themselves. It means that most people's system's weakest link has most likely to do with what's going on BETWEEN rather than WITHIN their audio components. There must be some serious leakage in audio information when the signal and the current leave one component to enter another (I've heard in fact that a great deal of audio information is lost at the terminals alone). So if this is the case, maximizing the potential of one's system is all about upgrading/tweaking/massaging the signal/current between the components and equalizing them to the same quality level as the signal/current flow within the components (unless of course there are significant problems with one's components as well).

I'm joining this conversation a bit late. I've been incrementally upgrading my all-Lyngdorf digital system with higher-grade Nordost cabling, which so far includes a Valhalla power cable (in wall), a Valhalla digital interconnect (CD transport to digital amp), a Frey 2 power cable (CD transport), a Frey analog interconnect (amp to power amp), a Thor power conditioner, and Red Dawn bi-amped speaker cables. I can affirm that the improvement in sound quality with each new upgrade is stunning, and worth the astronomical prices. Fortunately I have a good relationship with a local dealer who lets me borrow cables liberally, and if I don't hear a dramatic improvement while auditioning, I don't buy. I intend to replace my remaining Magus power cables with Frey 2 power cables, and will finish off the system with a Quantum Qx4 and several Qv2's (see Nordost/Quantum website). If I'm still financially solvent, I will finally upgrade my speaker cables to Frey 2. At no point have I felt the need to upgrade any of my Lyngdorf components, as the cables continually reveal this system's further and seemingly unlimited capabilities. I am not familiar with MIT cables, and at this point I'm too deeply committed to the Nordost brand to experiment with other brands, but I can tell you I'm not hallucinating the virtues of Nordost cables. They also prove the absolute necessity of good cabling and clean electricity to high-quality audio sound, even if that means shelling out more for cables than for the rest of the system's equipment.