Nordost Heimdall 2 Ethernet Cable Review

[plissken]

So up this time around is a 3 foot, $699, Nordost Heimdall 2 Ethernet cable. To further test this I'm using a $4000 network media streamer capable of 32/384 PCM, MQA, DSD, Da' Werks. I don't want to name the streamer because some idiot, regardless of the manufacturer, will say it's 'not resolving enough'. So if you aren't believer, even with an audiophile network streamer, just put in all the brands you hate and you'll most likely be correct. 

 

I went from XLR out on this unit into a RME FireFace UFX (shout out to my friend Ash for letting me borrow this) to record output of the streamer. Additionally output was also taken of the 315 foot CAT 5 E cable. For added measure and to give the Nordost every possible chance:

 

 

 

Yes, while the track was captured on the 315 footer I had it underneath a running microwave. Here is a link to a 24/192 2L file. It contains the original download from 2L and each track is labeled for what Ethernet cable it was captured on. 

 

https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/FWrQvqtbAN9wgm3nxEyzcYTkhV6tP22OcQU9kZUizSX?ref_=cd_ph_share_link_copy

 

I've had this setup for 3 days now and the conclusion is: Not a scintilla of difference between the cabling. I can make a suite of randomized tracks available if you aren't convinced. I'm providing one test with the answers. The next would be bias controlled. 

 

To reiterate: It's SMB server to switch, switch to streamer, streamer to RME ADC, RME to Audacity, Audacity to 24/192 WAV. No amps, no preamps, no speakers, no room, no processing, no eq no nothing. So I've taken care of the "Your setup isn't 'resolving' enough". 

 

So with all the audiophile excuse balloons popped. Let me know what you think. I have a bunch of other tracks captured and plan on doing some more before the cable goes back. 

[jabbr]

Interesting ... may I ask what disposed you to undertake this? Extra free time ?  

[plissken]

16 minutes ago, jabbr said:

Interesting ... may I ask what disposed you to undertake this? Extra free time ?  

 

As a matter of fact yes. I just finished up a month long project and had a week to play around. Monday it was the Casino, rest of the week messing around with this and the excellent RME.

 

Just getting some time to play with some DA/AD toys and wasn't much more work to get the Heimdall 2 RJE in. So not too much out of my way. I want to put a few more tracks out there so people can get and idea of the original, and the A/D'd tracks knowing that a lot of variables have been isolated.

 

I have a neighbor that plays guitar and wanted a recording setup where they could multi-track live. Another shout out to the folks that make Reaper. That is $60 well spent.

[jabbr]

I see, so you drank too much bourbon and used your winnings to buy a Nordost Ethernet cable from a very pretty salesgirl? Fair enough.

 

Reaper ???

[plissken]

4 minutes ago, jabbr said:

I see, so you drank too much bourbon and used your winnings to buy a Nordost Ethernet cable from a very pretty salesgirl? Fair enough.

 

Reaper ???

 

I don't know about you but the only pretty sales girls are the ones hired for a photo shoot holding a tone arm. Other than that all the sales people most likely look like the forum members here :-)

 

What's sad is that I walked into the casino with $200, three hours later back out with $785 and it's still not enough for 3 foot worth of cabling. But it is good enough for 315 foot :-)

[jabbr]

there's a very nice girl that keeps on emailing me to ask if I need more fiber cables (www.fs.com) -- I like to imagine that she's really cute IRL...

[STC]

Plissken, I am unable to download the zip file. I can see the size as 560MB. It starts to download and within seconds it shows completed. When I click to extract, i get empty folder or invalid file. 

 

edit - Pls ignore my message. It is downloading now.

[plissken]

7 minutes ago, STC said:

Plissken, I am unable to download the zip file. I can see the size as 560MB. It starts to download and within seconds it shows completed. When I click to extract, i get empty folder or invalid file. 

 

edit - Pls ignore my message. It is downloading now.

 

It happens with the Amazon link. It takes about 5-7 seconds for the download manager to start calculating the download and show the progress.

 

Now I think I got the AD damn close to the original WAV. Curious what you think.  If anything the A/D is just a tad hot but that could just be me as I haven't loaded them up into Foobar ABX comparitor. 

[STC]

I did a quick non instantaneous AB using Audacity and Superlux earphones. There is a difference. I did not listen to the full track yet which I intend to do with my main system but for now Nordost highs are harder and louder. I would go for Nordost.

[plissken]

31 minutes ago, STC said:

I did a quick non instantaneous AB using Audacity and Superlux earphones. There is a difference. I did not listen to the full track yet which I intend to do with my main system but for now Nordost highs are harder and louder. I would go for Nordost.

 

I think knowing what is what is a problem. The files are identical in audacity. So onto my next part:

 

"I can make a suite of randomized tracks available if you aren't convinced. I'm providing one test with the answers. The next would be bias controlled. "

 

I'm going to make some clips from these and post them blind. 5 tracks with one lurker among them. I'll load them up to Amazon and post the link. There will be DIR1 and DIR2. 5 tracks each. 

 

So you have the originals to habituate with. 

 

[STC]

24 minutes ago, plissken said:

The files are identical in audacity.

 

I just got back my laptop from Microsoft after the 30 minutes update.....err . And i still cannot open myNAS to transfer the files. errrr

 

I don't think files look alike in Audacity. Just look the right channel around 1.56 of 315 and compare that with Nordost. I am using laptop's soundcard set to 24/196 with Audacity. 

[plissken]

3 minutes ago, STC said:

 

I just got back my laptop from Microsoft after the 30 minutes update.....err . And i still cannot open myNAS to transfer the files. errrr

 

I don't think files look alike in Audacity. Just look around 1.56 of 315 and compare that with Nordost. I am using laptop's soundcard set to 24/196 with Audacity. 

 

They aren't going to line up because the start times are off from when I started the capture and hit play on the streamer. 

[STC]

No. It is not timing related. I edited my earlier post. Look carefully at the right channel at 1.56'321 and the same portion of Nordost at 1.55'960. Move away the cursor as it will obstruct the double peak seen in the 315.

[STC]

at -1.0

[plissken]

28 minutes ago, STC said:

No. It is not timing related. I edited the my post. Look carefully at the right channel at 1.56'321 and the same portion of Nordost at 1.55'960. Move away the cursor as it will obstruct the double peak seen in the 315.

 

I've looked through several A/D's and what you are seeing is going to be some variance from DA/AD even if I'm DAADing the same cable over and over. That's to be expected. 

 

What I'll do is 10 song shot on a single wav file and randomly choose spots to make a cable change for two songs. You can edit and cut out portions as you see fit. So 8 will be one cable and 2 will be another. 

 

This is why I reserved in my OP to introduce files blinded now as I think this is making my point.  

 

Is there a track you would like to provide me with?

[STC]

Why not you do another sample of the two?

 

Caveat - I am not concerned about the difference. Both are acceptable to me and indistinguishable under normal non blind testing listening session.

[plissken]

1 minute ago, STC said:

Why not you do another sample of the two?

 

Caveat - I am not concerned about the difference. Both are acceptable to me and indistinguishable under normal non blind testing listening session.

 

I can but it won't be until Monday. But I would like to put a track through DAAD that you like. 

[STC]

I listened with my main system and there is a difference. The 315 is slightly veiled. Or it could be slightly softer and perceived to be veiled. In any case, there was a difference I heard. 

 

 

[plissken]

4 hours ago, STC said:

I listened with my main system and there is a difference. The 315 is slightly veiled. Or it could be slightly softer and perceived to be veiled. In any case, there was a difference I heard. 

 

 

 

Let's see how it goes when the tracks are not labeled. 

[STC]

I took one second samples of each and compared them but I did not hear any difference. The results is mildly shocking to him because I expected to no difference but due to the exceptional long cable I shouldn't be surprised to hear the difference.

 

Just for the record, I only bumped into this post when Jabbr replied you. I avoided reading your post to avoid prejudice and just download the file. When I listened to them for the first time I thought Cable 315 was a brand name. When I heard the difference I went back to read your entire post and realized it was the length of a generic cable.

 

I am usually level headed with blind tests but I need to find out myself why rightly or wrongly I am perceiving a difference. On Monday, I will load it into my other PC and use the Foobar's ABX test.

 

Thanx for your effort.

[wwaldmanfan]

I appreciate the effort and expense that you put into this experiment, but am puzzled as to why you bothered. The outcome (no audible difference) was a foregone conclusion.

[jabbr]

15 minutes ago, STC said:

I took one second samples of each and compared them but I did not hear any difference. The results is mildly shocking to him because I expected to no difference but due to the exceptional long cable I shouldn't be surprised to hear the difference.

 

Just for the record, I only bumped into this post when Jabbr replied you. I avoided reading your post to avoid prejudice and just download the file. When I listened to them for the first time I thought Cable 315 was a brand name. When I heard the difference I went back to read your entire post and realized it was the length of a generic cable.

 

I am usually level headed with blind tests but I need to find out myself why rightly or wrongly I am perceiving a difference. On Monday, I will load it into my other PC and use the Foobar's ABX test.

 

Its not an issue with being "level headed" ... these are well known issues with "ABX" ... statistically there will be a certain rate at which you hear a difference when none exists as well as failing to hear a difference when one exists... thats why a good study need to have multiple samples and multiple listening event and then use some basic stats to determine whether a difference is present.

[plissken]

1 minute ago, wwaldmanfan said:

I appreciate the effort and expense that you put into this experiment, but am puzzled as to why you bothered. The outcome (no audible difference) was a foregone conclusion.

 

There was pushback last time around about my putting together a bog standard $250ish computer for the source to feed my DAC with. Even disregarding the point that I was able to produce 1st generation DAAD output that rivaled the original then there can't be anything to conceivably to object to. 

 

So I got in a $4000 media streamer that represents a closed loop ecosystem. The only conclusion that I currently make is mine: I couldn't hear a difference, when thrown up in audacity and compared the tracks look 99.9% identical not counting for any deviation due to the DA/AD process that could show up with even the same 1 meter cable looped through multiple times. 

 

I'm going to finish up with a bunch of captures to keep around for those curious. 

This is simply something I want to make available to anyone curious about 'Audiophile' Ethernet. IMO Nordost, Audioquest, WireWorld, Melco, etc know they are perpetuating a scam.

 

This also shows the like of Lavorgna, Darko, Van Es, Hall, Plasskin (not Plissken :-)) are just making shit up and I don't trust them to review anything since they are hearing stuff that isn't there.

[STC]

But too bad not many make an effort to hear. Sometimes, this is a problem for both believers and non-believers. They are so sure and ignore the learning and experimenting fun part of this hobby. 

[plissken]

14 minutes ago, jabbr said:

 

Its not an issue with being "level headed" ... these are well known issues with "ABX" ... statistically there will be a certain rate at which you hear a difference when none exists as well as failing to hear a difference when one exists... thats why a good study need to have multiple samples and multiple listening event and then use some basic stats to determine whether a difference is present.

 

That isn't entirely strict however. In part I'm testing the claims reviewers like Lavorgna and Darko have made about 'readily apparent' and 'easy to discern' differences.

 

These claims go way beyond discriminating minute changes and part of this is seeing if this type of claim is reproducible. This has been no small effort to put together but I am having fun with it and helping a neighbor set up their recording studio for his band so it's not effort without some payoff for someone.