Acoustic Zen vs. Nordost

Well, everthing depends on your preference, in your system, in your room. But I had red dawn speaker wire and IC. I replaced it with the Satori and matrix ic. In my system, single-ended solid state using newforms r8-2's the AC was simply more full, more musical, more relaxing. The AC has a rather harmoically, and timbre correct presentation in my system. I believe I've had them for 4 years or so now. The red dawn is beautifully made but sounded too leading edge and thin with my ribbons,too little meat on the bones, so to speak. Perhaps in a tube system the red dawn would be better. Just what I heard. I would suggest don't do it but that's just my opinion. Happy listening.

no to the nosrdost, maybe yes to others, better stay where you are.IMHO.

If you are able to, try out Cardas Golden Cross or Golden Reference... see what happens.

Nordost cables and Valhalla in particular impart an edgy or grainy character I find fatiguing. I don't want to hear all of the resolution and revealing crap espoused by Nordost advocates who use these cables as tone controls to ameliorate other deficiencies in their system. Other brands such as Acoustic Zen, Stealth, Audience, Luminous, Ridge Street, VD, PAD, etc. offer outstanding resolution without the pain. Acoustic Zen is a great choice.

Judy426, you state:

Nordost cables and Valhalla in particular impart an edgy or grainy character I find fatiguing. I don't want to hear all of the resolution and revealing crap espoused by Nordost advocates who use these cables as tone controls to ameliorate other deficiencies in their system.

HUH?!! You can't have it both ways! The one thing that you CAN'T do with Valhallas is use them for "tone controls"! They are merciless for their resolution and micro-dynamics. Edgy or grainy...NO WAY! You've got other problems in your system that the Valhallas are revealing. It is you, who are in fact, are seeking to use cables as a tone control. Not that there is anything wrong with using cables to compliment the synergy of a system, or that the other cables you mention are "inferior".

The complaint voiced most often about Valhallas is their thinness in the bass region. I have not noticed this to be true, but again "system synergy" is the key.