Back when I was a lad getting into this hobby, the advice from the hifi powers that be (the magazines and retailers of the time) was to budget roughly around 10% of your overall system outlay on cables and accessories, which made for an affordable first step up from the freebie wires that came included.
But this was mostly an essential means to an end, as the free cables were so bad, it sounded like my system was being sonically strangled by the leads linking it all together. Thankfully times have changed, with specialist manufacturers investing heavily in boundary pushing R&D, to make sure our delicate audio signals are transmitted without compromise. And when you think about how our signals have also evolved, with the rise of hi-res and networked audio, having connecting cables that are a future-proof investment starts to make even more sense.
Stepforward Nordost, founded in Massachusetts back in 1991 when hi-end audio was really starting to gain traction. With three decades of knowhow in developing hifi cables, interconnects, power distribution and accessories, this is a company that has stuck to its guns and philosophy since day one, to be a best in class specialist cable manufacturer.
So when it recently announced the 3rd generation of its Leif range, we were at the front of the queue to put them to the test and see how far the envelope has been pushed.
Nordost’s Leif Red Dawn 3 series caters for dedicated single-ended and balanced analogue, mains and loudspeaker cables
Billed as the brand’s entry-level cable line, Leif 3 consists of four sub ranges with (in ascending order) White Lightning 3, Purple Flare 3, Blue Heaven 3 and Red Dawn 3, with interconnects (balanced and single-ended) and speaker cables as the main bread and butter of each range, plus mains cables added from Purple Flare upwards. Alongside these sit the standard Leif range models, which also include digital cables.
At the heart of each is the same tech that’s derived from the brand’s higher end Valhalla and Odin ranges, meaning silver-plated, 99.9999% oxygen free copper (OFC) solid core conductors. These are treated with Nordost’s innovative precision Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene (FEP) extrusion process, whereby each conductor is individually enclosed in FEP insulation. This technique is designed to greatly reduce each cable’s dielectric properties, to increase signal speeds and accuracy (see full technical details in our Specifications section below).
The cables then employ a mechanically tuned construction to ensure the dimensions and spacing of the conductors are optimised to further reduce dielectric effects.
Particular thought has also gone into the range of terminations on offer. For example the Blue Heaven digital interconnect carries a BNC connector which designed for 75 ohm impedance signals, due to the mechanical spacing of the centre conductor relative to the outer insulation. And after testing, Nordost has found that keeping the integrity of the 75 ohm cable with a BNC termination and then using an RCA adaptor provides better sonic results (and also means the cable can be used repurposed as a clocking cable, which typically use BNC connections).
Feels like heaven, and looks like it too with dedicated digital, tonearm and Ethernet cables from the Blue Leif line
Happy shopper
To get a sense of how these collectively perform across my system I specified the following from the Red Dawn 3 range:
- 2m mains cable (£770)
- 1m single-ended (RCA) interconnects (£890) and 2m balanced (XLR) interconnects (£1,250)
- Twin 7m speaker cable runs (£3,380) – a 2.5 metre costs £1,670
Complementing these from the Blue Heaven‘s standard range are:
- 1.25m Tonearm Plus cable (£710)
- 1.5m S/PDIF coaxial cable (£285)
- 2m Ethernet cable (£590)
All in, the total price comes to £7,875, highlighting that we’re cherrypicking products from across the Leif line-up, with particular thought paid to the speaker cables. And there’s a reason for this, as each model across the Leif 3 line boasts increasing numbers of AWG strands, starting at a dozen for White Lightning 3, 16 for Purple Flare 3, 18 for Blue Heaven 3 and 22 for Red Dawn 3 (all of which are an increase over their standard Leif counterparts).
And with my Rotel Michi X5 amp pushing out a whole lotta Watts (600 into 4 ohms, since you’re asking) driving Dynaudio Evoke 50 loudspeakers, I need connecting cables that will allow all that power to flow with minimum resistance.
Leif Red Dawn 3 boast 22 x 24 AWG silver-plated solid core OFC strands, with a range of terminations on offer (we specified gold-plated Z-type Banana plugs). Ribbon like design takes some getting used to, but stands out from the cable crowd
Deep dive
Unboxing the Nordost products reveals some of the best hifi cables I’ve ever set eyes and hands on, as they look and feel first class. As an aside, I was recently treated to a tour of one of the most advanced subsea engineering companies in the world, whose products must perform without error in some of the most extreme conductions on earth (in excess of 4000m down on the seabed to be exact). Why am I telling you this? Because the construction of Nordost’s cables looks to be in the same league, albeit with a level of fit and finish that is much more attractive above the shore line (so much so, that in most systems it’s a shame they’ll be hidden from view).
Both balanced and single-ended analogue cables are on offer, fitted with top quality pro-standard Neutrik Profi RCA plugs, sporting spring loaded retractable ground contacts for a reassuring fit. Resin blocks are embossed with direction arrows for signal flow
Performance
Completing the partnering kit not already mentioned is a VPI turntable and Primare NP 30/NP5 Prisma Mk2 DAC/streamer.
Swapping out my existing cables and allowing the Nordost to run in without critical listening was a real challenge in self control. Curiosity is what nourishes and frustrates us hifi fans in equal measure, meaning being patient to not start making notes the second I installed them is a real challenge. Because while first impressions count to an extent, with this level of investment, it’s long term impressions that matter so much more. After a month or so of not overly focussing on what the Nordost bundle brings to proceedings compared to my usual cables, it’s time to reflect on the differences they make.
Rotel Michi and Primare separates being well served by Nordost’s Leif cables
If I were to sum up what the Nordost cables add to my system in two words, those are detail, and depth. I have a generously sized listening room compared to most (30sqm), which means with the right gear I’m rewarded with a soundstage of cathedral-like proportions, but with this comes challenges, as populating it properly and evenly takes more accomplished separates than compared to a smaller room, because the musical picture being painted is vaster, giving you so much more to focus on (including any gaps).
And this is where the Nordost cables shine, by letting you hear so much more into the detail of proceedings. Even when dialling in polished pop like Francine Thirteen’s Queen Mary for example at 16-bit/44kHz via Qobuz), the above attributes are there in abundance. Just hear the thump of the various bass beats transcend from simply being quieter/louder, harder/softer via my usual cables, to being more accurately imaged at various depths within the soundstage and you can hear the value being added. This extra depth also allows the soundstage to be more richly populated with the various arresting effects and backing vocals in the track. It’s a song that has always been attention grabbing when played at generous volume levels, and with the Nordost joining things up it moves up into mesmerising territory.
Leif Red Dawn 3 mains cable is a no nonsense piece of kit, and studier than a ship’s anchor, but you’ll need space to accommodate those beefy connectors
Moonshine
The other thing of note about the Leif range is that they don’t seem to be genre or hi-production specific as some hi-end gear is, which all too often only shines with the finest quality musical material, while leaving lesser recordings cowering in the corner.
Even at 24-bit/96kHz, Echo And The Bunnymen’s The Killing Moon is one of those tracks I tend to prefer hearing on a decent headphone system than my full blown reference gear, as the latter can over-expose its mastering to sound that bit too narrow and overly sibilant. And with the Nordost kit as my system’s arteries I was expecting more of this, but what flowed forth was a different story.
Leif Blue Heaven S/PDIF cable offers multi-connectors for BNC and coaxial
Sure the recording isn’t radically transformed, but it does sound that much better put together, as though the song and my system are gelling more harmoniously. From its jangly guitars to cloud-rumbling bass notes and pointed vocals, everything just appears that bit more confident in its delivery, making it the most enjoyable listen I’ve had of this track and its accompanying Ocean Rain album I’ve experienced in some time.
Exploring more past tracks that sounds better than their original counterparts leads me to indie survivors Shed Seven (readers do note, I’m refusing to refer to them, or any band, as ‘Britpop’) and their recent chart topping vinyl LP Liquid Gold with reimagined versions of hits past and present, complete with grander arrangements.
Dedicated tonearm cable with grounding spades and Neutrik Rean RCA connectors is reminiscent of VPI’s Weisline that we previously tested
With Devil In Your Shoes there’s an honesty in Rick Witter’s vocals that my Nordost conjoined gear manages to tease out to levels I’ve not previously heard aligned to a more natural sounding decay and tonality, laying the foundations for the drama of the big band performance when verse two lands.
And this gets to the core of what the Nordost brings to the table, in that these cables don’t transform the sound or even flavour it for those seeking system tuning (to perhaps counteract some shortcomings). Instead what they do is improve and finesse what’s already there. It’s like pouring purer petrol into a performance car to simply enable it to perform as it should without restriction.
In many ways as cables go they impart the least personality of their own, which is why they come so highly recommended.
Blue Heaven Ethernet formed from a pair of shielded foiled twisted pairs of 8 x 24 AWG solid core copper conductors
In summary
Let’s be clear, while this is entry level for Nordost, for most folk this isn’t a cable set for beginners. What it is though, is testament to how far the hifi cable envelope has been ripped open for the better. With years of careful component tweaks, system matching and considered investment, my hifi is already pretty much where I want it, but adding the Nordost wires into the game shows that even with circa £20k of gear in operation there’s still room for improvement in the way it all links together.
These are a substantial but longterm investment for those demanding the best for their hifi to ensure they’re hearing it as it should sound. Try if you dare, as you may not want to go back after hearing the Leif range in full flight.
