markc2

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.50 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I really didn't expect what happened to happen. I expected more treble extension and more bass, what I got was a warmer sound from my system. Well maybe not warm but more midrange, Electric guitars just had more meat on them, and that was not what I expected.

The slight edge that I thought was coming from my CD source, gone.

What I associate with natural sounding music, right there.

Bass, but not BASS, but bass presence that I did not have before. There.

I expected speed and detail, and that was it. I feel like I got that and more.

For the price on the used market, these are an easy choice. In fact I liked them better than the Frey, not much, but the SPM in my system to me brought out more midrange, a kind of lushness, and no more "bite" on the top end.

Strengths:
Let my system do it's best.

Weaknesses:
I will get back to you :-)

Similar Products Used:
Nordost Heimdall, Frey, Red Dawn.
Audience Au24e
Cardas Golden Reference
Transparent Audio, the first cable in the line to have the boxes.
Homemade stuff from Home Depot.

MC275, C220, Thiel 2.4's.
Linn LP12 Ittok VII, Valhalla

Price Paid:  $990.00 from A dealer in New York

Summary:
I have been listening to this cable for over a month. I must say I am not at all impressed with it. The treble is too bright, the bass is somewhat loose, and voices while not all that bad they do have a slight sound quality as though someone is singing in a barrel- just enough to destroy any sence of realisim. Also, it seemed a touch sluggish in reproducing transients. I listened to fhis along with several others by Kimber, Synergestic Research, Kimber, Audioquest, Siltech and LAT International. All were in similar price range as the SPM Reference except the LAT International which sells for well under 400.00 at their web site. In fact I was not really impressed with any of them with the exception of the LAT International IC-300 Signature which was far superior than all of the rest of them. For an interconnect in the price range of 1000.00, plus or minus a couple of hunderd dollars, I expected far more performance than the SPM Reference and the others in that price range provided.

Strengths:
Background noise was quite quiet.

Weaknesses:
inadequate in that price range for virtually all parameters by which a cable should be judged

Similar Products Used:
See the main text above

zeblion1

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I am currently using all blue heavens cabling. I went to CES and the guy from Nordost demo me the SPM and the Vahallas. From my past experience, going from middle of the road cable from X company compared to their top of the line will achieve subbtle diference. But it is not the case with Nordsot, They played it for me, and I was impressed. THERE IS a big diffrence between my blue heaven (although I like my cable very much) to SPM and Vahallas. Most cables company that I've seen before at the show, they only have their products in the showcase. NONE of them will actually do demo, from one cable to another cable. They only can said it on the brochure etc, none of them is trying to give you a proven demo. Nordost is the only cable that I will use and the one that I will spend my money on, if all the assosiated components match with the speed of the Nordost

Strengths:
Fast , dynamic, simply THE BEST

Similar Products Used:
Monster cable, Kimber cabl, Blue Heaven, MIT

Price Paid:  $520.00 from Audiogon

Summary:
Nordost's SPM Interconnects are amazing. I added two pairs to my system as an upgrade from my two year old Blue Heavens. There is much more speed, detail and punch. I'd say that my system was very neutral sounding prior to adding the SPMs but now some music raises goosebumps. I bought mine from the classified section of Audiogon, in two separate purchases from two gentlemen who were upgrading to Valhallas. List priced at $1100 per meter with RCAs, these were purchased for $520. and $625.; a relative bargain. I had not auditioned them but did compare the Red Dawns (RD) when I purchaed the Blue Heavens (BH). Knowing that the SPM had been given good reviews generally and that the Nordost people make a fine product, a jump up the product line was not a concern. If I had more funds at the time, I might have gone for the RDs but buying all the electronics left me unable to spring for the more costly cables. The RDs were clearly slight improvement over the BHs. My system consists of the Meridian 508.24, CJPremier11A, Heart Control tube pre-amp and Epos es22 speakers with Linn tri-wiring. I ran over some of my favorite recordings when the SPMs were installed. "Ol'Man River" on The Concert Sinatra went really, really deep. Phil Woods' "Musique du Bois" sounded better than ever - you could really hear his alto reed sputter and quake when lightly blown. Gordon Haskell's "Look Out" sounded like a veil had been lifted and the instruments present in the room. Howdy music like "Black Light Syndrome" from Levin, Stevens and Bozzio really gets hugely dynamic and ballsy. These cables are a revelation. Maybe in a few years, used Valhallas will come on the used market?

Strengths:
A big leap in realism, speed and attack. No waiting for break in; used cables are already. High quality connectors.

Weaknesses:
Price perhaps but when purchased used, I think makes them a very good value.

Similar Products Used:
Nordost Blue Heaven and Red Dawn

Summary:
If you are living with any of the above cables I was using and haven't discovered SPM, you're missing out. I was skeptical of spending more money on cable. However, from the first few notes of music with the SPM in the system, I found the sound sooo transparent. A veil I never knew was there was lifted for the first time. However, one thing I'll say - I first got a 2.5meter pair (fairly old - a few years anyway). The sound difference was sublime. Then I got a relatively new pair of 1m - this was not as good as the older, longer pair - only explanation I have is that the older one was more burned in.

Anyway, overall, I think SPM is well worth the money - can't say it's a bargain at $1,100 per meter, but you get what you pay for - no doubt about it. I think I'll move to Quattro Fil soon (If I ever find my next dotcom job :-) Not sure what SPM speaker cable sounds like, but I have FIM Gold which is the last word on speaker cable for me.

Strengths:
Open, transparent beyond belief. Visual construction is also beautiful.

Weaknesses:
Expensive. Can be damaged more easily than other cables because of it's thin design. Terminations are nicely constructed but can damage easily if not careful.

Similar Products Used:
Cardas Golden Cross, Kimber KCAG, Homegrown Audio Silver Lace, Harmonic Technology Truthlink.