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I really like my Duelund 12GA 600V, it has fantastic tonality and "bloom" and coherency and makes every recording sound "nice", it even makes Spotify enjoyable (!)BUT there is no free lunch in this hobby, and I'm also a little bit frustrated when I listen to the more dynamic / violent stuff (which is probably half of my music collection!): jump factor and speed are significantly reduced... somehow it makes my ultra dynamic high sensitivity system sound like a (very good) low sensitivity system. Drums don't "whack" the way they used to; horns (the instruments, not the speakers) don't have the visceral "bite" they normally have with my system. Bass is slightly slow and complex / fast electronic baselines are somewhat harder to follow.
Still a very good cable, and I'm a bit on the edge...
So, I've ordered two pairs (as I'm bi-amping) of chinese "Valhalla" cable, and will take the time to compare. I'm sure tonality won't be quite as nice, but I'm sure it will be faster and more dynamic.
Then I will have to decide which one I like best!
Stay tuned...
Edits: 09/07/23 09/07/23Follow Ups:
Have you guys experienced some burn-in with the Valhalla 1 SC?
Yes, the V1's require significant break-in in my experience. Much like the Morrow IC's I had a several years ago, you'll still be able to hear the cable's potential from the start, but it just takes time for the V1's to totally settle in. In contrast, the V2's sounded pretty and very listenable from the start. Not to say they won't take a dip along the way, but so far so good.
The choice depends on the system.If the system is somewhat "forward",the V! may complement.
If using tubes or other pieces that embody warmth or a room that is "dark" in character,V2.
I like the V2,as the V1 is slightly dead-pan.However,in the HT-the V1 fits very nicely.
No "right or wrong",just synergy.
Somehow my previous answer got shortened
So I was saying, I really liked the first couple of hours but now, I find it to lack transparency, liquidity, expressivity; it's a bit grey and uninspiring and lacks nuances
I suppose (and hope) it's just the burn-in rollercoaster starting (and with 105dB horns, there's very little current passing through so it will take a while...)
crossing my fingers hoping it will get better!
I have 2 sets of V1's. I ran both thru a Hagerman Frybaby for 4 or 5 days, then followed up occasionally with the Ayre break-in disk. So yes, they take a little coaxing.
Well, the cable hasn't seen many hours yet (I barely have it since ten days, and mostly wasn't able to listen to music) but yesterday, Tori Amos sounded just mesmerizing, better than I ever heard that album in my setup! I've stopped worrying about the outcome; I know when the cable is fully broken in, it will be great.
(Tori Amos - Boys for Pele)
Edits: 10/09/23
Ah yes, thanks for your answer
Because I really liked what I was hearing the first couple of hours but now, not so much. It sounds a bit " matter of fact », lacking transparency, fluidity and expressivity - a bit " grey » and uninspiring
I suppose I'm entering the burn in rollercoaster
Fingers crossed!
Edits: 10/04/23
What is the damping factor of the amplifier(s) you are using, and will be testing with?
I have no idea to be honest. I'm using low power class D chip amps. But those have all the grunt needed for horn loaded 15inch midbass drivers.
Understood. My point in asking the question is raising awareness of the degree to which an amplifier can be influenced by external, and measurable, factors (of which DF is just one). So where some may highlight some positive contributory characteristic, here attributed to a given SC - it may just be the end effect of some sort of problematic interface.
Where I currently like the small signal tubes and capacitor set in my upstream signal chain, others may also find the use of a particular cable set to be particularly enticing. But I realize this may not > always < be a solitary contribution, and may be more of a matter of interaction.
Enjoy your cables!
The cable arrived yesterday and I managed to listen to a few recordings that I know very well.
All I can say is: HOLY SHIT!!! even without burn-in, this is by far the very best speaker cable I ever had in my system.
If t gets better with time (and I'm confident it will) it will be exceptional!
By comparison the Duelund wire sounds like an overly romantic wet sock.
the "Valhalla" (it looks much more like Heimdall 2, almost identical in fact) manages to sound fast, bold, dynamic, airy and holographic, detailed (that bass! such control and nuances!) while maintaining excellent tonality throughout (definitely not bright nor cold, quite the opposite) and transparency (the REAL transparency, that lets you grasp everything that is on the recording without pushing a frequency band above the rest)
Amazing!!!
I bought the same Chinese valhalla speaker cables (2 meters @ $184) due to your comment (though I had wanted to change my s/c since my Clear Day Silver Shotgun s/c have been with me for about 7 years now.I converted my other i/c from morrow, then clear day, then anti-cables to the Chinese odin 2 i/c since January. Had also bought 2 p/c, the Odin Gold for outlet to pwr conditioner and from pwr conditioner to preamp.
Ordered through RM Digital for the first time, ordering it late night of Oct 11th and receiving it in record time on October 20th --- where other companies took me 21-29 days to reach me here on Oahu, Hawaii.
Then I burned it on my Hagerman FryBaby2 for 22 hours (because I was so anxious I unplugged it sooner than later) and burned about 10 hours by just playing music.
Wow, I cannot believe the sound... it was now like the Clear Day dbleshotgun s/c was holding back on the quality potential of my system !
Fuller, detailed with more depth improvement !
So again, was it a fluke by RM Digital to order and receive my item in just 8 days compared to other vendors whose items took 21-29 days?
Edits: 10/25/23 10/25/23
I also tried many of the "Odin" interconnects and I liked Tham a lot but I found that Xangsane SP-9001Ag to be vastly superior to my ears (and barely more expensive!) YMMV, of course
That pretty much sums up my impression. Being somewhat impatient, I too just popped them in the system upon delivery. Much like you, I was impressed from the get go. I'm also assuming you ordered the Valhalla 2's from RMDigital at AliExpress as others below have noted. I still like the original less expensive "Valhalla" types, but these are a cut above for sure, both in sound and build quality. IOW, well worth the modest extra cost.
No, I got the Valhalla 1.
I'm tri-amping (active crossover) and needed two sets of cable (the subs have their amp integrated in the enclosure so no need for Valhalla there); it was just too much money for me with the V2 (I'm pretty poor; have a great system bu it's pretty much DIY and chinese troughout, with the exception of the active crossover (USA),and the preamp (USA) all electronics are either chinese brands or made in china)
That being said, having two sets of V1 - considering each set sees only a reduced portion of the frequency spectrum - might just be good enough ;-)
No worries, the V1's are an excellent cable. I still use them in my second system and have no plans to replace them.
KanedaK - Could you provide the link for the cables you purchased?
Thanks.
Sure, here it is. There are other versions with different banana plugs or spades; but I chose this one because BFA plugs have less mass / less metal therefore should sound slightly better in theory ;-)
Thank you for responding.
What you're reporting is pretty much what I've heard with the Chinese Valhalla 2 cables and there will be an improvement as they settle-in and get some playing time on them. The only other speaker cables I currently have that are a cut above are the Acoustic Revive SPC-PA and at 11X the price one would hope they would be.
Congratulations on the purchase and enjoy!
Joe
After all of the last 14 years have been spent understanding a better means of voicing my system from a synergistic perspective | and taking the time needed to know how each and every component bought about as far as their sonic signatures.
In an effort to achieve neutrality above all else, as an overly warm signature simply bores me to death, and I tend to pursue a very very rare, yet capable fine line between refinement | detail, where a sense of flow and dynamics shadings within the end result is what moves me as far as becoming totally engaged in the music itself.
And while I'm certain others will ( as they should ) have their own views on this, in said time I've found that the vital points of cabling signatures ends or better yet are addressed in my case, on the IC's | USB Cable | AC Cords as used primarily from my DAC, as I see the Aurender and currently everSOLO DMP-A6 streamer | server ( Mac Mini before both ) as the place of which my files were placed, yet in reality they can't produce sound on their own, with the exception being the A-6 which has an onboard DAC, hence for the longest I've seen the DAC as the source, as the music is actually starting here, and traveling further downstream to one's amplification and speakers..., in addressing the balance on a whole, I've come to believe that nothing placed downstream is capable of restoring the shortcomings of say said dynamic shadings which proceed said DAC, and while I tend to pursue neutral sounding power cords | SCs, my heart tells me regardless of what others might preach, yet never took the time to actually listen to sterling Silver IC's | USB Cables, where listening outweighs BS!, said cables have responded beyond my comprehension of what's possible, if only others were more open-minded to seek said cables out.
And while I've owned excellent sounding pure copper, as well as tinned copper ( old school 50s | 60s ) designs, as mentioned earlier if one is seeking a more balanced | truer sense of dynamics | tonality?, the Supra SCs | USB cables from Denmark, are an extremely nice place to start, as for the best sounding pure copper USB cable I've heard to date ( having began in 2012, and after having owned over 31 different types at various prices up to $945 ) the Oyaide NEO+ D Class A, remains the only one regardless of price, which continues to bring an ear to ear smile upon my face every time it's installed into my system.
Once again, as in my time spent in the Linn | Naim camp, the " Source " is where everything begins, if in doubt, and you want to explore different for the sake of just that?, try to land a pair of the older or current Naim Audio NAC-A4 or NAC-A5 SCs, and while there are more refined SCs to be had, to my ears if one's is in need of say bass snap?, dynamics?, the all important WOW | FUN factors?, one could definitely do a lot worse.
el34, I have to say that you were correct about the Xangsane Sterling silver.I now use the following Xangsane/Grey Knight/Accuphase 40.XS-950s on source, occasionally mixing in a Grey Knight.XS-1001 75 ohm digital.Grey Knight on my AN M3 and Accuphase 40th on all power:to Puritan 156,Cary 805 AE/Blue Circle W300 and to my four subwoofers.
I have never had better sound and it is reminiscent of my time training in a studio.Effortless and Oh so musical.
I still keep a complete loom of the ODIN 2.Direct comparison revels differences, but both combos are very musical and show extraordinary insight into the music.
Elixir63,
Thanks for reassuring me I haven't lost my hearing | as they've been moments where I feel going against the grain brings naysayers out of the shadows, as they try to instill what's written as opposed to taking the time to listen to said items for themselves before passing judgement.
As someone whom came to cabling late as the result of being a Linnie | Naimie sort of owner from the mid 80s until 2001, having gone over to tube amplification, starting with Straight Wire - Tara Labs - Chord Company - AudioQuest - AlphaCore - Harmonic Technologies - Purist Audio Designs - Acoustic Zen - Siltech - Jena Labs, before having decided upon both the NearEAST clones, before having Dantheman having introduced me to the likes of said Xangsane cables, of which to my mind " are here to stay ", as I no longer wish to alter the overall voicing of my system for the sake of slight differences here | there.
Yet..., I'd like to ask you one thing, as you've constantly mentioned your fondness towards one or two of the Odin cables, could I then ask if you're referring to their IC's | PCs?, as I never got around to having played the Odin 2 IC's ( Silver or Gold ) before choosing to move onto the Xangsane sterling silver IC's, of which I've remained to date.
Do advise as to which Odin cables you're referring to?.
Thanks.
O_o scar
Oscar, i believe you also at some point purchased some Chinese Valhalla SC. Have you tried it?
I liked the Valhalla 1.Good sound staging (huge( and excellent extension-never bright.
Valhalla 2 (RMDigital store):this is where I stopped.Better dynamics with a more open top-end.Same huge soundstage with plenty of "air".
Replaced my Silversmith Fidelium (too warm IMS).
Hi Elixer63,
From your posts I gather you have the Valhalla 2 sc. I would be most grateful if you could help me in finding the link for the Valhalla 2 power cable from RMDigital. I can't seem to find it on aliexpress for some reason to save my life.
I'm also seeking feedback for the RMDigital Valhalla2 power cable. I understand it's real fast, open and airy. How about the top end? Is it real clean sounding? Anyone?
Thanks for your help. Really appreciate it.
Yes the Valhalla 2 from RMDigital look very impressive and I don't doubt it must be really good. BUT I'm poor and bi-amping means two pairs of cables, that's a lot of money (for me) with Valhalla 2! One day maybe
That being said, having two pairs of Valhalla 1 might be "technically" equivalent to one pair of Valhalla 2, to some extent...
Delivery of my V1 got a bit delayed but it is almost here now, I can't wait to try it, altho I'm sure it won't sound very good right out of the box and will require plenty of running time (my chinese Odin SC sounded dreadful during break-in..)
Francois,
I've owned both versions of the Chinese Valhalla SCs | as mentioned by elixir63, said original and Valhalla 2s, as I've preferred what I've heard with silver plated copper cables as far back as 2013 versus pure copper ones.
Yet sold all of the NearEAST IC's | USB | ACs | SCs in favor of the Xangsane or Grey Knight versions which to my ears | as used on various integrated amps and speakers, offered a rounder, more relaxed textural type of presentation, which in hindsight comes across as even more balanced, and while I've pure copper SCs from In-Akustik | Gotham Audio | Witch Hat Audio placed into a large box within our bedroom closet, my everyday SCs have become the Kudos Audio KS-1 silver plated copper ones from England. Whereas the only other pair of SCs which reside within our living room storage unit have become the ones shown here:
https://db.audioasylum.com/mhtml/m.html?forum=cables&n=184328&highlight=Xangsane+el34eh@yahoo.com&r=&search_url=%2Fcgi%2Fsearch.mpl%3Fsearchtext%3DXangsane%26b%3DAND%26topic%3D%26topics_only%3DN%26author%3Del34eh%2540yahoo.com%26date1%3D%26date2%3D%26slowmessage%3D%26sort%3Ddate%26sortOrder%3DDESC%26forum%3Dcables
These offer a very very very delicate | yet responsive signature with the correctly placed emphasis on beauty | top end detailing and an even greater sense of P.R.A.T. | attack of notes of which I favor once again about all else, especially overly smooth or on the opposite end, where the sound itself is way to Hi-Fi sounding to my ears as opposed to merely offering a wonderful, yet simply means of portraying the musical notes where they simply come across as rendered in a manner as if their life depended upon it.
I believe once again addressing the needs of your horn speaker based system, which I've to assume relieves upon nimbleness | dynamic flow | higher sensitivity load wise, copper itself would in fact slow things down versus pure silver or said silver plated copper SCs, which ideally would both fit better, due to their inherited sense of speed | attack | snapping bass lines.
Well, I doubt I'll ever receive the cables :-/ bought them from one of the good stores on AliE, with a "guaranteed 12 days delivery". Tracking hasn't moved in ten days now and tracking outside of AliE platform shows no results at all.
It's the first time I have this issue; I bought almost 100 audio accessories on Ali with that same 12 days delivery and it always came very fast (sometimes in just 8 days, from China to Belgium!) but this time, I'm afraid I can forget about it. I just hope they will refund me - they don't seem to be very worried by the absence of tracking informations and try to minimize the issue, but I KNOW there's something very wrong.
Have bought from that store before with no issues whatsoever so, they might not be responsible... we will see...
Have you seen this wire?
I have some here and like it at least as well as the Western Electric and Duelund tinned copper wire I also have here. The machine twist is nice and it comes in both 16awg and 12awg - good stuff and good people to deal with.
Joe,
Is that the Xangsane XS-950 ?
I preferred these on "source" components.Especially,digital transport/dac set-up.
Dependent on dac,either the sterling silver or silver-plated (950/Grey Knight 6008 or ODIN 2).
No, that came from the HIFI Audio Product Store and is described as "New 5N OCC single crystal US & EU AC Audiophile audio amplifier DAC filter HIFI silver Power cable rhodium plating plug" and has already gone up in price. I paid $36 for a 1.5M length which now costs $45. It may have been on sale when I got it or perhaps it was introductory pricing. In either case it's still quite inexpensive.
I have since moved it to my modem/router that doesn't seem all that sensitive to power cord changes in terms of "sound" and upload/download speeds.
The Accuphase 40th Anniversary is now on my integrated amp and the rest of the power cords are Odin 2 Silver. As you said it seems like a good match in terms of balancing out the brighter "silver" power cords. The tribraid cord sounded the most like a little less "sparkly" Odin 2 Silver. The 17AWG Odin Gold power cord that I have goes into and out of service and is the closest to the Accuphase in terms of a warmer presentation. I find the Odin Gold seems to work best on my DAC.
Joe
Joe, good 411. Where did you find the Odin Gold Coax? I have Odin 2 silver but think it's a bit on the bright side. I replaced my Odin 2 XLR and speaker cable with Gold, but have been searching for Gold coax for over a year
Unfortunately I had to move on from the Gold interconnects. I got a new preamp and the cables caused a hum but I'm still sticking with the Gold speaker cables
The Odin Gold cable that I was referring to that seems to work well on my DAC is the Odin Gold power cord. Like you, I've never found an Odin Gold coax cable just the speaker cable and the power cord.
Joe
Same discovery here. Odin Gold PC on my Denafrips Ares is the ticket :)
Then an Odin Gold XLR from DAC to pre-amp completes the package.
I should mention that the Valhalla is less extended in the upper octaves.The Valhalla 2 is extended and very pure through the upper reaches.
This can help a bit in system matching."1",if bright/forward and "2" if neutral or laid-back.
I'm looking forward to your findings.
There seem to be more than one Chinese Valhalla speaker cables available on AliExpress. I ordered a pair and think they're quite good from the RM Digital Store. At the time a 2.5M pair were $250 but are now being offered at $230 and are advertised as Valhalla 2. They consist of 14 (7 positive/7 negative) per channel silver plated copper strands.
Are these what you've ordered or something else?
Thanks,
Joe
The Valhalla 2 from RMDigital is a spectacular cable.Had the same problem with the Fidelium.A little too warm.
Friedrich Gould/As You Like It.1st track:as he decends down the keyboard,was loosing attack and weight.Switched to the V2 and whalla.These make a great combo with the Xangsane XS-9003Ag ICs,digital coax (75 ohm) and either the same company' XS-950 (for source) or Grey Knight PCs.
Still prefer the Accuphase 40th Anniversary on subs/power amp requirements.
Usually the silver-plated or sterling silver sound best, especially using the all copper 40th on power.
Best of luck.
I have the 40th Anniversary Accuphase and will give it a try on my integrated. Currently I'm using a silver-plated tribraid which sounds okay but not particularly anything special.
Joe
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