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Fake Nordost Odin interconnects from China

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Posted on December 29, 2019 at 00:01:35
KanedaK
Audiophile

Posts: 2519
Location: Brussels
Joined: April 27, 2010
 I keep stumbling across those ads as I'm browsing through audio accessories on AliExpress

loads of fake Nordost cables
some cheap and looking really naff; some others being the price of genuine VanDenHul and seem to be the result of correct reverse engineering (around 200$ for around 30" length)

Just for fun, looking for reviews you can find a few forums where some guys have tried it, and you can find a couple guys saying they gave up on their genuine "expensive" cable after they tried the fake Odin.

They also sell the separate conductors by the meter for DIY stuff if you're so inclined, and you can really see the particular construction, with the central silver-plated conductor and the tiny "shield" spiraling around it. If that same conductor is used to make the fake interconnect, I'd be very curious to hear the results.

Now I know, it is not "right" to buy fake stuff. I've already bought a couple (very good, "high end replicas") fake watches that look stunning - when people ask me "is it real", I always tell the truth, because I just enjoy them for what they are, I'm not trying to pass them for the real deal - which would be very easy. As for this cable, if I was to buy it, I couldn't care less if the name was "Porndust Boudin", I'm just curious about the sound. The fact they are a copy of the most expensive interconnect in the world is secondary - and totally irrelevant if I consider I will never, ever be able to listen to, let alone own the real Odin interconnect in this life.

I also consider myself a thoroughly decent individual, respecting others, working hard for a lowish income, paying his taxes, and moving around in public transports; if my "dark side" has to be slightly supporting the Chinese fakes market, then so be it.

And finally, one could argue that when a company asks 21000$ for an interconnect cable, that company has to expect copies will flourish, and for the 999/1000 audiophiles who will never be able to buy the real thing, it might be tempting to try what a cheap, reversed engineered version can do - and no matter how decent-to-very-good the copies might be (maybe?), of course the real thing will always be much better - but it is so damn expensive most of us will never know.

Okay so this was a rather long disclaimer for something I might not even buy - I'm rather interested in reading if some of you guys have indulged in that guilty pleasure and what were the results? I'm sure some of us did. For the price, shame or no shame, it's hard not to be tempted...


 

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RE: Fake Nordost Odin interconnects from China, posted on December 29, 2019 at 07:02:46
Dynobot
 I remember one time I purchased some fake AQ King Cobra cables from China...they actually sounded pretty good. Because they were cheap I dissected them and sure enough solid core wire, and the whole construction was just like AQ. Made me wonder if these were b-stock or cables stolen from the AQ factory in China or something.

 

RE: Fake Nordost Odin interconnects from China, posted on December 29, 2019 at 10:27:57
Audiogabby
Audiophile

Posts: 378
Joined: June 5, 2000
 I've been in this hobby for over 30 yrs now. During that time I've used more than a dozen high end brands with great reviews. Three years ago while looking on ePay i noticed a pair of Argento Flow Master Reference at a very low price and decided to give it a try. I knew they were clones based on the price alone. Upon receipt of the cables I was stunned at the built quality to the point that i decided to email Argento to check their serial numbers. Yes, they even had serial numbers. Argento never responded to my email. I connected the cables to my system and to my surprise they sounded very good. That's when things started to get interesting. Upon break in the cable kept impressing me and I decided to put it against my then reference cable. To make a long story short the Argento clone came on top. Very extended at the frequency extreme and also spot on midrange. I change components frequently but the Argento clone remains in my system three years later.

 

They may be real , posted on December 29, 2019 at 10:33:22
Wojciech
Audiophile

Posts: 4124
Joined: June 23, 2009
 I think most of the Nordost line is just confection of existing products

 

As a Cable Cooker owner, I come across various knock-offs, posted on December 29, 2019 at 13:57:48
Luminator
Audiophile

Posts: 7336
Location: Bay Area
Joined: December 11, 2000
 People continuously ship me their wares, for me to treat on an audiodharma Cable Cooker. These include products known to be fakes. I've received several fake Kimber, Tara Labs, and XLO interconnects; Nordost and Shunyata powercords; and even AQ, Cardas, and Kimber speaker cables. With many of these, the cabling portion can look very close to a genuine sample. But often, the connectors give the fakes away.

Nevertheless, these knock-offs have all been functional, so, Cooked or not, they can be used. That said, I personally did not like the mediocre sonics of the fake Tara Labs Vector interconnects, and fake XLO Signature 3 digital coax.

 

RE: As a Cable Cooker owner, I come across various knock-offs, posted on December 29, 2019 at 14:22:39
KanedaK
Audiophile

Posts: 2519
Location: Brussels
Joined: April 27, 2010
 All this is very interesting; I feel more and more tempted...
my system has become more and more resolving and it makes me wanna experiment more stuff (even tho I love my VanDenHul).

 

Might as well salvage them, posted on December 29, 2019 at 14:32:08
Luminator
Audiophile

Posts: 7336
Location: Bay Area
Joined: December 11, 2000
 Dang, I wish I had taken photos of the knock-offs. But anyway, most of the time, the respective owners knew ahead of time, that they were holding fakes. So they just shrugged, and sent those fakes to me. Might as well Cook the fakes, get the most out of them.

OTOH, on rare occasion, an audiophile was wondering why a certain cable just didn't sound right/good. So when he sent me the sample, I would communicate with my audiophile circle, and see if anyone had that product. In that way, we determined that a "Kimber KCAG" was a fake. The gauge and braiding of the internal conductors were off. But the giveaway was that the "WBT" RCAs were not the same sizes, models, or serial numbers as genuine parts.

You know what though? Some of the fakes do, in terms of sonics, outperform genuine entry-level products from the likes of, for example, Monster Cable.

 

RE: Might as well salvage them, posted on December 29, 2019 at 14:52:18
KanedaK
Audiophile

Posts: 2519
Location: Brussels
Joined: April 27, 2010
 Anything outperforms Monster Cable, they are the worst around.

I'd be thoroughly interested if a fake Odin beats a genuine VanDenHul integration, for example.
From what I'm reading here and there, it is a possibility (I suppose the specific geometry of the cable has a lot to do with perceived sound quality).

 

RE: Fake Nordost Odin interconnects from China, posted on December 30, 2019 at 05:05:37
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002
 A "high end replica" fake watch that looks stunning is a different animal than an audio cable, since a cable is not about looks, and its function is not like a fake watch that might keep good time like a cheap watch can do.

So keep in mind it might feel like you are getting near the "high-end" if you buy a fake cable, but it simply won't sound like the real thing, and a better sounding authentic make/model cable with a less prestigious pedigree for the same price of the fake product is more than likely, it's almost assured.

 

RE: Fake Nordost Odin interconnects from China, posted on December 30, 2019 at 10:24:01
Mike B.
Audiophile

Posts: 26354
Location: OR
Joined: September 27, 1999
Contributor
  Since: September 1, 1999
 I believe Nordost manufactures it's cables in house. But a number of others have their bare cables made to their specs overseas. They get it in huge rolls and cut and terminate them. I suppose some even have the termination done overseas as well.
I am guessing some of that wire might not meet specs or be excess production. It then might be used for the fakes. So, it is questionable if they will be decent or not. It's a gamble most of us won't take.



 

RE: Fake Nordost Odin interconnects from China, posted on December 30, 2019 at 14:35:14
KanedaK
Audiophile

Posts: 2519
Location: Brussels
Joined: April 27, 2010
 Of course, yet the particularity of Nordost cables is that you SEE the conductors and how they are built.
I'm not one second supposing that the fake Odin cable might sound as good as the real cable; but I can see on the pictures that the global construction is the same and conductors look extremely similar (which isn't the case with most other fake cables on which all you see is the outer jacket).
Assuming they use reasonable quality materials (which I believe is very likely), combined with the singular Nordost arrangement, it may be interesting. We all know (you especially) that the geometry of a cable plays as big a role as 99,99999purity OFC copper, at least for some aspects of the transmission.
Equal, not even in dreams; good for the price? we can't completely dismiss that possibility IMHO...
At 130 (or even 50)$ for a 50cm length I probably will try my luck someday.

 

RE: Fake Nordost Odin interconnects from China, posted on December 30, 2019 at 14:40:24
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002
 Can you post a link to the product, KanedaK? I'd like to ponder it, then post my 2 euro cents worth.

 

RE: Fake Nordost Odin interconnects from China, posted on December 30, 2019 at 14:50:54
KanedaK
Audiophile

Posts: 2519
Location: Brussels
Joined: April 27, 2010
 Let's not forget that I use a 250$ Chinese DAC (SMSL SU-8), a 49$(!) Chinese active crossover that sounds fantastic, and a couple pocket-sized Chinese class D amps in my main, all horn-loaded system, and they all represent the absolute best bang for the buck in that particular context, used within their limitations; so I'm biased to believe there are gems hiding in the dark waters. (and I've come to all this after using regular, approved brands for the last twenty years). Yet my VDH cables cost more than those electronics - only the CD drive and preamplifier have pedigree.
Of course, one could argue that the goal here is to sell a fake product, a gimmick, and sound quality may have been completely forgotten; but maybe we can consider that if they manage to make a 250$ DAC that sounds way above its class, then it would be very easy for them to make a 200$ cable that sounds glorious. If, and that is the question here, they actually cared about that aspect.

 

RE: Fake Nordost Odin interconnects from China, posted on December 30, 2019 at 14:57:52
KanedaK
Audiophile

Posts: 2519
Location: Brussels
Joined: April 27, 2010
 I'm a little bit wary of posting a link to a fake product in here. I feel uncomfortable enough WRITING about it, but posting a link to the actual product... I will send it to you by PM :)

 

RE: Fake Nordost Odin interconnects from China, posted on December 30, 2019 at 15:03:33
Wojciech
Audiophile

Posts: 4124
Joined: June 23, 2009
 Why manufacture when ready to go source is available? They may manufacture only the flagship

 

RE: Fake Nordost Odin interconnects from China, posted on December 30, 2019 at 15:07:12
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002
 I've rarely been impressed with a Chinese cable nor connector except from a low-budget perspective. There are legitimate Taiwanese companies and only a couple of Chinese companies that produce credible sounding cables/connectors. None of them resort to offering counterfeit cables posing as the real thing. I think it does a disservice to audiophilia to purchase a blatant rip-off. High-value, moderate-cost Chinese DACs and PSUs based on various well-known circuits are not fakes, and can be appreciated for what they are. I own and enjoy several Chinese DACs and PSUs within a number of audio systems.

 

RE: Fake Nordost Odin interconnects from China, posted on December 30, 2019 at 15:31:48
KanedaK
Audiophile

Posts: 2519
Location: Brussels
Joined: April 27, 2010
 I respect your knowledge in the matter and if I ever buy one of those it will be more out of curiosity than real expectations - and if it sucks, I'll remember your words ;)

 

RE: Fake Nordost Odin interconnects from China, posted on December 30, 2019 at 23:57:14
KanedaK
Audiophile

Posts: 2519
Location: Brussels
Joined: April 27, 2010
 (I've sent you an email with some links)

 

RE: Fake Nordost Odin interconnects from China, posted on January 1, 2020 at 10:07:33
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002
 I did not receive your email message, KanedaK...

 

RE: Fake Nordost Odin interconnects from China, posted on January 12, 2020 at 05:15:20
Not Yet There
Audiophile

Posts: 538
Joined: April 8, 2006
 I highly doubt that they are reverse engineered but merely a cosmetic knockoff.

 

RE: Fake Nordost Odin interconnects from China, posted on January 12, 2020 at 14:46:24
KanedaK
Audiophile

Posts: 2519
Location: Brussels
Joined: April 27, 2010
 You never know.
Their copies of known amplifier copy the circuit and topology; they also copy the movements of Rolex watches, not just the externals. It all depends how much you're ready to pay; the more you pay, the closer it is to the real deal. (not talking quality here of course, but you get my point).

 

RE: Fake Nordost Odin interconnects from China, posted on November 12, 2020 at 05:06:05
shawnwes
Audiophile

Posts: 7
Location: The Great White North
Joined: March 10, 2018
 I have heard these interconnects in a decent system and can say they were a large improvement over the $400 well known cables they were swapped out for. Whether they're as good or the same as an authentic pair I can't say as I'll probably never get to hear a pair but they were impressive.

 

RE: Fake Nordost Odin interconnects from China, posted on November 30, 2020 at 04:26:37
Finnegan
Audiophile

Posts: 64
Location: EU
Joined: January 2, 2005
 I purchased some of the fake Nordost hookup wire some time ago.

The wire inside was silver plated all right, but the surface was not smooth. The thin filament wire was not full teflon but a simple copper wire with plastic insulation. The transparent coating was not Teflon either and was actually touching the silver plated wire between the filament here and there.

 

They sound excellent, posted on November 30, 2020 at 08:18:46
AudioDwebe
Audiophile

Posts: 1910
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: November 12, 2001
 Not just "for the money" excellent, but excellent.

I replaced an authentic Quattro Fil with a pair and the QF never went back into that spot.

I'm sure some seller's products aren't as good as others since there seem to be many multiple sellers of the same fakes. So maybe I just got lucky.

Fake AQ Redwood biwired...also excellent.

And the Chinese companies didn't take away my business from either company because in no lifetime wiuld I spend 14k or 20k for ICs or speaker cables.






"Man, that mouse is Awesome." - Kaemon (referring to Jerry, of Tom and Jerry fame)

 

RE: They sound excellent, posted on December 4, 2020 at 23:52:39
KanedaK
Audiophile

Posts: 2519
Location: Brussels
Joined: April 27, 2010
 That's interesting... and the answer I was hoping for, of course.
do you still have the link to the product you bought?

 

Do you mean from which seller?, posted on December 6, 2020 at 15:57:48
AudioDwebe
Audiophile

Posts: 1910
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: November 12, 2001
 If so, I can look that up as it still shows purchased items and the venders I bought from.




"Man, that mouse is Awesome." - Kaemon (referring to Jerry, of Tom and Jerry fame)

 

RE: Do you mean from which seller?, posted on December 6, 2020 at 23:51:30
KanedaK
Audiophile

Posts: 2519
Location: Brussels
Joined: April 27, 2010
 I would like, if possible, at least a picture of the product.
There are many different fake Odins on Aliexpress, I'm sure yours is one of those, I'd like to know which one ;-)

 

RE: Do you mean from which seller?, posted on December 7, 2020 at 12:48:28
AudioDwebe
Audiophile

Posts: 1910
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: November 12, 2001







"Man, that mouse is Awesome." - Kaemon (referring to Jerry, of Tom and Jerry fame)

 

RE: Do you mean from which seller?, posted on December 9, 2020 at 06:59:19
KanedaK
Audiophile

Posts: 2519
Location: Brussels
Joined: April 27, 2010
 Thanks a lot! I think I can locate the same one :)
how much did you pay? something like 130$?

 

RE: Do you mean from which seller?, posted on December 9, 2020 at 17:15:38
AudioDwebe
Audiophile

Posts: 1910
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: November 12, 2001
 Mine were about $220 from audio connector store.
"Man, that mouse is Awesome." - Kaemon (referring to Jerry, of Tom and Jerry fame)

 

RE: Do you mean from which seller?, posted on December 9, 2020 at 22:04:54
KanedaK
Audiophile

Posts: 2519
Location: Brussels
Joined: April 27, 2010
 Thanks a lot.
I think I know which ones you bought; they are sold on AliExpress and are the most expensive fake Odin available there. Prices vary between 200 and 400 depending on length. I guess the main difference between that one and the cheaper versions is the quality of the plugs.

I will certainly buy some in the future; I was on the edge, but you convinced me!

 

RE: Do you mean from which seller?, posted on December 12, 2020 at 23:01:38
KanedaK
Audiophile

Posts: 2519
Location: Brussels
Joined: April 27, 2010
 OK so my friend and I have decided to buy a pair, RCA terminated, from the same AudioConnector store; we are eager to try them.

 

RE: They sound excellent, posted on December 16, 2020 at 21:21:14
KanedaK
Audiophile

Posts: 2519
Location: Brussels
Joined: April 27, 2010
 So, yesterday, my only audiophile friend (in real life) came to my place and we bought a pair of the RCA interconnects, the most expensive of the fake Odins sold on AudioConnector store.
My friend will be the one using it but, of course, I will try it in my system - and if it's great, I'll buy some!
I can't wait to test it!

 

RE: Fake Nordost Odin interconnects from China, posted on January 9, 2021 at 23:04:51
KanedaK
Audiophile

Posts: 2519
Location: Brussels
Joined: April 27, 2010
 Okay so, the fake Odin 2 arrived more than a week ago and my friend came two days ago to my place so that I could listen to it extensively in my system (between DAC and preamp). We then went to his place and I could listen to it in his system, between CD player and integrated amp.

Again, I never heard the genuine Odin cable, and I never will - at least, not in my system. And if you have the financial means to afford the genuine cable, by all means, buy it. It most likely is superior in every way.
Let's see the fake Odin as just another Chinese product, let's try to forget it is the copy of a 20K interconnect.

With that out of the way, let me tell you: that cable sounds GREAT. Clarity and openness are way ahead of what I'm used to with my VanDenHul Integration cables. Transparency is very, very good.
It does sound "colder" (way colder) than my VDH cables but the latter are not famous for being neutral, they are a rather nicely colored cable. I would say the Chinese Odin is closer to neutrality.
It seems a bit insistent in the treble - but again, it could very well be my SMSL SU-8 DAC! it's far from high-end.

 

RE: Fake Nordost Odin interconnects from China, posted on January 10, 2021 at 22:26:11
KanedaK
Audiophile

Posts: 2519
Location: Brussels
Joined: April 27, 2010
 Okay so, the fake Odin 2 arrived more than a week ago and my friend came two days ago to my place so that I could listen to it extensively in my system (between DAC and preamp). We then went to his place and I could listen to it in his system, between CD player and integrated amp.

Again, I never heard the genuine Odin cable, and I never will - at least, not in my system. And if you have the financial means to afford the genuine cable, by all means, buy it. It most likely is superior in every way.
Let's see the fake Odin as just another Chinese product, let's try to forget it is the copy of a 20K interconnect.

With that out of the way, let me tell you: that cable sounds GREAT. Clarity and openness are way ahead of what I'm used to with my VanDenHul Integration cables. Transparency is very, very good.
It does sound "colder" (way colder) than my VDH cables but the latter are not famous for being neutral, they are a rather nicely colored cable. I would say the Chinese Odin is closer to neutrality.
It seems a bit insistent in the treble - but again, it could very well be my SMSL SU-8 DAC! it's far from high-end.

 

I'm glad the cables are sounding great!, posted on January 15, 2021 at 23:09:37
AudioDwebe
Audiophile

Posts: 1910
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: November 12, 2001
 Would be great if it could be compared to an authentic cable. My guess is they'd sound sound pretty close, if not the same.
"Man, that mouse is Awesome." - Kaemon (referring to Jerry, of Tom and Jerry fame)

 

RE: Fake Nordost Odin interconnects from China, posted on February 27, 2021 at 20:08:50
niakapa
Audiophile

Posts: 22
Location: NJ
Joined: December 22, 2020
 Any updates on the fake Odins?

Also I was wondering how the power cords are. Wondering how they sound.

 

RE: Do you mean from which seller?, posted on February 28, 2021 at 10:58:19
Snafu
Audiophile

Posts: 106
Joined: March 9, 2002
 is there anything inside that wooden piece ?

 

RE: Fake Nordost Odin interconnects from China, posted on February 28, 2021 at 23:27:41
KanedaK
Audiophile

Posts: 2519
Location: Brussels
Joined: April 27, 2010
 Oh yeah I've bought a handful of interconnects, all very good, my VanDenHul are resting in a drawer now; I also bought a 75Ohms digital cable, don't have much to compare it with but it sounds better than my Canare; I'm now about to buy the speaker cable.
The problem is that there are two or three different assemblers (the cable itself seems to be the same, but the way they put it together varies) and one has to be careful comparing and should refrain to buy the cheapest of them all. Well, I bought the cheapest interconnect once, as a mistake, the finish is a bit less good and there are 6 cores instead of 8, but it does sound almost as good as the more expensive and the most expensive (does that make sense?)
They now make a full silver version (instead of silver plated) but I have no experience with that one.
I can't comment on the power cords.

 

RE: Fake Nordost Odin interconnects from China, posted on March 17, 2021 at 14:20:16
Jsawyer09
Audiophile

Posts: 554
Location: Midwest
Joined: January 2, 2008
 I just saw this thread and thought I'd comment based on a relatively recent experience.
So a friend of mine, who happens to have a very nice system that's worth around a little over twice what mine is (though very different), purchased a couple of the Odin 1 power cords from AliExpress some time back just to see how they performed. He's had them on his monoblocks, in a second system on preamp and amp or a combination of one of those and a PS Audio P20. He had claimed that they sounded good from the get-go no matter which configuration he placed them in. Over time, he claimed they had further improved, but not a lot.
I had listened to them in his system on a couple of occasions and had nothing to compare them to, but thought, 'sure, they sound nice, but your system always sounds nice'. Anyway, he let me take one home and try it out because I was curious if they'd make a difference on my PS Audio Stellar P3. I had it powering the regenerator for a couple of weeks, which in turn powers all of my front-end and digital gear. Again, I'll never know how they perform versus the legitimate Odins, so my two-cents really doesn't mean much, nor is it likely relevant. However, that said, it sounded quite nice as cables go. Against the PerfectWave AC-12 that typically powers my system via the P3, it wasn't embarrassed in the least. I'm admittedly not as adept at discerning improvements between mid- or even upper-tier cables like many here; I am more in the camp that cables enable differences more than one truly being better than another. Synergy and balance are key.
So what it's worth, and ethics aside, the Odin power cables seemed to go toe-to-toe with several nice/expensive cables in their own right between the three systems.

Forgot to mention: the ones AliExpress sent were terminated on the plugs end with EU Furutechs, not US. They sent him two sets of the US plugs to reterminate with, but he never got around to it, nor do I think he was too excited in doing it (in the event they were genuine ;). So he tested them to ensure they were safe for US voltage and simply fitted Lencent US power adapters. Even with those, they sounded good to me.

 

RE: Fake Nordost Odin interconnects from China, posted on March 17, 2021 at 15:40:44
Jsawyer09
Audiophile

Posts: 554
Location: Midwest
Joined: January 2, 2008



As a quick follow-up with images...I went down the HWY quickly to ask if I could snap a few shots. Unfortunately, AA is only letting me post one image at a time.

 

RE: Fake Nordost Odin interconnects from China, posted on March 17, 2021 at 15:42:05
Jsawyer09
Audiophile

Posts: 554
Location: Midwest
Joined: January 2, 2008



Another...

 

RE: Fake Nordost Odin interconnects from China, posted on March 17, 2021 at 15:42:47
Jsawyer09
Audiophile

Posts: 554
Location: Midwest
Joined: January 2, 2008



Last one...

 

RE: Fake Nordost Odin interconnects from China, posted on March 19, 2021 at 00:25:11
KanedaK
Audiophile

Posts: 2519
Location: Brussels
Joined: April 27, 2010
 I've purchased most of the collection: interconnects, speaker cable, even digital coaxial 75Ohms (a steal at a mere 20$, completely ridiculising my previous Canare ^^) but haven't tried the power cables.

However, there is an ultra cheap (28$ more or less for a 1,5m cable with EU plugs) that is fake branded "Accuphase" but is actually not a copy of an existing Accuphase cable, just fake branding. Well, that thing is heavy as a truck, finished like a Bentley, and performs stupendously good... incredible.

I'm sure some are reading this and thinking "how wrong!" but honestly, I'm a waiter with a low income, my system is mainly DIY, and those cables are a benediction as they clearly outperform anything I was able to afford. So, sorry not sorry!

 

RE: Fake Nordost Odin interconnects from China, posted on March 19, 2021 at 06:13:53
Jsawyer09
Audiophile

Posts: 554
Location: Midwest
Joined: January 2, 2008
 Yeah, you will read about the moral and ethical deliberations and outright arguments online everywhere about purchasing fake Chinese knock-offs. That's fine. Everyone has their opinions and crosses to bear. While I think it's 'wrong', I suppose, to contribute to the theft of IP and theft of the obvious kind (whether backdoor off-hours or through faking, which I have a difficult time believing fakes are really this good across the brand spectrum to which this is being done), I am somewhat in the camp, logically, that anyone buying a $58,000 cable isn't going to buy a fake, much less even consider it. Nordost isn't going to lose business over this.
Now, if they're genuine and being stolen and sold off for cheap, then there's an issue. The problem is who knows? I have yet to read about one person cutting a real and fake Odin open or even comparing the two. It just isn't going to happen, so we'll likely never know the truth of the matter. This is just for this brand example. I won't be lured into a debate about it, either. I'm not condoning anything here. I'm just pointing out what one can read about; from there one can act on or not act on curiosity. I, personally, don't judge, and I don't really care for the most part. In my friend's case, it is an interesting experiment; one that proved out to be a cable with an extremely overwhelming standard of fit-and-finish, with a high degree of sound quality for ~$250. Oh, and it is heavy as well.
I understand your conundrum. If you already have the others, then the PCs should be a natural next try-out. You won't believe their craftsmanship.

 

RE: Do you mean from which seller?, posted on March 21, 2021 at 10:17:18
AudioDwebe
Audiophile

Posts: 1910
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: November 12, 2001
 Just saw this question. Sorry for the late reaponse.

No, it's just decorative.


"Man, that mouse is Awesome." - Kaemon (referring to Jerry, of Tom and Jerry fame)

 

RE: Fake Nordost Odin interconnects from China, posted on August 22, 2021 at 18:32:57
scsim
Audiophile

Posts: 1
Joined: August 22, 2021



I have bought a pair of nordost odin2 speaker cables from lazada. Didn't quite like the sound and converted them to interconnects using neutrik connectors instead. I do have a pair of geinune red dawn thats at the bottom range of Nordost.

Below is my setup:

Shanling DAC50
Krell KAV-300IL
Dynaudio Emit M20 Speakers
VDH MCD-352 speaker cables
Nordost red dawn XLR
Fake Odin XLR


Below is one of my favourite music and I bought the digital copy from their website.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ptk_1Dc2iPY&ab_channel=BrooklynDuo

using this as a test, I did a mini comparison between the 2 cables. Below are the likes and dislikes:

The fake odin interconnects do reveal alot more details. Striking of the piano keys are more obvious and the reverberation too. For the Cello, I could almost hear the strings of the bow sliding against the steel wire on the Cello. Treble has been greatly improved.

One main thing I don't like about the cables is that the sound is a little thin and somewhat cold. It becomes more analytical now. I read from the review below that the original odn cables have this problem. Hence, I think pairing is important.

https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/nordost-odin-2-interconnect-and-speaker-cable-supreme-reference-range

 

RE: Fake Nordost Odin interconnects from China, posted on August 23, 2021 at 00:45:56
KanedaK
Audiophile

Posts: 2519
Location: Brussels
Joined: April 27, 2010
 Interesting. As always, synergy is key.
The interconnects I use I find rather very well balanced and showing very much what the electronics are capable of; in other words, if it lacks warmth (in my system) I have a tendency, ever since I own a full " Chinese Odin" loom, to blame it on anything but the cables.
I also find the speaker cables to be pretty darn excellent, clear and smooth, with a lucid but sweet treble - but they took a few weeks to break in and they did go through a pretty nasty, rough and aggressive phase during that process (I was on the verge of getting rid of them, I'm glad I didn't!)

Same goes for the power cords, excellent but you gotta give them time, they sound rather dark and bloated during break-in.

 

RE: Fake Nordost Odin interconnects from China, posted on August 28, 2021 at 02:34:39
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15524
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Great pics!
China operates a pretty good Grey (Gray) market for high end cables/cords.

 

RE: Fake Nordost Odin interconnects from China, posted on January 11, 2024 at 19:46:28
Negatron
Audiophile

Posts: 10
Location: San Miguel de Allende
Joined: December 14, 2013
 What Chinese active crossover do you use? Can you link to where you got it, please?

 

RE: Fake Nordost Odin interconnects from China, posted on January 16, 2024 at 22:15:07
Elixir63
Audiophile

Posts: 99
Location: North Coast
Joined: April 19, 2021
 I have a "loom" of the ODIN2 and also the Xangsane XS-9003Ag cables.I found that I preferred the Valhalla2 SC with either set.The "Accuphase 40th Anniversary replaced the PCs on all amplification/subwoofers-a nice touch.Even feeding the Puritan 156.
It appears that the XS-950 PC (sterling silver) was discontinued.Found several that were visually similar, but did not say sterling silver (just silver plated).These were extremely open and had a very large soundstage (transport/dac).Still liked the Grey Knight on the preamp/linestage.
Hope this has helped those considering venturing out into these waters.

 

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