NORDOST Odin 2

MJ23.06.2025

Interconnects

I was lucky to have the original Odin 1 in my own system (and other two reference systems) for two weeks several years ago, and it was a fantastic interconnect. Still, I didn't feel the urge to replace my Ansuz Signalz C2 with it, although I could live happily with either. 9 years ago (!) the new Odin 2 version was launched and perhaps Nordost may be launching Odin 3 soon, but it only happened recently that a loan of the Odin 2 could be finally organized. At Nordost’s asking prices, distributors are not keen on keeping stock. So, what makes the Odin 2 interconnects different from the Odin 1?

100% reference

Funkce a forma

97%

Ergonomie

97%

Zvuk

98%

Zpracování

Technically speaking, the Odin 2 builds on the previous version’s strengths and although it is not radically different, the design improvements are easily audible. The cable uses Nordost’s unique micro-monofilament technology that separates 2+8 silver-plated copper conductors, all solid core, from the outer Teflon tubes to mimic wires suspended in air. Each individual conductor is shielded by silver foil. While in the Odin 1 version the shields were floating and not connected on either side, in the Odin 2 version they become a part of the ground path at the connector. The each wire cross-section is said to be larger in the Odin 2 version. Apart from the shielding method, the main difference is in the connectors – while the first generation used WBTs, the second generation uses Holoplugs, Nordost’s own low-mass designs with gold-plated pins. The Holoplugs fit very tight and I had to pry them out gently when disconnecting the cables. I am wondering which of the changes have made the biggest impact on how the Odin 2 interconnects sound – my guess is that the new connectors.

I love the appearance of the Odin 2. The cables are easy to handle and bend, they are not heavy, they do not scratch surfaces they touch, and they look gorgeous. As you’ll read further, the Odin 2 were compared against some renowned competitors, out of which they appeared one of the lightest. It seems that there is no relationship between great sound and big mass, as far as ICs are concerned.

Nízké frekvence

Váha

Výbušnost

Artikulace

Despite it is ultra-expensive, the Odin series of Nordost is arguably the best-selling line of high-end audio cables worldwide; no doubt there are thousands of Odins circulating in audio communities. The problem is that a big part of the Odin branded cables sales originates from Chinese online marketplaces. I keep wondering how people can be so stupid to think that what they buy online for the price of a bottle of wine is genuine. But they are and contributors to audio forums claim no difference to the original. Yes, maybe judged by looking at a photo taken from 1m distance there is no difference. If you have ever got your hands on a real Odin, then you’ll recognize the counterfeit in a second just by looking at it. But how many of you have a real Odin available to compare? These practices basically destroy the used Nordost cables market, for no one can be sure what he is really buying. Personally, if I was shopping for Odin, I would only buy from where I can inspect it in person.

For fun, knowing that the real Odin 2 was coming in for the review, I ordered a pair of Odin 2 XLR interconnects from AliExpres. I paid around 100 euros, and the package arrived in ten days.

Out of its plastic bag it was clear that it was a counterfeit. Even from the pictures attached to this review you’ll be able to see the difference in e.g. how imprecisely the shielding foils are wrapped around the leads, not to mention connector imitations and blurred print on them, or wooden blocks (that Nordost claims are used to damp resonances) with misaligned metal badges. Listening to the counterfeit cables was not as bad as expected, and for the money paid the Chinese Odin 2 is actually quite a good buy and the cable is nice to look at. If I wired an audio system with counterfeits at anyaudio show, no one would probably notice a damn thing. However, when I swapped it for the genuine Odin 2 in my resident system, it took perhaps two seconds of music to hear the huge gap. I dismantled the copies and used the wires for a grounding scheme in my set-up.

Čistota rozlišení

Detail

Vzduch

Transparentnost

When I had the first-generation Odin in my system I preferred it over Valhalla 2 interconnects. I noted that “When I swapped the V2 for the Odin the latter was like a grey mouse, the sound lacked the glory of the V2. At least for the first five seconds before it was clear that the Odin is a different league. The Odin sounded very natural and very organic. Unlike the V2 it built the sound from bottom, from a solid bass fundament, it had richer and denser midrange, and clean – though a bit rolled off – highs. The imaginary window into the orchestra was rubbed up and every instrument became perfectly legible still allowing the sound to be very complete and cohesive. The massed strings felt like a real thing, the flute’s voice became caressing instead of overexposed, the harp got integrated. Despite the horns lacked the attractiveness of the V2’s presentation and were less incisive, they were definitely much more balanced and natural.” (full comparisons, including those vs Ansuz Signalz C2 and D2, can be found in the review).

With the Odin 2 I have the very same observation, only that it adds V2’s openness, tautness and precision on top of what it was already good at. I could pretty much finish the review by saying that the Nordost Odin 2 is the second best interconnect I have ever auditioned, a runner-up to Stage III Concepts A.S.P. Ckahron. However, to be more on objective side, I invited several competitors to a shoot-out with the Odin 2. Apart from the Ansuz C2 and the AudioQuest Dragon, which are/were a permanent part of my audio system, Stealth Audio Metacarbon and Stealth Audio Sakra V16, Krautwire Super Symetric, Synergistic Research SRX and AAI Estremo dared challenge the Odin 2.

Tonální věrnost

Témbr

Dynamika

Časování

If I cut through all the experiments and comparisons and make a verdict, for my ears the Nordost Odin 2 is the interconnect with the most complete sound, as well as the interconnect with the worst price to performance ratio. The Odin 2 sounds very organic and holistic, it is textured, detailed and rich, provides tight and full bass, beautifully open highs with no aggression, nice decays, and holographic imaging. Unlike most Nordost products, it is a totally emotionally involving interconnect, through which the music flows with ease, it does not force it to your ears. The bass inherits a bit of the previous generation voicing – it favours roundness and bloominess (not boominess) on top of its tightness. In practice, it means that it is not carved and dry, rather it has a sort of embracing quality that is more relaxing.

The competitors have each its own pros and cons. It is a proof, that even in the ultra-high-end category interconnects are not easily interchangeable and each system requires careful matching. Often it is because an analogue signal cable can do something exceptionally well and that’s what our ears lock to. Listen longer and there are trade-offs. That was basically the case with the Odin 2 vs the world. Checking my listening notes, there certainly were attributes in which the competitors outshined the Odin 2, at least in the reference systems we used them in: be it rightness of tone of the AAI, musicality of the Stealth, cleanliness of the AudioQuest, quietness of the Ansuz, well-managed bass of the Synergistic Research, and pleasing balance of the Krautwire that offered Odin’s holistic completeness at 12x lower price. But each also had trade-offs and there the Odin 2 came out as a winner.

Prostorovost

Trojrozměrnost

Šířka scény

Hloubka scény

I am impressed by the performance of the Nordost Odin 2. I am impressed even more if I consider that there are no 9N silver wires, vacuumed dielectrics, nano-crystals, carbon and graphene fibres, resonators, and other paraphernalia that seems to be mandatory if a manufacturer should be taken seriously in today’s high-end audio. In fact, the Odin 2 is an old-school design with several refinements that make it so good. Unfortunately, Nordost is one of the companies whose pricing policy employs Veblen effect rather than a calculator. Although I can afford the Odin 2 and although it is really a superb cable, I am not going to pay this amount for an interconnect. The same money invested elsewhere in the system and/or the room can do much more for sound. However, if you feel you must have the Odin 2, then go for it, it is an exquisite performer.

Cena v době recenze:700 000,- Kč

Doporučení prodejci

Perfect Sound Group, Praha, tel. +420 722 960 690

Web výrobce: http://www.nordost.com

Připojené komponenty

Sources: Accuphase DP-720, Ayon CD-35 HF Edition
Amplifiers: TAD-M2500, Audia Flight Strumento No.8
Interconnects and speaker cables: Krautwire Numeric Digital, AudioQuest Dragon Zero | Bass, Ansuz C2, Ansuz D2, AudioQuest Dragon, Stealth Audio Metacarbon, Stealth Audio Sakra, Krautwire Super Symetric, AAI Estremo, Synergistic Research SRX, Stage III Concepts A.S.P. Ckahron
Loudspeakers: TAD Revolution One, Silent Laboratories Melodee
Power conditioning: Shunyata Research Denali, Stromtank S-1000, Ansuz Mainz C2, AAI Maestoso, AAI Assoluto, AAI Estremo, Stage III Concepts Kraken, Synergistic Research Atmosphere Level 2 and SRX XL, Nordost Qv2, QWave a QSine, Diamond Sound E2 grounding, GMG Power X-Blocker Exclusive, IsoTek Syncro V5 Uni, AAI power distribution block, Synergistic Research Galileo PowerCell SX and Active Ground Block SX

Galerie

91%

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