NORDOST QSINE a QWAVE

MJ01.03.2025

Power conditioners

Plug-in power modules are a simple way to change the sound of an audio set-up. The concept is not a novelty by any means, there are many devices like that years from known and less known manufacturers and each works its own way. In Nordost, they have decided to revisit its own concept and improve it. The QWAVE and QSINE power modules are the latest addition to their portfolio.

100% reference

Function and form

100%

Ease of use

100%

Sound

100%

Appearance

The rule of thumb with Nordost is: what they publish about their products lacks credibility and what they share is pure marketing gibberish. The QWAVE and QSINE are not different. The QSINE is supposed to be a radically different version of the QKOIL (Qk1), the QWAVE is supposed to be a slightly different version of the QVIBE (Qv2). I have reviewed both, so please refer to my review for known details.

Now, although technically Nordost muddies waters, I must admit that I’ve been using two QVIBEs in my own reference system for last 4 years. Regularly (mostly when I change something in the power conditioning path of the system) I tend to remove them as redundant, but I’ve not been successful so far. If I remove just one, the sound of the system suffers. On the other hand, when I tried to increase the number of units to three or more, there was no additional benefit at all. Again, please read the original review.

So, the two new developments from Nordost, that were said to be more powerful, immediately caught my attention and I’ve organized review samples, 2 units of each. To cut long story short: I have ended up using two original QVIBEs, plus I have added one QSINE and one QWAVE for an amazing sound upgrade. That has happened 6 months ago. Since then, I have tried to recombine or remove one or two units from my system. Without success. None of these four is dispensable.

Bass management

Before I get to sound, there is one more complaint. Nordost either engaged a Chinese designer or perhaps had a weak moment. Otherwise, I can't explain who suggested to equip the modules with a glowing LED ring, which is red or blue depending on the type of the unit. Yes, at the Munich show in full daylight it obviously attracted the eyes of visitors as it looked so high-end, but at home it was the first thing I wanted to get rid of. Fortunately, black electrical tape exists. On the other hand, I must commend the effort to indicate on the modules the polarity of the wiring, which (according to the manual) should be indicated by a red mark. As I said, there was an effort, but the quality control was on holiday that day in Nordost - out of four modules only one had the mentioned mark. So, I just hope they are all wired the same and I used them correctly. If not, it's easy to check, as the units just go into a free socket and can be easily rotated (provided that the socket is EU Schuko-type). The exact placement and combinations you must figure out individually. The modules should go into the same power circuit as your audio set-up, but not necessarily. Free wall sockets, power distributors, extension cords, and conditioners are the first choice. I guarantee that you're going to get some kind of effect anywhere you plug them in.

Clarity & delicacy

By understanding that the QWAVE is a more powerful version of the QVIBE, the first thing I tried was to replace one or both the QVIBEs I was already using. The effect was that the sound clarified but also moved higher tonally. That brought extra detail and light, but it also shifted the balance from natural to the point the set-up sounded too overhyped, too hifi-like. Also the sound was perhaps a tad too forward to my taste. While the QVIBEs pulled me into the music, the QWAVEs projected it.

Nordost recommends using the modules in hetero-couples. I did not have a success with combining the QVIBE with QKOIL in the past, so I wondered whether the new redesigned QSINE would behave any different. So I let both the original QVIBEs plugged in and complemented it with the pair of the new modules.

Tonal accuracy

With the new QWAVE/QSINE addition, the dynamics was the most striking gain. While the noise dropped, the dynamic peaks got a shot of adrenaline as well. As a result, the music got more lifelike and less constrained by electronics. Soundstaging was another area where the new modules heightened realism of the playback. There was no hint of forwardness, neither the soundstage was moved back behind the speaker planes. It became very naturally spread in the room and depending on recording, it was cavernous or intimate, with amazing imaging precision and supernatural presence. Beautiful. And there was no trade-off. Even after months I am not able to detect anything that is detrimental, the inclusion of the QWAVE/QSINE on top of the two QVIBEs is only about positives. As usual, don’t expect that the effect kicks in immediately after the Nordost unit is plugged in. Give it 10-15 minutes to settle, or better, give it a day or two. I could recognize another improvement after the units had been plugged in for a week.

Spatial resolution

During my previous encounter with the Nordost modules, I preferred the QVIBEs over QKOILs. With the new modules, it was the other way round and I found the QSINE plugs had more impact on sound. I agree with Nordost that the best results are achieved when the modules are used in pairs, as they complement each other. Nevertheless, although the effect was cumulative, more was not necessarily better. I loved what adding one pair did, yet I was unable to make a case for adding another pair. That might be due to the fact that the modules worked best in certain sockets, while they had minimum (or detrimental) effect in other. I wonder what would happen if I used a cavalry of the modules plugged in an extension block like Nordost Qb4 or Qb8 and then connected the whole block to the suitable socket. By the way, two pairs are built-in in the Nordost’s QBase Reference conditioner and the switches on its front panel enable activating and deactivating them in desired combinations.

I like that Nordost keeps the old modules in their portfolio, so now it is possible to use 4 devices in multiplies or combinations of your choice. I am 100% positive that there is no set-up they would not improve.

Price as reviewed:7 690,- Kč

Recommended resellers

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

Manufacturer's website: http://www.nordost.com

Associated components

Sources: Accuphase DP-720
Amplifiers: TAD-M2500
Intertconnects and speaker cables: Ansuz Signalz C2, Krautwire Numeric Digital, AAI Estremo, AudioQuest Dragon Zero | Bass
Loudspeakers: TAD Revolution One
Power conditioning: Shunyata Research Denali, Stromtank S-1000, Ansuz Mainz C2, AAI Maestoso, AAI Assoluto, AAI Estremo, Synergistic Research Atmosphere Level 2, Synergistic Research SRX, Nordost Qv2, IsoTek Syncro V5 Uni, Diamond Sound E2 grounding

Gallery

Sound

90%

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Recommended resellers

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