Nordost White Lightning – Purple Flare – Blue Heaven – Red Dawn

Listening

Comparing four interlinks in the same price range is still surprisingly difficult. There are always subtle differences when it comes to four well engineered products.

However when we get a nice lineup of four products within a series, it is fascinating to hear what you are paying for. Nordost knows how to communicate a very clear signature and also knows very well how to create a product where you know exactly what you are paying for now.

Nordost White Lightning

The entry-level cable of this Nordost series is called the White Lightning. The cable looks simple, but well finished. The ‘bushings’ show the cable direction. So you can’t really connect it wrong.

We hear an open, fast and nimble character. The focus is clearly on the midrange. That should be a bit fuller for our system: it is a somewhat thin sound image what we are served.

What we like is the very rhythmic character of this cable. They all have that by the way. The air and openness is also pleasant. In our system, however, it is a little too thin in the midrange. In warmer systems, though, this cable will feel right at home.

Nordost Purple Flare

The Purple Flare is one step above the White Lightning. We hear a little more warmth – which is nice in our case – and also a little more openness in the midrange: we can look just a little deeper into the vocals and, for example, the guitar work on First Aid Kid’s test track. The attack on the acoustic guitar is a bit more confident.

It’s still on the cooler side, but this is definitely more balanced in our system. What is noticeable is that the rhythmic character comes out a bit better. We also hear a little more detail than with the White Lightning.

It is dangerous to take steps up, because the way back is always hard. When we plug in the White Lightning again to take a moment to refresh our memory, the difference is so obvious….

Nordost Blue Heaven

The Blue Heaven is a step above the Purple Flare. Now, the price increase is a bit snappier (190 Euros more, compared to 170 if you go from the White Lightning to the Purple Flare), but the sonic step is big. Where the Purple Flare is a better White Lightning, the Blue Heaven is much more like a slightly more affordable Red Dawn.

We hear the space of the Red Dawn and also a much more pleasant midrange: more natural warmth, as well as more insight and textures. Rhythmically, this cable is even a bit stronger: it presents more naturally fluid.

What is especially noticeable when we go back to the White Lightning and the Purple Flare for a moment, is that the Blue Heaven shows more calmness. There is simply more authority and that lends a naturalness to the music that is particularly pleasing.

Nordost Red Dawn

Finally, the Red Dawn. The step from the Blue Heaven to the Red Dawn is 240 Euro extra at 1 meter. That’s pretty hefty. However, you now get another step in tonal richness and space. Especially the presence and power in the reproduction is striking. Although we must say: the Blue Heaven is really a cable that also has these characteristics. However, the Red Dawn is a step up.

Of course this Nordost Red Dawn is the best Nordost can offer in this series. It sounds very complete, puts down a lot of calmness without sacrificing rhythm. It all sounds very well balanced and manages to set a pleasant authority.

We’ve noticed that before. Nordost just knows what it’s doing. Each cable offers that little bit more. And it’s often even measurably better…. more on that on the next page.

But the question is: where is the sweet spot. For us, it’s Blue Heaven. Which can do this for 90% and 3/4th the money.