Odin Gold: Nordost's New "Supreme Reference"

by The Audio Beat | August 11, 2021

ordost's Odin has consistently been considered among high-end audio's very best cable lines, as well as Nordost's own "Supreme Reference" -- the company's best of the best. The latest iteration, Odin Gold, is an extensive collection of cables whose major change is hinted at in its name. Whereas earlier Odin cables used OFC conductors clad with a fine layer of silver, Odin Gold conductors replace the silver with gold, carrying the connection through to each cable's gold-plated connectors.

Odin Gold interconnects ($34,999.99 for a 0.6 meter pair, $5000 for each additional half-meter length) use ten gold-plated 23AWG 99.999999% OFC conductors, each utilizing Nordost's proprietary Dual Mono-Filament technology, FEP extrusion, and gold-plated TSC shielding. Both single-ended and balanced interconnects use Nordost’s patented HOLO:PLUG gold-plated connectors.

Odin Gold speaker cables ($54,999.99
per 1.5-meter pair, $8000 for additional half-meter stereo increments) begin with 28 gold-plated solid-core 20AWG 99.999999% OFC conductors that take advantage of Nordost’s Dual Mono-Filament technology and are encased in an FEP extrusion. However, in contrast to Nordost’s previous loudspeaker cables, Odin Gold speaker cables utilize a tiered-termination process that minimizes the conversion points of conductors, using eight gold-plated 14AWG 99.999999% OFC conductors on both ends of each cable. With this, according to Nordost, the cables have "orderly and precise connection points, while decreasing the impedance introduced."

The Odin Gold Tonearm Cable + ($21,999.99 for a 1.25 meter length, $6000 for additional meter increments) consists of four gold-plated solid-core 23AWG 99.999999% OFC conductors wrapped in patented Dual Mono-Filament suspension. The conductors are then individually shielded using Nordost’s gold-plated TSC technology, allowing for 100% coverage and protection from external pollution (such as RFI and EFI) and crosstalk. The cable uses a two-prong grounding approach: a fully isolated bond ground throughout the cable, and two detachable gold-plated ground "whips."

Odin Gold biwire speaker jumpers ($13,999.99 for a 0.33-meter set) feature identical construction to the base of the Odin Gold speaker cable: 28 gold-plated solid-core 20AWG 99.999999% OFC conductors that take advantage of Nordost’s Dual Mono-Filament technology and encased in an FEP extrusion, allowing for consistent sonic signature throughout an entire system of Odin Gold cables.

Finally, the Odin Gold power cord ($34,999.99 for a 1.25-meter length, $9500 for additional 1.25-meter increment) uses seven gold-plated 14AWG OFC conductors. Nordost’s patented Dual Mono-Filament technology creates a virtual air dielectric between the extruded FEP insulation and each individual conductor, and the company's gold-plated TSC technology is then carried throughout the cable and into the purpose-built, 100%-shielded, gold-plated HOLO:PLUG connectors.