Nordost ODIN 2 User manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

During the manufacturing process,
as insulation is extruded over
conductors, gases can become
trapped. This combined with the
high electrical charges often found
in new cables, can result in a brittle
and bright sound. In order to solve
this problem, and yield the best
results possible from your Odin
2 cables, it is important let your
cables to burn-in.
You must allow a minimum of 150
hours of burn-in time to occur
before expecting to hear the
true benefits of your new cable
purchase. However, the best way to
burn-in a set of Odin 2 is to bring
your cables to your local Nordost
dealer for a VIDAR treatment. Once
the VIDAR begins running current
through cables, the trapped gases
are dissipated and small impurities
in the conductors’ metal begin to
act like a diode, favoring current
flow in a particular direction. By
using extremely wide bandwidth
signal as well as a range of both
ultra-low and high frequency
sweeps, the VIDAR stresses the
conductors, neutralizes charges,
improves the way that signals pass
through metal, and ultrasonically
conditions the surface of the
conductors. The changes made in
both the conductor and insulation
material refine the performance of
your audio cable.
While it is most important to
implement burn-in upon purchase,
there is something to be gained
from routine maintenance as
well. If cables are left unused
for a prolonged period of time
they become stagnant. And even
through everyday cable use,
electrical equipment experiences
current leakage, imparting a charge
onto your cables. By having your
cables treated with the VIDAR, you
are conditioning them and allowing
the charges to neutralize once
again.
However, if you do not have access
to a VIDAR, Nordost’s System
BURNING-IN YOUR CABLES
Congratulations on your purchase of Nordost’s
Supreme Reference Series: Odin 2. The Odin 2
range is the apex of hifi audio cables. Designed
and constructed using the most advanced
technology and elite materials in the industry, Odin
2 cables will not only bring a vibrant dynamism to
your music, but will also register every sobering
nuance of detail, allowing a realism to emerge
which previously could only be experienced in live
concert. Through incorporating groundbreaking,
proprietary techniques such as Dual Mono-
Filament technology and Total Signal Control (TSC
shielding) and combining them with Nordost’s
purpose built HOLO:PLUG® connectors, Nordost’s
new Supreme Reference cables will finally unlock
the full potential from each component in your
hifi system.
This instruction manual will give you the
information you need to ensure that you are
using your Odin 2 cables as they were intended—
elevating the performance of your cables as well
as your sound system as a whole.
Please make sure that your Odin 2 Supreme
Reference Cables are registered with Nordost
by filling out and returning the supplied
Warranty Card at the back of this manual or
by filling out the Product Registration form
on our website. Once we have received the
registration, your Odin 2 cable is guaranteed a
lifetime warranty.
Solution Set-Up & Tuning Discs,
include system burn-in and degauss
tracks that allow you to condition
your cables on your own. These test
CDs also offers an extensive range of
proven diagnostic tracks that help
with speaker placement and sub-
woofer integration, performance
checks and assessment, and
problem location.
INSTRUCTION MANUAL

The Odin 2 Power Cord is the most
critical cable in your loom. It will
ensure the optimum transfer of AC
power, free from the harmful effects
of electromagnetic interference
and radio frequencies, needed to
seamlessly run your sound system.
Please ensure that the IEC end
of the power cord is fitted firmly
into the IEC receptacle. Then plug
the power connector into the wall
socket, or into the your QRT power
product. When placing or changing
out Odin 2 Power Cords, please
Odin 2 Interconnects are terminated
with color-coded RCA and XLR
connectors. The connector that
shows “HOLO:PLUG” engraved in
black should be connected to the
black connection (left channel) on
the rear of your component. The
connector that shows “HOLO:PLUG”
engraved in white should be
connected to the red connection
POWER CORDS
INTERCONNECTS
LOUDSPEAKER / BI-WIRE JUMPER CABLES
Odin 2 Loudspeaker Cables are
terminated with Nordost’s own
gold-plated HOLO:PLUG® spade
and low-mass Z plug Banana
connectors. When installing Odin
2 Loudspeaker Cables into your
system, do as follows: Attach the
connector wrapped in black (–)
to the black terminal on both the
power amplifier and loudspeaker.
Attach the connector wrapped in
white (+) to the red terminal on the
power amplifier and loudspeaker.
All Nordost cables are directional.
To ensure the highest quality
sound, the wooden blocks marked
with directional arrows must point
towards the loudspeaker.
Odin 2 Loudspeaker Cables are only
available in shotgun configuration.
be aware that the HOLO:PLUG®
connectors used on all of our power
cords are capable of marking the
surface of equipment or furniture
if dropped, so careful handling is
recommended.
An increasing amount of hifi audio
components require the use of
IEC C-19 input connectors. For
this reason Nordost provides this
upgraded option in both our Odin
2 Power Cords and our QB8-Mark II
power distribution units.
(right channel) on the rear of your
component. All Nordost cables are
directional. To ensure the highest
quality sound, the directional
arrows shown on the wooden
blocks should point in the direction
of the signal. Example: On the
interconnect placed between a CD
player and an amplifier, the arrows
should point towards the amplifier.
It is important to note cable
geometry of Odin 2 RCA and
XLR Interconnects is specifically
constructed for each termination.
Due to the distinct design difference
between these two cables, re-
termination from one variety to the
other is not available.
If you should have equipment that
requires either bi-wire or bi-amp
connections, invest in the Odin 2 Bi-
Wire Jumper. Odin 2 Bi-Wire Jumpers
are an exact extension of Nordost’s
Supreme Reference Loudspeaker
Cables, ensuring a consistent sonic
signature throughout your system.
ARROWS POINT IN
DIRECTION OF SIGNAL
ARROWS POINT IN DIRECTION OF SIGNAL

TONEARM CABLE +
1. CONNECTING
TYR 2 TYR 2
PHONO-STAGETURNTABLE
Connect the DIN / RCA / XLR
connectors to the outputs on
your turntable and inputs on your
phono-stage. For RCA and XLR
configurations, the connector that
shows “HOLO:PLUG” engraved in
white denotes right channel, and
the one engraved in black denotes
the left channel.
Please note that Nordost tonearm
cables are directional. To correctly
orient your cable, make sure that
any arrows found on the breakout
blocks are pointing towards your
phono-stage.
Each unique system has its own
ideal grounding configuration.
You’ll need to figure out what
works best for your system through
experimentation...
3. ADDITIONAL / SHIELD GROUNDING
When needed, ‘Detchable Ground
Wires’ can be inserted into the
cable’s breakout blocks, allowing
you to use the cable’s TSC as an
additional ground loop prevention.
If you are experiencing any noise
(hum) while listening to your
turntable set-up, you are most
likely suffering from a ground loop.
In order to eliminate this problem,
you must address the grounding
between your turntable and
phono-stage. Most turntables and
phono-stages are equipped with
ground screws on their chassis.
Connect the Bond Ground Wire
(the wire terminated with spade
connectors that is permanently
attached to the tonearm cable) to
2. GROUNDING
the ground screws on both your
turntable and your phono-stage.
This connection will bond the two
chassis together, creating a secure,
low noise connection between the
two components.
TYR 2 TYR 2
PHONO-STAGETURNTABLE
TYR 2 TYR 2
PHONO-STAGETURNTABLE
TYR 2 TYR 2
TURNTABLE PHONO-STAGE
TYR 2 TYR 2
TURNTABLE PHONO-STAGE
First, play some music without any of the
Detachable Ground Wires attached and
see how it sounds.
Then, try inserting one of the Detachable
Ground Wires to your cable on the end
closest to the turntable. Connect the
spade of the Detachable Ground Wire to
the ground post on your turntable.
Next, if you have a ground option on
the phono-stage end, disconnect the
Detachable Ground Wire from the
turntable end of the tonearm cable,
and insert it into the phono-stage end
instead. Connect the spade of the
Detachable Ground Wire to the phono-
stage ground, and listen again.
Finally, if applicable, insert both
Detachable Ground Wires to the two
ends of your cable, connect them to
ground on the turntable and the phono-
stage, and listen one last time.
Based on your findings, configure
whichever set-up had the least noise.
ARROWS POINT IN
DIRECTION OF SIGNAL
LEFT CHANNEL
RIGHT CHANNEL

IMPORTANCE OF A FULL LOOM
Odin 2 will transform your hifi
system. Music lovers who wire
their systems entirely with these
Supreme Reference Cables will
not only achieve the performance
they have been searching for, but
will discover results they never
imagined were possible. Using
Odin 2, you will finally find yourself
immersed in a complete and pure
musical experience.
However, if a full loom of Odin 2 is
not an immediate possibility, you
can make your upgrade in stages.
Nordost has provided you with a
comprehensive framework to help
prioritize your system upgrade.
First, identify the most important
cable in your system — the power
cord coming out of the wall, feeding
your QB8 distribution block — and
continue by following the diagram
below…
CABLES LISTED IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE
2. Secondary Power Cords
1. Primary Power Cord
Speakers
DAC Analog source
(record player)
QBASE Mark II AC Distribution
4. Speaker Cables
3. Interconnects
Power amp
Pre-amp / Phono stage
Wall
Source components
(DAC / Phono stage)
er)
(CD player)
Digital source
Cable Type .................................................................................
Serial Number ............................................................................
Termination ...............................................................................
Length .......................................................................................
To qualify for the limited lifetime warranty on
your Nordost cable, original purchasers should
fill out and return the card to the right or
register the product online at:
www.nordost.com/product-registration.php
Once your Odin 2 cable is registered, you
will receive a signed Nordost Certificate of
Authenticity by mail, sent to your listed address.
Warranty Registration Card
Please complete and return this Warranty Registration Card
within 30 days of purchase together with proof of purchase to:
Nordost, 93 Bartzak Drive,
Holliston MA 01746, USA
Warranty Registration Cards can also be scanned and
emailed to inf[email protected]
or faxed to [phone]
Name.........................................................................................
Address......................................................................................
..................................................................................................
..................................................................................................
Postal Code ................................................................................
Country .....................................................................................
Tel no. ......................................................................................
Email .........................................................................................
PRODUCT INFORMATION
Cable Type .................................................................................
Serial Number ............................................................................
Termination ...............................................................................
Length .......................................................................................
Date of Purchase ........................................................................
Dealer Name..............................................................................
Country .....................................................................................

Nordost 93 Bartzak Drive Holliston MA 01746 USA
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.nordost.com AUG 2022