Leif is Nordost's‘ entry level' range – if you can call it that – and is now in its third iteration, following some worthwhile recent upgrades. Within this, there are four sub-ranges, starting with White Lightning, then Purple Flare, Blue Heaven and finally Red Dawn. The latter, tested here, is the highest-performing Leif 3 cable. Thankfully, each respective model is easy to identify, thanks to the company's colour coding convention. All Nordost cables draw from the technology used to produce its top Valhalla and Odin ranges of cables.

The Red Dawn interconnect sports six thin 24 AWG silver-plated, solid core oxygen-free copper conductors, arranged into three twisted wires for each of the hot and cold contacts. Each pair is individually shielded and then bundled within a second braided shield. This is claimed to lower noise, and together with the outer shielding, provides protection from radio frequency and electromagnetic interference flying around inside modern homes.

Nordost uses 99.9999% pure solid-core copper conductors, which are silver-plated and then insulated in Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene or FEP. This polymer is similar to PTFE and is said to be an excellent dielectric or insulator. All the company's cables are designed with a mechanically tuned construction that optimises the dimensions and spacing of the conductors to reduce dielectric effects to the lowest levels, it is said.

New to Nordost is the removal of the heat shrink from the ends of the Leif 3 range, which apparently has an effect on the sound. Spaced about 30cm from either end of the cable are rigidly fitted beads that are approximately 35mm in length and have the Nordost model and serial number of the cable. These are made from a tough resin used for 3D printing called ESD (ElectroStatic Discharge). The company says that this reduces background noise, and the sound quality is kept constant, preventing repeated static buildup and discharges over time. The cable is terminated with colour-coded Neutrik XLR connectors with gold-plated pins. The outer cable diameter is about 7mm, which is thicker and heavier than lesser cables in the Leif range, yet is flexible and easy to connect.

I used a full Nordost loom for this review, which is comprised of a Red Dawn power cable, speaker cable, and interconnect. Also at hand were Leif 3 Blue Heaven and Purple Haze XLR cables for comparison's sake. All cables need time from new to break-in to sound at their full potential, and these benefited sonically from a minimum of one hundred hours of use. I used the cables in three different systems to form my listening impressions – including my reference system, where I used the XLR between a Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE DAC and a Soul Note A-2 integrated amplifier.

THE LISTENING

Nordost's Leif 3 Red Dawn 3 XLR is a highly resolving cable that steps out of the way of the music, letting it flow with integrity and purpose. For example, listening to P by SAULT – which has a fast repetitive percussion riff – showcases the musical flow of the track, including the interplay of the bongos, and the clarity and speed of each note. The sonic image is large and floats beautifully in three dimensional space, making things sound vibrant and alive.

This cable has a lustrous and energetic character that brings life to music. Listening to Elephants on Ice Skates by Brian Bromberg, the track's crisp, taut, percussive feel is clear to hear. Bass is firm and extended, and the excellent separation between the kick drum and bass guitar makes for a satisfying combination of speed and transparency. The midband is clean and detailed, giving a great rendition of the electric guitar work and the saxophone playing. The latter sounds particularly neutral, being devoid of excess treble energy.

Although fast, the leading edges of notes are not exaggerated, and so there is no irritating sibilance. Timing is a make-or-break characteristic of musical reproduction and has a profound effect on the way it is perceived. The Nordost is excellent in this respect, with Squeeze by Maya Delilah sounding fast, tight and punchy with excellent dynamic contrast on the drum work. This, in turn, helps to keep the music sounding engaging and positive, and the effect is clear from the lowest bass notes to the highest treble harmonics. Despite the complexity of the production, Ama Kora by Lamomali comes across cleanly and crisply, and the result is an emotional connection with the listener. Indeed, I'd say that the sheer transient speed of this cable is one of its most appealing characteristics.

It's also very quiet, by which I mean that it lets the lowest levels of ambient detail shine through – rather than being lost to the noise floor of a recording. I heard previously unknown faint details in Change by Big Thief – the Nordost's sheer lack of grain lets it resolve often overlooked details. The cable doesn't artificially smooth out the sound, which is why instruments and vocals always sound clear, concise and realistic.

There's nothing quite like the sound of a big brass band to fill a room with sound, so hearing You & Me by MEUTE is a rather special experience, especially with the volume turned up. Via the Nordost cable, the solo saxophone is precisely placed in the recorded acoustic and kept spatially distinct from the trumpet. The wider soundstage pushes way beyond the boundaries of the loudspeakers, and this makes for a highly atmospheric listening experience. Moving to contemporary pop music, Billie Eilish's voice in Your Power nicely extends convincingly forward into the room, while the backing instruments give an almost panoramic feel.

Comparing the similarly priced Black Beauty XLR from Audioquest, its soundstage (the Black Beauty’s) is not quite as voluminous, and Billie’s voice is less specific and is spread out in width. It just doesn’t feel as well locked in. It’s also less opaque and transparent, and slower in its pace and rhythm. I couldn't resist comparing the other Nordost cables from the Leif 3 range – Blue Heaven and Purple Flare – and the family resemblance is uncanny. They all have the same blistering speed and pristine clarity, albeit with a smaller and less defined soundstage – and slightly less bass weight and slam. So, as ever in hi-fi, you get what you pay for – and depending on your system and taste, the price premium is entirely justified or marginal.

THE VERDICT

With each generational upgrade, Nordost continues to push the boundaries of sonic performance, with clear incremental steps throughout the range to suit customers' needs and budgets. The Leif 3 Red Dawn is a well-designed, full-range cable that delivers high performance in no uncertain terms, and the result is fast and fun music making with superb levels of transparency. This interconnect isn't the cheapest on sale, but to my ears its performance easily justifies its price. Hear one in your system if you can.

For more information visit Nordost