Nordost’s New Sort Füt

At last, Nordost has augmented its four-level Sort Kone equipment support line with the threaded Sort Füt ($350/each). A mechanically tuned resonance control device designed to replace the standard spikes and stabilizers supplied with loudspeakers and racks, it boasts aluminum and bronze hybrid construction, a filial dome to minimize effects of vibration, and three internal ceramic balls that minimize contact surface area while providing physical stability. The “Premium Package” includes four Sort Füt units (which together support speakers up to 800 lbs), an adjustment tool, laser leveling, and both 8mm and 6mm threaded adaptors.

Nordost’s Paul Ritchotte, who did a superb job of filling the retired Lars Christensen’s very big shoes, worked with the company’s Michael Marko to switch Valhalla 2 loudspeaker cabling between two differently colored by otherwise identical pairs of Audio Physiks loudspeakers. One pair was outfitted with four standard spikes, the other with four Sort Füt. Listening to Phoebe Killdeer and the Short Straws’ “He’s Late” over a system that also included Jeff Rowland’s 625 stereo amp, Corus linestage preamp, and Aeris DAC, I noticed that the Sort Füts imparted considerably more detail, an airier soundstage, far more layering, a more realistic depiction of the sounds of water and thunder on the track, and bass so superior than with standard spikes that I was led to write in m ynotebook, “Fuck! The bass is so much better.” Given the speaker’s surprisingly limited low-frequency extension, the four Sort Füts helped immensely to put its best foot forward. (Okay, I know; with that pun, I’ve shot myself in the füt. Which will make the most bullying of Nordost bashers very, very happy.)

COMMENTS
SergioLangstrom's picture

"Which will make the most bullying of Nordost bashers very, very happy."

You have to ask yourself why there are so many Nordost bashers.[flame deleted by John Atkinson]

These $350 each ($1400 for four or $2800 to support a pair of speakers!) may well do as claimed. Comparing them on two sets of speakers that cannot be physically in the same spot as the other isn't the way to do it though. Of course the speakers will have a different frequency response due to location in the room. Then they show these things under a rack of equipment, another $1400. Any reasoning behind the price? Not any exotic material in the construction.

es347's picture

Is it really necessary to drop an F-bomb?  I guess you must feel there's a certain cool factor if you talk dirty?  Then well done...

music guy's picture

Try manufacturing a high tolerance specialty item with low anticipated sales volume and then you'd find that $350 (considering the retail mark-up for the store) is not too bad.   Nordost must be congratulated for keeping their manufacturing here on our shores rather than sending to that low wage police state named the Peoples Republic of China.

they should celebrated not derided.

warren

music guy's picture

 

wdw

X