Shunyata Mains Power Cables

This is true FR :rofl:

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power cable? if so that’s good to know.

Yes power cable.In the ethernet Theta I heard something similar. The Ethernet was a very grey sounding cable.

Not tried the power cable, but the ethernet is a good cable IMO.

The Theta XLR is a gem. Just sayin.

For myself, as good as the Theta ethernet and XLR are. The Naim Super Lumina Din to Din and XLR cables gives more.

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The thing is imo, it’s all system, room and individual preferences based in the end.

That’s why it’s so risky to read or get a recommendation from somewhere and blindly buy and expect the same results as the reviewer was describing.

My ultimate goal is to obtain a good balance in my home, for the genres I like and the presentation I expect to hear and experience.

In the end, music should stir the soul imo.

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Although I don’t have a Denali conditioner, some of the mains power cables that I have are capable of reducing noise floor and making the system sound more dynamic with less background noise. I too feel the ‘quietness’ when some of the mains power cables which I have are installed. The Shunyata NR versions have this feature built-in but it’s not too suitable for high current amps, and the Acrolink Mexcel cords also have some of this ‘noise-reducing’ properties which contribute to a quieter background and improved dynamics.

The Furutech DPS4.1 clearly doesn’t sound as quiet as the other cords and lets everything through but it lacks some of the subtleties of the costlier cables.

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If I switch to the Naim separates, the mains block will need to be used as it’s a three component amplification. I’ll only have the opportunity to evaluate the quality and performance of the relatively new mains block once I switch to the Naim amps, soon. I’m currently on integrated amps so a mains block is not necessary although I do have a power bank solely for low current components (streamer and DAC).

I don’t have the Theta so obviously can’t comment on that, but the words I would choose to describe the Alpha-X NR would be smooth, refined, subtle, delicate and detailed. There is no aggressiveness or roughness in the sound with the Alpha-X NR as it balances smooth and detail very well. Perhaps that is the reason why it’s more suitable to be used on sources than high-current amplifiers although I did get great results when it’s used on a Luxman class A integrated.

Sometimes I yearn for a brighter and more aggressive treble but am fully aware it could tilt to an unpleasant grating sound if excessively done. My speakers are the smooth sounding Marten Duke 2s which are known to have a smooth and detailed sounding treble with very low listening fatigue.

Correct.

I have read that some people have managed to get good results with NR on their amps. Usually it’s Alpha series and upwards as they have large gauge wires.

I specifically put a Siltech 880P on my power amp to make sure I didn’t throttle its current delivery that it requires.

The fatigue I’m experiencing is to do with signal cables.

XLR and speaker cables.

I asked my partner last night what she thought to the music that was playing. “Hmm, it’s not got soul”

I tend to agree with her. Let’s see what today brings. Cello and Violin pieces coming later.

My 300Dr sounds better with my Sigma-X NR than other power cords. Maybe the older models had issues but the latest Shunyata cords have no issues with high current demands.

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I am guessing it will depend on the power draw of the amp which is essentially the maximum power consumption. In the spec, the max power consumption of the Luxman 590AXII is 330W while the Gryphon Diablo 300 is a whopping 1900W which is almost 6 times higher.

I’m not sure how much is the max power consumption of the NAP 300DR. If it’s closer to the Luxman’s rating perhaps it’s still doing fine with the NR power cables.

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The current draw will have an impact for sure but Shunyata have their NR and XC cables clearly designated for sources and amps with different gauge and noise reduction.
I wouldn’t worry giving your Martens a bit less of a tamed input, this worked quite well with my Oscar Duos replacing the Shunyata with the WW on the NSC222. The Martens do not know how to sound harsh or overly bright!

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After about a week with the Acrolink on the Gryphon, I switched to the Shunyata Alpha-X NR before going back to the Acrolink. It’s now conclusive.

The Shunyata NR mains power cable does not go well with the Gryphon amp. It’s a reduced bass performance and an overall soft presentation with reduced dynamics. The bass sounds soft and wooly with reduced punch.

Fortunately and surprisingly, the Shunyata NR mains power cable matches the Luxman 590AXII Class A amp very well.

I also tried switching between the Shunyata and Wireworld on the Lumin streamer and the difference is small, close to negligible. The WW mains power cable gets to stay with the streamer.

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I’m back with the Shunyata Alpha-X NR on the Lumin streamer. Sorry, although the difference is small, it’s not exactly negligible. I can’t accurately describe the change but it’s the small differences that make all the difference. I think the overall sound with the Shunyata is slightly cleaner, smoother and more expansive.

The Shunyata mains cable is costlier than the Lumin streamer so it’s not exactly a balanced setup but it will have to stay that way. The Wireworld will go to the Naim NAPSC, presumably the least important component with Naim.

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You can install a dc kit on the Lumin U2 mini and then add a linear ps.

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