Have someone compared both, what are the differences ?
@frenchrooster what type of equipment is this ?
Shunyata Research cables, theta and gamma Ethernet.
Some here have the Sigma and Omega. I didn’t liked the Sigma.
But the entry level may sound different. The reviews say they sound natural and dynamic.
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Thanks @frenchrooster. I would never have known. In my earlier Hi Fi systems I used their power stuff and was quite impressed. Long before I got into Naim.
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I don’t know about ethernet cables, but did a search on ChatGPT which pretty much aligns with my experience. I own a Wireworld top-of-the-range USB digital cable and it’s quite good. However, the mains power cable (Wireworld Silver Electra 8) is not very good so it’s now used with the streamer, a component which to me bring the least impact to the system. The Wireworld mains power cable performed poorly when connected to amplifiers.
With Shunyata cables, the information from ChatGPT again coincides with my experience although I have only used the Alpha-X NR mains power cables and nothing else. I am impressed with the Shunyata mains power cable, and I think it’s good for anyone to at least try a mains power cable from Shunyata.
Sorry I realise you are asking about ethernet cables and not so much about mains power cables.
From ChatGPT :-
I am very curious what you didn’t like about Sigma.
As best as I can tell the only difference is the connector, but I haven’t listened to them to see how much of a difference that makes audibly
I bought the Sigma second hand. Vs the Diamond, the Sigma gave a bigger sound stage, more fluent sound with softer tones.
But lacked the propulsive and boogie factor of the Diamond. It reminded me the old romantic and syrupy sound of tubes.
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One member found the thêta better than Chord epic ethernet.
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I am experiencing exactly that with the Alpha-X that I currently have on demo. Compared to my BlueJeans it’s more detailed and instrument’s textures and resonances are a lot more defined but it sounds too rounded. The live feeling and directness is gone. It makes me lose interest in the music somehow even though I hear a lot more of the music that I didn’t hear before. In a few days I will try it with a different switch. Now using a Meraki MS220 with the PoE removed. Tomorrow I will get a further modified version that has the basic upgrade by Audiophool, which allows to connect an external PS. Maybe that will change the balance.
The Theta is the opposite but is rather dry and emotionless, just very dynamic but too loud and relentless.
So, so far I don’t like the Theta and I think the Alpha-X will be returned also.
More details on my experience with the Theta are in the Shunyata topic in the streaming section.
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Good to know, thanks. I feel i will take the Chord Epic then.
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Keep us posted on what you think of it. Why you want to replace the Diamond?
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The Diamond doesn’t work well with my Lumin transport. For now I have the C stream which came in the box.
Yes, I will post. But in one month now.
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FR are you sure it’s not something else in the system that makes the Sigma sound softer? I say this because I’ve read that the Sigma v2, if anything, has a slightly harsher sound than the Omega. Something to do with the filters that’s now been corrected on the X version. What I hear with the Sigma is not so much harshness but that typical Naim character that becomes more emphasised. I’d describe it as almost a paper like sound with a slight metalic edge. It’s this that gives Naim that live sound compared to everything else I’ve heard. All the Sigma does is let more of the Naim character through, along with an incredibly low noise floor that seems to make everything ‘tonally’ much more accurate. Anything wrong upstream or downstream will be ruthlessly revealed. As mentioned in other threads with 3.12, I’ve gone right back to basics and gone through every combination of switch, power supply and ethernet cable and removing Sigma causes the illusion of listening to live music to pretty much collapse. Don’t get me wrong, the sound is still great but it’s just not the same without Sigma in the path.
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May I ask what cable is the Alpha-X? Is it a digital cable or mains power cable? Your description on the cable revealing more on instrument textures and detail pretty much mirrors my experience though in my case it’s the Alpha-X NR mains power cable on an integrated amp. I will need more time to evaluate by swapping back to the previous cable but the difference is rather conclusive now. The bass of the Alpha-X NR mains power cable is slightly less impactful and rounded than the Furutech DPS 4.1 but everything else is an improvement , important differences in nuance, clarity and detail.
I’ll return to the Furutech DPS 4.1 in about a week’s time before going back to the Shunyata Alpha-X NR mains power cable.
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I don’t know. But when I put the Diamond again, the groovy sound came back. It was with the Phoenixnet. What switch do you have ?
It’s the Ethernet cable
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This is what I find the BJC 6a (floating) conveys very well.
G
I have the EE8 but I have tried the PN. I personally found the PN a bit too ‘calm’ for me, which may explain what you heard. Balancing out cables, power supplies and switch’s has become a real art form.
I would describe the EE8 as being quite lively (almost edgy) but an exciting listen. Couple that with the Sigma, which for me, seems too smooth that slight edginess and you get the right combo. I think in your case the Diamond is adding the liveliness and excitement against the PN’s calmness.
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I agree, but too ‘edgy’ for me. The day I took the plunge and went back to a Cisco 2960 was quite a relief.
G
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