I’ve read thru this thread and am somewhat astonished the most at the claim about Shunyata, specifically it has a "2-D" sound. WHAT?!?!?!?
One listen with ASL Hurricanes, which are the most "real"-sounding amplifiers I’ve EVER had and that notion goes straight to Hell. They have the best mid bass reproduction I’ve yet heard. My amps have been Jadis JA-200, Jadis Defy 7, Goldmund Mimesis 9, VTL 300s, and Bel 1001, CJ Classic Sixty, Simaudio, Hegel, and Odyssey Khartago amps, and VAC Renaissance 70/70 and 30/30 integrated, along with many NAD BEEs. That does NOT include the ones I’ve reviewed.
Nothing comes close to the Hurricanes for sounding "right-there-right-now" and my opera singer friends and my conductor friend agree. So, on that one point: NO. A trombone is so completely physically "there" that you literally WATCH IT. That can only happen if the other components can do what the Hurricane can, which is why I’ve had the Hurricanes for 14 years, longer - by far - than any other amp listed above. It is 3D incarnate, and, aided by Shunyata cords ’n cables, it gives the kind of presentation that makes you laugh out loud, so "real" is the Hurricane in this regard. (I reviewed them for Ultraaudio.com back in 2004. Review online.) When I removed the Shunyata power cords on the Hurricanes and put back on the stock cords, the 3D was still there (I always do this first, as a control, so that I don’t attribute a component’s ability to the power cords. First the stock, and after 300 hours, I’ll put on whatever’s lying around (mostly Shunyata). I don’t know what the poster was listening "though" (his other components), but I hear live music daily, so I’m not using a component to assess what’s "good" or "bad."
My friends (and listening panel) are a couple of opera singers, one conductor and two musicians. Without exception, they find the Shunyata power cords (I’ve had every generation) to be uncannily lifelike. Of course, the rest of the system (whatever it is at the time) contributes, but the 3D effect is consistent. (Unless the Hurricane blows a resistor, which it does occasionally.) And then it’s CJ or NAD, neither of which is remotely as 3D as the Hurricanes, athough both are "good" in this regard (the CJ much more than the NAD, of course, but the NAD can focus a voice EXTREMELY well!).
But what I notice the MOST on nearly every forum is that very few people rarely mention that they go to symphonies, which are (nearly) the only music played without amplification. People compare cable A to cable B, speaker A to speaker B, etc. Rarely does anyone say they play an instrument, hear live music played in their home or a friend’s home. Even the manufacturers themselves rarely admit to actual attendance at concerts.
Given that we are talking about reproducing music, shouldn’t there be more discussion about how a cord or speaker diverges from the concert hall? If you don’t care, that’s fine, and if you want system synergy, that’s fine (what good would it be to have to change your entire system to suit your power cord? [Does ANYONE do that?!?]). But no need to bash other products. Stick with what you know, and what you’ve had for longer than a week. No, make that 6 months. You have to live with a product to truly know it. I’ve missed traits in components because I was so enthralled (back in the beginning, not so much now) by how GREAT!!!!!! the bass was, how SPECTACULAR the imaging was, etc. None of this has to do with music (but I love great imaging and sound staging). Mostly I value tonal purity. Disinclined towards lean-sounding anything; give me at least a little warmth, or else "neutral." (I’d rather have warmth, strictly speaking, but I’ve yet to hear dead-center neutral. (Not saying it doesn’t exist, just that I haven’t heard it. Too many products out there to declare that I am the world’s foremost genius...wait, isn’t that what our illustrious leader proclaims????).
ANY-hoo, I’ve had Transparent cords, MIT cords, Nordost cords, Synergistic cords and Shunyata cords (when I say cords, I mean speaker cable, interconnects and power cords). I eventually settled on Shunyata’s power cords (and for a while, their speaker cable, but also had Nordost Valhalla (1st generation) power cords, interconnects and speaker cables. Loved the Nordost’s transparency and detail, but the upper bass/lower midrange suckout wasn’t quite to my liking, so I went back to Shunyata. But then, NOTHING is flawless. Just wait five years until everyone comes out with their NEXT generation and you’ll know that for yourself.
Aside from starting out with MIT interconnects and speaker cables in 1987, I eventually went to Transparent speaker cable for several generations, starting when I was a reviewer for TAS. Loved the Reference, and then the MM1 and MM2 speaker cable. Not so much the power cords or interconnects.
Synergistic is the one I have the least experience with: had those for a few weeks, and discovered (back then - at least 7 years ago), that they had cables for one application but a different one for another. And I discovered why: one cable had a leaner sound, but the cable in the placement before that (say CD to preamp) had a fuller sound. So one cable compensated for the other.
Goldmund used to do the same thing: the Goldmund Reference was slightly (very slightly) dark, and so were the other tables I had: a Goldmund Studio/T3F before I moved to the Versa Dynamics 2.0/2.3) and had their Mimesis 9 amp (wow, THAT was a killer amp!) and speakers (Super Dialogues). I’ve generally found that manufacturers use certain equipment to design their own equipment, so whatever the end result, it comes from the components they used in the design of their own. If they listened to live music, like Arnie Nudell, they knew what their components’ results would sound like (and of course, the room acoustics play an extremely significant part in the end result). If they don’t hear much live music, well...that’s a bit like being a psychologist who has never actually treated patients: knowledge is not the same as reality. Goldmund’s front end components (the older turntables) were on the very, very, VERY slightly dark side, but their electronics were the equivalent of a 125 watt bulb, although NEVER bright. But you could hear sound reflections off ceilings and walls even if, at the same time, you were reading passages Dante’s Inferno. That was also one of my tests: could the component pull me back to the music if I was doing "light reading." Not a great test, but a fun one, nonetheless.
But back to the subject: power cords. I’ve had Shunyata ever since 2003, along with Nordost (and Transparent). All I can say about the Shunyata power cords is that they do NOT have focus issues, they do NOT have problems projecting a 3D image (although the lower ranges [Venom and below]) DO have that issue - somewhat. I bought a Venom once, but as I had become accustomed to the better cords/speaker cables, I had to return them. As I said, my conductor friend who has heard the system the most, is quite specific about what he hears and doesn’t hear, and he finds the Shunyata quite "solid" (aka: 3D) in its presentation. He doesn’t mention "dark" or "light" because non-audiophile musicians don’t hear music - or don’t LISTEN to it - in that way unless its really, REALLY obtrusive.
Long ago (40 years), people who were audiophiles had a lot of experience with live music. Judging by the responses on the threads I see, very few people ever mention how close the music comes to a concert hall they attend, so opinions are all over the place and frankly, having reviewed plenty of equipment, I know that our systems sometimes mask things that we attribute to another component.
I’d ask that when people are talking about the cords, they specify their own systems and the music they use. To be blunt, I wouldn’t THINK of using processed music to assess anything, because I can’t be sure of what the engineer did. The same applies to the manufacturers of power cords, speaker cables, interconnects and everything else.
I love my Schiit Yggdrasil DAC, which I connected to 4 power cords: 3 Shunyata (Cobra, Alpha HC, Python and Sigma) and 1 Nordost (Frey 2) and the sound changed accordingly with each change. Needless to say, the Sigma’s noise floor was so low, I could hear (without turning the volume up high to compensate for my Nola Contenders, Mirage, Hales and Sound Dynamics) that when there was silence - after an orchestral outburst - that I could easily hear the room itself - and the musicians sitting in their seats silently.
MY system:
Preamp: CJ ET3 SE.
Amps: CJ Classic Sixty, ASL Hurricanes amps.
Interconnects: Nordost Frey 2, Heimdall 2, Tyr 2.
Integrated amps: ASL integrated 1003, NAD BEE 320, 325, 326 and 356.
Speaker cable: Nordost Frey 2, Alpha Core Goetz AG-2, and Shunyata Cobra.
Turntables: Versa Dynamics 2.3, Nottingham Horizon, Rega Planar RP3. Tonearms Origin Live Silver Mk II and Rega 300.
Cartridges: Dynavector and Clearaudio.
Power cords: Shunyata Cobra, Alpha, Alpha HC, Delta NR, Sigma, Frey 2, ESP, PS Audio Statement.
Room constructed with ASC Wall damp on a resilient channel. 9 x 13 x 20
Accessories: 38 Tube Traps.
Shakti Stones, Shakti online stabilizers.
Townshend Audio Seismic Isolation platform, Townshend Seismic Iso-pods. Stillpoints Ultra Mini Risers and SS.
One listen with ASL Hurricanes, which are the most "real"-sounding amplifiers I’ve EVER had and that notion goes straight to Hell. They have the best mid bass reproduction I’ve yet heard. My amps have been Jadis JA-200, Jadis Defy 7, Goldmund Mimesis 9, VTL 300s, and Bel 1001, CJ Classic Sixty, Simaudio, Hegel, and Odyssey Khartago amps, and VAC Renaissance 70/70 and 30/30 integrated, along with many NAD BEEs. That does NOT include the ones I’ve reviewed.
Nothing comes close to the Hurricanes for sounding "right-there-right-now" and my opera singer friends and my conductor friend agree. So, on that one point: NO. A trombone is so completely physically "there" that you literally WATCH IT. That can only happen if the other components can do what the Hurricane can, which is why I’ve had the Hurricanes for 14 years, longer - by far - than any other amp listed above. It is 3D incarnate, and, aided by Shunyata cords ’n cables, it gives the kind of presentation that makes you laugh out loud, so "real" is the Hurricane in this regard. (I reviewed them for Ultraaudio.com back in 2004. Review online.) When I removed the Shunyata power cords on the Hurricanes and put back on the stock cords, the 3D was still there (I always do this first, as a control, so that I don’t attribute a component’s ability to the power cords. First the stock, and after 300 hours, I’ll put on whatever’s lying around (mostly Shunyata). I don’t know what the poster was listening "though" (his other components), but I hear live music daily, so I’m not using a component to assess what’s "good" or "bad."
My friends (and listening panel) are a couple of opera singers, one conductor and two musicians. Without exception, they find the Shunyata power cords (I’ve had every generation) to be uncannily lifelike. Of course, the rest of the system (whatever it is at the time) contributes, but the 3D effect is consistent. (Unless the Hurricane blows a resistor, which it does occasionally.) And then it’s CJ or NAD, neither of which is remotely as 3D as the Hurricanes, athough both are "good" in this regard (the CJ much more than the NAD, of course, but the NAD can focus a voice EXTREMELY well!).
But what I notice the MOST on nearly every forum is that very few people rarely mention that they go to symphonies, which are (nearly) the only music played without amplification. People compare cable A to cable B, speaker A to speaker B, etc. Rarely does anyone say they play an instrument, hear live music played in their home or a friend’s home. Even the manufacturers themselves rarely admit to actual attendance at concerts.
Given that we are talking about reproducing music, shouldn’t there be more discussion about how a cord or speaker diverges from the concert hall? If you don’t care, that’s fine, and if you want system synergy, that’s fine (what good would it be to have to change your entire system to suit your power cord? [Does ANYONE do that?!?]). But no need to bash other products. Stick with what you know, and what you’ve had for longer than a week. No, make that 6 months. You have to live with a product to truly know it. I’ve missed traits in components because I was so enthralled (back in the beginning, not so much now) by how GREAT!!!!!! the bass was, how SPECTACULAR the imaging was, etc. None of this has to do with music (but I love great imaging and sound staging). Mostly I value tonal purity. Disinclined towards lean-sounding anything; give me at least a little warmth, or else "neutral." (I’d rather have warmth, strictly speaking, but I’ve yet to hear dead-center neutral. (Not saying it doesn’t exist, just that I haven’t heard it. Too many products out there to declare that I am the world’s foremost genius...wait, isn’t that what our illustrious leader proclaims????).
ANY-hoo, I’ve had Transparent cords, MIT cords, Nordost cords, Synergistic cords and Shunyata cords (when I say cords, I mean speaker cable, interconnects and power cords). I eventually settled on Shunyata’s power cords (and for a while, their speaker cable, but also had Nordost Valhalla (1st generation) power cords, interconnects and speaker cables. Loved the Nordost’s transparency and detail, but the upper bass/lower midrange suckout wasn’t quite to my liking, so I went back to Shunyata. But then, NOTHING is flawless. Just wait five years until everyone comes out with their NEXT generation and you’ll know that for yourself.
Aside from starting out with MIT interconnects and speaker cables in 1987, I eventually went to Transparent speaker cable for several generations, starting when I was a reviewer for TAS. Loved the Reference, and then the MM1 and MM2 speaker cable. Not so much the power cords or interconnects.
Synergistic is the one I have the least experience with: had those for a few weeks, and discovered (back then - at least 7 years ago), that they had cables for one application but a different one for another. And I discovered why: one cable had a leaner sound, but the cable in the placement before that (say CD to preamp) had a fuller sound. So one cable compensated for the other.
Goldmund used to do the same thing: the Goldmund Reference was slightly (very slightly) dark, and so were the other tables I had: a Goldmund Studio/T3F before I moved to the Versa Dynamics 2.0/2.3) and had their Mimesis 9 amp (wow, THAT was a killer amp!) and speakers (Super Dialogues). I’ve generally found that manufacturers use certain equipment to design their own equipment, so whatever the end result, it comes from the components they used in the design of their own. If they listened to live music, like Arnie Nudell, they knew what their components’ results would sound like (and of course, the room acoustics play an extremely significant part in the end result). If they don’t hear much live music, well...that’s a bit like being a psychologist who has never actually treated patients: knowledge is not the same as reality. Goldmund’s front end components (the older turntables) were on the very, very, VERY slightly dark side, but their electronics were the equivalent of a 125 watt bulb, although NEVER bright. But you could hear sound reflections off ceilings and walls even if, at the same time, you were reading passages Dante’s Inferno. That was also one of my tests: could the component pull me back to the music if I was doing "light reading." Not a great test, but a fun one, nonetheless.
But back to the subject: power cords. I’ve had Shunyata ever since 2003, along with Nordost (and Transparent). All I can say about the Shunyata power cords is that they do NOT have focus issues, they do NOT have problems projecting a 3D image (although the lower ranges [Venom and below]) DO have that issue - somewhat. I bought a Venom once, but as I had become accustomed to the better cords/speaker cables, I had to return them. As I said, my conductor friend who has heard the system the most, is quite specific about what he hears and doesn’t hear, and he finds the Shunyata quite "solid" (aka: 3D) in its presentation. He doesn’t mention "dark" or "light" because non-audiophile musicians don’t hear music - or don’t LISTEN to it - in that way unless its really, REALLY obtrusive.
Long ago (40 years), people who were audiophiles had a lot of experience with live music. Judging by the responses on the threads I see, very few people ever mention how close the music comes to a concert hall they attend, so opinions are all over the place and frankly, having reviewed plenty of equipment, I know that our systems sometimes mask things that we attribute to another component.
I’d ask that when people are talking about the cords, they specify their own systems and the music they use. To be blunt, I wouldn’t THINK of using processed music to assess anything, because I can’t be sure of what the engineer did. The same applies to the manufacturers of power cords, speaker cables, interconnects and everything else.
I love my Schiit Yggdrasil DAC, which I connected to 4 power cords: 3 Shunyata (Cobra, Alpha HC, Python and Sigma) and 1 Nordost (Frey 2) and the sound changed accordingly with each change. Needless to say, the Sigma’s noise floor was so low, I could hear (without turning the volume up high to compensate for my Nola Contenders, Mirage, Hales and Sound Dynamics) that when there was silence - after an orchestral outburst - that I could easily hear the room itself - and the musicians sitting in their seats silently.
MY system:
Preamp: CJ ET3 SE.
Amps: CJ Classic Sixty, ASL Hurricanes amps.
Interconnects: Nordost Frey 2, Heimdall 2, Tyr 2.
Integrated amps: ASL integrated 1003, NAD BEE 320, 325, 326 and 356.
Speaker cable: Nordost Frey 2, Alpha Core Goetz AG-2, and Shunyata Cobra.
Turntables: Versa Dynamics 2.3, Nottingham Horizon, Rega Planar RP3. Tonearms Origin Live Silver Mk II and Rega 300.
Cartridges: Dynavector and Clearaudio.
Power cords: Shunyata Cobra, Alpha, Alpha HC, Delta NR, Sigma, Frey 2, ESP, PS Audio Statement.
Room constructed with ASC Wall damp on a resilient channel. 9 x 13 x 20
Accessories: 38 Tube Traps.
Shakti Stones, Shakti online stabilizers.
Townshend Audio Seismic Isolation platform, Townshend Seismic Iso-pods. Stillpoints Ultra Mini Risers and SS.