So, I’ve had the Delta NR for around 10 days now. And I think I see the difference in the Alpha HC and the Delta NR.
The Delta NR has a slightly "fuller" sound. It is not at the expense of transparency at all: it is just more powerful-sounding than the Alpha HC. Bass has much more impact on the Delta NR than the Alpha HC. I moved the two cords between two positions only: Wall to PS Audio Power Plant Regenerator and from the regenerator to an NAD C356BEE.
Clearly, the NR has weighty kicka** bass that- in this system - eludes both the Cobra ZiTron AND the Alpha HC. (I have always thought the ZiTron Cobra to have less bass weight than any other generation of Shunyata cord, but then, this was the first generation of ZiTron technology, and one can clearly hear the improvements in sonics with even the non Zi-Tron Delta cable, the "baby" of the new line.
That said, the ZiTron technology evident in the Cobra, Python, Sigma and the Alpha HC, should not be undervalued. They have some very "real" lifelike sound capabilities that the Delta does not. I can hear a certain "stillness" to the NR that does not exist in (even) (older) ZiTron technology. In the old days, one would describe the Delta sound as not being quite "liquid." Maybe a better word is "dry." Not completely dry, but a touch of it.
Even the ZiTron Cobra - although it has a higher noise floor/has less bass clarity, weight and impact/ and certainly not the effortless with lyrics, dynamic kick, bang and boom of the Delta - has a sense of "life" that the Delta does not. I heard it pretty quickly, but thought the cord might still be breaking in. However, I’m assured that the break-in is over at 10 days, 24/7, so it’s a trait of the cord. If you have a more liquid system, this won’t bother you. When I insert the ET3SE, the sound is instantly more "alive," (but the CJ is considerably superior to the NAD, which is still VERY good). In THAT scenario, the Delta’s "stillness" is somewhat mitigated by the superior resolution of the CJ). And when I put in the Hurricanes, I’m sure there will be plenty of joy in Mudville. After all, ZiTron technology only came around 8 years ago or so, so if you liked Shunyata then, you’ll love it now. It sounds alive, has a lower noise floor, and a LOT more resolution of inner details (I forgot to say that about the Delta).
So, Sarah Vaughan - who does more with her voice than any other 10 singers around - more clearly swoops, shreiks, moans, and the other thousand things she does while singing - is considerably more clearly heard doing this with the Delta NR than with the ZiTron Cobra, or even the Alpha HC. (I haven’t put my ZiTron Python on the NAD because the cord is too short to reach between the NAD and the Power Plant).
Now, the Cobra ZiTron and the Alpha HC? They will breathe "the breath of life" into a recording in a way that the Delta NR does not. They’re both just slightly more "fluid," although, in this modest setup, they certainly do not edge out the Delta NR in other ways that I notice.
So, I’m a little torn here. Not between the Delta or the Alpha (I’ll take the Delta), but just that this is like getting a BIG raise - but you then have to give up your weekends and work late 1 night a week. I might actually have to exchange this for an Alpha - which I am sure will sound phenomenal - in exchange for getting back the ZiTron technology. Not sure yet.
I WILL say that I DO like the Delta on the NAD more than I like the Alpha HC on it: the suddenness of stop-start sound is dazzling (meaning it JUMPS dynamically and even the subtle, tiny, inflections are obvious), and when someone is hammering piano keys, it SOUNDS like they’re HAMMERING IT, not just hitting it forcefully. And the Delta NR’s really, REALLY, low noise-floor should not be overlooked: I can play songs at much lower volumes and maintain the clarity, losing only some of the sense of ambience (and that’s more due to the NAD’s not having a phenomenal sense of ambience anyway) that’s on the recording. But the "liveliness" of the song remains just that - lively - even at low volumes, while other cables (even other Shunyata cables) can make it sound like the orchestra is playing with less zest and bravura as the volume drops. That’s not going to be a problem people are going to be complaining about with the Delta, I’m thinking.
So, there you have it. To ZiTron or NOT to ZiTron.
