Shunyatas New CX series


I looked for the thread where someone inquired if anyone had heard the new Shunyata power cords, but it's gone. Hence, new thread.

In the last 3 weeks, I've purchased the Python CX and then again, I got a new baby -- Viper CX.
As I said in my other post, there's no distinction between Alpha and Helix lines. It's two (slap), two (slap) two cords in 1 (apologies to the old two-mints-in-one commercial).
As I also said before, I wasn't expecting to hear a noticeable difference. BUT. BUT. I did.
Already covered the lowering of grain so that a fine mist - or grain - in the soundfield, is gone. What was the Python.
Having had to endure the Viper CX that came in 10 minutes ago on an Arcam FMJ22 while awaiting the Antique Sound Labs Flora premap's arrival, I wasn't expecting much. Got it, though, and right off the bat. Now, you may say, well, it could sound "exciting" because it's cold. And in other circumstances, I might agree. But I've had every generation of Shunyatas and none, out of the box made me cock my head like a dog who hears something nobody else can hear.
Even on the Viper (and I prefer the more expensive cords because, lets face it, they put more into them), the dynamic jump was obvious, the grain lower and more fluid--just like the Python. Obviously, I'm not going to make up stories about how the soundfield expanded: it's 10 minutes old, dummy! Like I should know from that?!?!? Suffice it to say, for $700, it made me take noitce in a way that my older Python Helix Alpha and VX didn't themselves do, right out of the box. I use the lazy ear approach: pay zero attention and see if your attention is captured despite yourself. I'm not yet captured, but I'm sure snagged. I think Shunyata surpassed their old bugaboos: a slightly soft upper midrange and lower treble (those hits on triangles not only lacked punch, they lacked transient bite and, even more, shimmer). Can't tell about the shimmer now, but I'm taking the day off work. I'm snagged ENOUGH and that works for me. '
I'd recommend starting with a Viper, because I KNOW you'll hear it, and if you can hear it from the lower cords in the range, you can expect jumps from the higher ones. One Python and One Viper today: 2 more Pythons in a couple of weeks (there goes the summer vacation in Ibiza, but given the medical things happening, I'll just have to use my imagination when I'm listening to Chabrie that I'm in sunny Spain or on Ibiza. I think with these cords, I could fool myself [don't worry, I've have the fan on to simulate the breeze]).
Try these out guys. I'm using Ushers, and driven by ASL Hurricanes and the Cambridge Audio 840C with transparent interconnects/speaker cable. (yeah, yeah, stifle yourselves. I have Shunyata speaker cable and interconnects too, but this is what's in the system at the moment and I'm HIGHLY analytical. Never change a compoenent during a controlled experiment)

Oh, one more thing: the tonal quality of groups has improved in the new iteration of cords: brass are a LITTLE golden, strings silvery, and on Balalaika, I actually heard more of the body of the instrument, which is to say, instead of just strings, there's more texture, so it doesn't sound like it could just be a guitar. Quite a jump in the line's resolution, especially the low-level resolution...Maybe it's the midbass-to-lower midrange dynamics, which SEEM more powerful. OR maybe it's the fumes from that Rogaine I just put on my scalp ...
gbmcleod
I concur with Vhiner. Initially, just break in the Python CX until it stabilizes... 100 HRS is a minimum. Not strictly necessary, but it would be great if you can do break in on a higher current device like an amp. I observed progressive beneficial changes on CX cords for about 1.5 to 2 weeks, for a total of about 300 hours. CX series power cords are generalists, in that at least in my system they appear to be equally suitable for low power and high power applications alike.... From CDPs (Esoteric X-01 Ltd) up to power amps (Rowland M312, M625).. It is a perfectly good idea to evaluate the cord initially on your CDP, and then contrast it with its effect on the preamplifier. There is no telling apriori on which device you will prefer Python CX. G.
The Python CX I bought is a dealer demo, so it will probably be broken in. Planning on using it on my Audio Aero Capitol CDP.
Pdreher,

Per the folks at Shunyata, even previously broken in CX cords need to settle for a couple of days of continuous playing before they reach optimal performance levels. That said, I have bought a number of "demos" and it's worth inquiring if it was a cable that was "demo'd" once as a loaner or used constantly in the store. Often a loaner has no more than a couple of dozen hours on it. If they can't tell you an approximate number of days or weeks of use...you may still be facing break in.(sorry) These cables are nice out of the box but go through a really wretched phase between 50 -100 hours. And Guidocorona is right that they really don't reach maximum performance until 300 or so....some say even more...but it depends on the resolutuion of one's system.

I'm convinced some people are underwhelmed by power cords because they are too quick to assess. I recommend leaving them in one place for a week or two and then removing them. That will tell you everything you need to know.
I just confirmed with the dealer that it has at least 400 hours on it. So I would think it will settle in nicely once I have it running for a week or so.
I'm jealous. I don't find break in to be a particularly enjoyable process. Look forward to hearing about your impressions.