Has anyone tried the Shunyata Diamondback PC?

Mjordanas,

You are correct about the connectors. We did not make schuko AC molds because at the time ('04) Europe was an emerging market and these cords have to be made in enormous runs to get decent pricing. I believe we will try to do this in the future but I cannot say when that will be exactly..

We have our less expensive wire manufactured in enormous runs so the wire cost is reasonable compared to the US labor that hand terminates these products. Certainly, as length exceeds 2m-3m the cost goes up but at the shorter lengths the wire length cost difference is secondary to the power cable hand-assembly cost. Paying close attention to open contact junctions and termination is part of the reason we believe our products perform well.

If you have other questions, or if I can help further please e-mail. I normally only participate to inform or correct misinformation.

Grant,

if you want to drag Spectral into this conversation I suggest you first learn how to spell Rick's last name. Every time a manufacturer gets into these discussions all they end up doing is offering more of the same - nothing; the end result is that you drag your own company down with unsubstantiated claims. So I eagerly await your test results.

Mjordanas,

You are correct about the connectors. We did not make schuko AC molds because at the time ('04) Europe was an emerging market and these cords have to be made in enormous runs to get decent pricing. I believe we will try to do this in the future but I cannot say when that will be exactly..

We have our less expensive wire manufactured in enormous runs so the wire cost is reasonable compared to the US labor that hand terminates these products. Certainly, as length exceeds 2m-3m the cost goes up but at the shorter lengths the wire length cost difference is secondary to the power cable hand-assembly cost. Paying close attention to open contact junctions and termination is part of the reason we believe our products perform well.

If you have other questions, or if I can help further please e-mail. I normally only participate to inform or correct misinformation.

Ack,

I cannot dispute your experience, and I am sure you heard what you heard.

My experience was different. I did a fairly extensive test of different Shunyata power cables with my CDP played through a Moon and Dynaudio system that was highly resolving and utilized premium Shunyata and other brand cables throughout. I carefully compared the surplus heavy duty 16 guage moulded printer power cable I had been using to the Shuyata Venom, Diamondback and Taipan Alpha Helix VX power cables. I listened to the same 15 pieces of music at the same volume and in the same listening position in the room for several hours (very generous dealer, Tim at Experience Audio in Seattle). The printer cable had worked better than the stock cable that came with the Cambridge CDP, and was my current "reference".

My findings were that there was little difference between the printer cable and the Venom, a big positive difference between the Diamondback and the other two, and a smaller positive difference in the step up from the Diamondback to the Taipan. This was not the result I wanted, because I was hoping I would not be able to decern much of a difference between the various cables and would be happy purchasing the Venom. I ended up purchasing the Diamondback and were cost not object, I would have purchased the Taipan. For the lower current CDP, the shielded printer cable was nearly as refined as the Venom. For a higher current amplifier application, the thicker guage Venom may very well be clearly superior. For whatever reason, the Diamondback worked well in this test and continues to work very well with my source in my system at home.

My experience carfully listening to and comparing these Shunyata cords has made me interested enough in the subject to build some cords of my own, changing the sound of my system in everycase and usually, but not always, for the better. YMMV.

Your last abbreviation, "YMMV", is exactly what I expect manufacturers to respond with. Some hear differences and others don't, and I am glad you do. In my case, I even used a Sidewinder CX directly to one of the Spectral amps, and the stock cord to the other - no difference whatsoever, even when playing mono material. From this I conclude the stock power cord is just as good as the Shunyata for *this* particular application.

I am very eager to see what Shunyata has to publish in terms of tests which will hopefully show that reducing induction-based resistance (as per Helix patent) in the last 6ft of a power cord has any benefit. Perhaps this geometry can reduce line noise, and since my MIT power conditioners already achieve that, the benefit isn't there for me???

Finally, I took it as a challenge to myself to verify that "Almost all Spectral dealers world wide also sell our power products together with Spectral" as Grant claimed. Results: two out of the total four in the US don't carry Shunyata (Music Lovers and Innovative Audio). Of the total 10 international Spectral distributors, 7 (seven!) did not carry Shunyata either. You can compare for yourselves at http://www.spectralaudio.com/dealers.htm and http://www.shunyata.com/Content/about-worlddist.html

Mr Grant - your credibility is very shaken with me.