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Shunyata CX Python Speaker Cables

I listened to these and was going to buy until a house...er...tree fell on my house and all the rest of Connecticut and knocked out our power. I'm sure you all know the story by now.
I still got to listen to these, and I'd love to hear from others who HAVE listened to them. I thought them excellent, excellent cables, with body in the bass as well as dynamics, but also in the upper midrange and treble ranges, without losing dynamics. And the sense of "continuity" is stronger than with my Andromedas (circa 2003) or Geminis.
They did a killer job with this CX interconnect/speaker line: tonally, spatially, coherence (the cello sounds great on this line, not as great on the Andomedas) with an absence of grain (haze?) altogether. Friggin' beautiful, but not in the sense of being colored. And the slight darkness of older Shunyata lines (mostly the power cords)is absent, and therefore a much more "elegant" sound: they hold together very well at crescendos and flutes don't disappear at fortissimos, as they tended to do when violins played in the same range. And nobody crowds anyone out, as though they're playing in an old-fashioned coke bottle and whoever's "sound" gets out first "squeezes" the other instruments' contributions. Nope, it's more like someone cut off the top 1/3 of the Coke bottle, and now ALL the instruments have equal access to do their bit when everyone's playing at the same time. Nordost has done this, too, but with a thinning out of the timbre usually (and I own [right now, this very minute] all the Nordost, from Quattro Fils, up to Valkyrjas, to Freys to Tyrs to Valhallas, so I'm not hallucinating!!!

So, what are others' impressions? I'm excited for Shunyata.
P.S. Equipment: First Sound Deluxe Mk II, ASL Hurricanes, Odyssey Kartago amps; Nola Viper IIA, Hales Rev 3, Sound Dynamics RTS 3 speakers; Arcam FMJ 23, Arcam FMJ DVD 27 Bryston BDA-1 digital; Nordost Sort Kones, Shunyata CX Python power cords, Quantum QBase and QRT Harmonizers.
gbmcleod
gbmcleod OP
508 posts
 
Vhiner:
I'd say your system is a few light years ahead of mine! A CJ CT5?!? Anaconda CXes?!? AND A TRITON?? You're killin' me with your gracious statement.I wouldn't even put the Hales in the same category as Thiel 3.7s, except that they're both hard to drive, methinks! Resolution-wise, Thiel's a good deal ahead. But not to fear: next year, I'm getting Maggie 1.7s, just so's I have a current, high-resolution speaker. And then another preamp. I'm aiming at a CJ as well.
Nonetheless, it's good we hear the same things. It only shows how consistent Shunyata's products perform in different systems.
I hear Shunyata has new products for CES. Lets see how long we can hang onto to our old stuff: Shunyata's getting too good for my wallet!
vhiner
544 posts
 
Gbmcleod,

My wallet's tapped out and it's gonna kill me to merely read about the next generation of power cords Shunyata will unveil in January. Apparently, they're applying the same technology we hear in the signal cables.

Btw, I hear the new CJ ET 3 SE preamp is a giant killer. Those Maggie's are amazing. I heard the 1.7's a few months ago and they do some serious magic.
dadsears
8 posts
 
Gbmcleod:
Last week Santa brought a pair of Python speaker cables (said to be demos). My only frame of reference is with my long term (5 years or so) Kimber 8TC (newest version with WBT term's). With my set up I was somewhat surprised there was not more of a revelation going to the Pythons. Your comments do fit what small differences I heard, however. I have no other experience with Shunyata speaker cables, although I have had mostly Shunyata power and signal cables and Hydra 4 conditioner in my set up for the last 6 years or so. The reason why I describe all this is that the (Shunyata) upgrades leading up to the Python SCs were of greater benefit as my ears have heard. The greatest gain was the addition of the Shunyata Talos; it replaced a Hydra 4. The difference was night and day for the better. I have concluded that the addition of the Talos is on the order of going from a marginal CD player to a great balanced CD player (as I recently have - so I speak from experience). I am not familiar with your equipment but would suggest you attempt to audition a Talos (or Triton) before upgrading this next year.
FYI, my present set up: Shunyata Talos, Anaconda CX, Python CX, Telwire cord, Simaudio Supernova (CD), Simaudio 600i, Sony 5400es (SACD), Python ICs, balanced, Python SCs, Dynaudio Focus 140, Magnapan MMG, and 1.6 (highly modified). Happy listening.
vhiner
544 posts
 
Dadsears,

I have the Triton and agree it leaves the previous Hydras and V-Rays in the dust.

I'm surprised to hear the Pythons haven't shined so much in your system...I've been curious if what I've been hearing was more system synergy or not. I just heard from someone recently who has the same digital front end as I do and he loves Shunyata's Anaconda speaker cables...they're just a bit out of my price range. It might be interesting to compare the Pythons to the upper end Kimber wire since that brand was working for you
dadsears
8 posts
 
Vhiner,
I am thinking this new addition of the Shunyata Python SCs may be one of those changes that is heard over the long term vs. short term A/B testing. And I will check the connections as I am unfamiliar with the bananas such as these have. The true test will be when I reinsert the Kimber 8TC back into the system.
As for my experience, it is interesting that the major improvements in musicality have come from the "power side" and not the "signal side". And this is not just about the upgrading to the Triton, but even going from a Shunyata Python CX 20A to a Anaconda CX (20A) between wall and Hydra 4. How the venues made themselves more clearly defined, and with the volume level going up, are only 2 of many noted changes for the better.
I will give the Python SCs time to burn in; thus far the differences are not so easily heard. About the idea of upper end Kimbers: interesting to ponder, frankly I would rather stick with the likes of Shunyata products. The idea being synergy and more of a known sound. Thanks for your comments.
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