Delta and Alpha Power Cord flexibility
 

For those of you who have these power cables in your system (or even the previous models that are roughly the same girth), about how much clearance do you need between your component and a wall behind? Based on the pics of the new Alpha and Sigma cords, I realize you can't push them up against the wall but was hoping for a bit of flexibility so I wouldn't have to pull my rack out too far from the back wall. Would a few to 5 inches or so be sufficient?

- Buck

Definitely :yes:

Shunyata cable clearance
 

I'd allow 7" at a minimum. Any less and you'd be flexing the cable too much.

The distance between the back of the units and the wall is 12". I got out a measuring tape. It's such a mess back there and I don't know how better to address it. There are three (3) Shunyata power cables in that abomination of a snake pit. Two (2) Anacondas and an Alpha. These are the girth and inflexibility of which you speak. If anything, I would love to pull them all another several inches farther yet in to the room. You could maybe pull it off inside 11". But even 12" is really, really tight for me.

I've experimented with the Shunyata cable elevators. Putting them not only on the floor but against the wall in an attempt to keep the cables from pressing against the wall. I wouldn't say that's been too successful but it is something I have tried. Hard to identify them in the photos, but I have about half a dozen of them in the mix to try and achieve some modicum of organization and stability.

In the first picture from left, that's a Shunyata Alpha power cable. You can see it at a full 12" from the wall and it's almost touching the wall. That last picture of the same Shunyata Alpha with the measuring tape, my thumb is at the 5" mark. There's no way 5" to 7" inches would be enough.

It's the same story with the Shunyata Anacondas. The third picture from the left, that's a Shunyata Anaconda coming from the wall. It cuts hard at about 8". Are you thinking 8" is enough? I would have to say, no. If that were the only cable back there, maybe. But when you get into a snake pit, these cables must cross each other at some point. I studied all this last night when I reconfigured my system and this is the best that I could accomplish. In conclusion, I would say the snake pit could maybe be done with 11" clearance from the wall. Mine are at 12". And I believe 15" would be much more comfortable.

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If you have concerns about the space needed for routing a Shunyata power cable behind the rack, the the new Shunyata EF and Alpha EF would be your best bets.

Scroll down the page to the EF cable for a description.

http://shunyata.com/power-cables/

Delta and Alpha Power Cord flexibility
 

I have (6) Alpha HC power cords behind my rack which sits inside a cabinet. It’s a really tight fit. The minimum space you need to make the bend is 7” IIRC ... here is a pic I had sent to me from the factory of the new Alpha NR making a tight of a bend as possible .....

Attachment 52408

Good info, thanks guys, I was unaware they had an Alpha EF.....that may be my best bet, I'll have to measure when I get home but 12 inches is really pushing it with the ARC Ref phono 2 SE, I can probably handle 6-7. I can't imagine there would be a huge performance difference between the standard and the EF?

- Buck

Oh, yeah, there will. An entry-level Shunyata Venom 3 would sound considerably better than the stock power cord.

Oh sure, I meant a difference in the standard Alpha vs. the EF.......just thinking if there wasn't any performance difference why wouldn't you just make Efs so no one would have to worry about space constraints?

I think ‘standard’ in this context refers to Shunyata’s NR series.

I too am interested in the EF series power cords. Little is published online relative to how they perform sonically. Much of what’s written seems focused on the flexibility.