Shunyata's power products have improved with new technologies since Sigma HC. If you haven't heard the Noise-Reduction technology on their current series of power cords, you definitely should. This technology evolved out of their Clear Image Scientific Division, where their technology is used for cardiac imaging, where the data from using conventional cables is obscured by noise.
Why is this important in audio? A quote from Caelin on this:
"The design of a power cable can significantly affect the reactance of these signals within the power supply. The power cable is effectively part of the primary winding of the power transformer. The transition between the various metals used in a power cable and its connectors can cause electromagnetic reflections and diode-like rectification of the noise impulses as they propagate away from the power supply. If the power cable presents a high impedance to these signals they will be reflected back into the power supply where they will intermodulate, thus increasing the high frequency noise levels of the component. Most power supply filters are ineffective at blocking very high frequency noise components and much of it is passed through to the DC rails."
The NR filters on the Shunyata PCs prevent this from happening, so that the power distribution chain stays as clean as possible from these noise components. You can visually see the impact of this in the cardiac traces above.
Shunyata's cable lineup from the Alpha line and higher have proprietary technologies that address the principal class of noise components for each cable type.
Specifically:
- NR for power cords; mitigates component-to-component interferance as described above.
- TAP for signal cables: addresses electromagnetic polarization distortion caused by longitudinal EM waves in signal cables
- HARP for speaker cables: mitigates current mode cable resonance. Demos I've arranged for audio buddies to hear HARP leaves them talking about it for days afterward; no joke.
- CMode for digital cables: mitigates impact of common-mode noise in digital cables
As always, my recommendation would be to rent in, and see what works for you in your system and your room.
__________________
Lumin P1 streamer/DAC/preamp, Constellation Inspiration integrated TT: Michell Gyro SE MkII, SME V, Koetsu Urushi Vermilion, EAR324. Harbeth 30.2s, REL R-305, Shunyata Alpha V2 ICs, Alpha V2 SPs, Sigma XC, Sigma NRv2, Omega QR-s & Alpha NRv2 PCs, segmented Altaira SG stack w/ Alpha & Omega CGCs, Everest 8000 PD. Remote Server Room: Uptone EtherREGEN, AfterDark Master Clock & LPS, Alita, Battle Angel, (Akasa NUC Roon Core), iFi DC Purifiers (for SMPS used for Alita & router), Shunyata Gemini combo power distributor & Altaira-type CG GP-NR hub, Venom & Alpha CGCs, Shunyata NRv14 power cords for digital components.
Last edited by Puma Cat; 04-22-2021 at 06:51 PM.
|