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Old 06-02-2023, 08:01 PM
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Default Altaira Grounding for Network Server Room

Today I'm getting some Altaira system VT-X grounding "tails" in with RJ45 and USB-A terminations. The plan is to install the USB-A tail in an unused USB port on the Mini Roon Core and the RJ45 tail in an unused port in my Pace router, both of which are located in the remote server room and connect them to Gemini. The Mac Mini, EtherREGEN, AfterDark Master Clock, and Pace router are all powered by the new Gemini power distributor which is perfect for these applications and also has... four Altaira chassis-ground noise-reduction terminals.


You can see in the photo above the Alpha CGC that connects from EtherREGEN's ground terminal to Gemini's fourth terminal.

I really like how Shunyata implemented their "base ground cable" and "tails" system: you can purchase a base cable of the spec you need (e.g., Venom, Delta, Alpha, Sigma, Omega) and then simply add the appropriately-terminated tail for your specific application(s). There's a variety of tails available including XLR male and female, USB-A and B, RJ45, S/DPIF, BNC, etc.

Shown here are pics of the Alpha CGCs and their respective XLR tails I use for (unused) XLR jacks on my Constellation Inspiration integrated and Lumin P1. As both components are fully dual-mono, I use a CGC + XLR tail for each channel, L/R, for each component.

An Alpha base ground cable with standard STIS banana plugs. The two types of XLR tails are shown in the middle of the base cable.


Photo showing an XLR female VTX-Ag tail "snapped" onto the Alpha base ground cable. The male XLR tail is shown in the middle.


Here's the cables for the Lumin P1 in the main rack in place: the lower left shows the two cables with XLR tails connecting from the P1 to the Altaira SGC hub on top.


I'll make similar connections from the Mac Mini Roon core and router in the server room but will connect to Gemini, instead...stay tuned.
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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.
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  #2  
Old 06-02-2023, 08:01 PM
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And...look what just arrived: the USB-A and RJ45 VTX-Ag tails.



Et voila...
the USB tail on an Alpha CGC


the RJ45 tail on an Alpha CGC
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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.
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  #3  
Old 06-02-2023, 08:04 PM
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Okay....so played a reference track on with the system fully warmed up. Then, connected a single Alpha CGC from an unused USB-A port on the Mac Mini Roon core to an Altaira terminal" on Gemini.

Holy cow!

The presentation just became notably more expansive, dimensionally-layered, spacious and 3-dimensional, with a background with a "deeper decay" into blackness. Whoa....NOT subtle.
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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; 09-01-2023 at 02:32 AM.
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  #4  
Old 09-01-2023, 02:23 AM
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As some folks might remember, the new 4-outlet Shunyata Gemini power distributor/combination Altaira-type ground hub uses a C15 power cord instead of the C20 specification that's usually used for power distributors. Also, when you buy a Gemini, you can also buy it as a "bundle" with a Venom HC v2 C15 power cord.

So, that's what I was using to power the Gemini that functions as the power distributor (and Altaira-type ground hub) for the EtherREGEN switch, router and Alita, my Akasa NUC Roon core that all reside in the remote server room, as shown...


Well, tonight, I replaced the Venom HC v2 with the new Shunyata Venom-X EF (for "extra-flexible") power cord.

You know, the one that looks like this (Shunyata's pic, not mine. ).


I put in the Venom-X "extra flexible" PC as I thought it would be easier to route along the wall and behind the piece of furniture that's between Gemini's AC wall receptacle and the IKEA Lack table that functions as the "rack" for Gemini, the music server, router, ER, and Alita (and, as it's "extra-flexible, sure enough, it is easier to route) than the really stiff and heavy Venom HC v2 PC.

I gotta admit, I wasn't expecting a whole lot here, but as soon as I powered up the gear in the remote server room and pulled up a track in Roon in the listening room....it was: "Oh, my!"

Everything, I mean everything, about the presentation is better. It's also notably more natural- and "organic"-sounding. More spacious with more depth to the soundstage. And, "relaxed" as Hans Beekhuizen is fond of saying.

Whelp, another home-run for the gang at Shunyata.

Turns out the quality of the power cables, power distributor and grounding for the music server "componentry", in another room, no less, matters as much as the gear in the main rack.

The system just keeps getting better and better...
__________________
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; 09-01-2023 at 02:30 AM.
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  #5  
Old 11-18-2023, 05:55 PM
Clyde2 Clyde2 is offline
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I replaced the Venom HC power cable with the new Venom X EF on my Gemini that powers my “Network Closet” a few days ago. The difference was apparent from the start but now that it has had sometime to settle in, I’m happy to echo the earlier comments by Puma Cat. Definitely better imaging and more “wholeness” to instruments and vocals. It brings the presentation further away from sounding like a recording and closer to the actual thing. More evidence that our entire system is a chain. Front to back, the weak links will affect the whole, wherever they are.

Thanks to Puma Cat and Ivan for their leadership on this and for making another upgrade possible.
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  #6  
Old 11-18-2023, 06:25 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Clyde2 View Post
I replaced the Venom HC power cable with the new Venom X EF on my Gemini that powers my “Network Closet” a few days ago. The difference was apparent from the start but now that it has had sometime to settle in, I’m happy to echo the earlier comments by Puma Cat. Definitely better imaging and more “wholeness” to instruments and vocals.
Yup!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Clyde2 View Post
It brings the presentation further away from sounding like a recording and closer to the actual thing. More evidence that our entire system is a chain. Front to back, the weak links will affect the whole, wherever they are.
Yup!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Clyde2 View Post
Thanks to Puma Cat and Ivan for their leadership on this and for making another upgrade possible.
Cheers!
__________________
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.
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  #7  
Old 11-18-2023, 07:21 PM
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Glad I reread this thread. Almost forgot to order a grounding cable (going with Delta grounding & power cables and Sigma XC for power feed to the Gemini) for the Roon Nucleus.
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  #8  
Old 11-18-2023, 08:16 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Formerly YB-2 View Post
Glad I reread this thread. Almost forgot to order a grounding cable (going with Delta grounding & power cables and Sigma XC for power feed to the Gemini) for the Roon Nucleus.


Also, for folks that have a router or Ethernet switch with an unused RJ45 Ethernet port in the "server room" , you can also connect a ground cable from Gemini to one of the router or switch's unused RJ45 ports. The commercially-available routers, switches, and such are generally pretty dirty (noisy) and, as such, really benefit from ground-plane noise reduction.

You can see my ground cable with RJ45 tail coming off my Pace router on the right in this photo of my server room setup with Alita, Battle Angel (the Akasa NUC at left). This cable plugs into a ground terminal on my Gemini's "Altaira CG" subsystem.

__________________
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.
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