Altaira has arrived

[streetspirit]

Originally Posted by piolaxo

Is it possible to share the MSRP. I'm sure is out of my range, and I don't even have
the space for it, so just curious. The comments here are so tempting. Then also in my
system the benefits won't be as dramatic of the systems here in AA.

It’s not as expensive as you would think… I was surprised in a good way that it wasn’t crazy astronomically high. It’s an awesome unit and the technology is legit! Talk to MasterLu! I did and I’m super happy I did for the Altaira!

Mitch

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by jfray

This is interesting….. it’s a grounding hub?

Yes.

Originally Posted by jfray

It provides an additional grounding path to the plug? I’m trying to visualize what’s happening….. google here we go

Not exactly. It is specifically designed to reduce two classes of ground-plane noise: 1) "chassis-ground-plane" noise (which ultimately makes a connection to "earth ground" and 2) "signal ground-plane" noise.

With respect to learning about the Altaira system, there is comprehensive "foundational" literature available on this product and the proper procedure for configuring and installing an Altaira system. Please read the links provided earlier in this thread and the links I've provided below. They will be more informative and pertinent than what you can find by "Googling".

Let's start at the beginning. First, you need to do the requisite foundational reading. Before you purchase an Altaira, it is VERY important you do the foundational reading, so that you understand the science and engineering basis for what Altaira does and why, not only to understand what the Altaira system does, but also for safety reasons.

The foundational Grounding Concepts guide is here:
https://shunyata.com/wp-content/uplo...epts-Guide.pdf

Then, read this:
https://shunyata.com/wp-content/uplo...A-Brochure.pdf

If you start out with a CG hub for your system overall first, and then decide you want to create "segmented system" later by getting an SG hub later (say for your digital front end), that's also entirely workable, as well, it just won't be quite as optimal as starting with two SG hubs from the get-go, but it will be better than just the CG hub by itself. The key here is the the Altaira is both FLEXIBLE, ADAPTABLE, and EXTENSIBLE, so you can "extend" your Altaira system as your configuration, system, or set-up changes or evolves over time. The bottom-line is there's no downside here as your system, configuration, or needs change with time, you can extend from the "baseline" Altaira system you've started out with.

I'd also strongly recommend you read the orginal thread from last fall in it's entirety as well.
https://www.audioaficionado.org/showthread.php?t=51268

The two types of hubs are "different", but each are important with respect to being designed to address specific classes of noise on the ground plane. If you're going to start with one, single hub for your overall system you must start with an Altaira CG hub, first. If you have the funds to start with a "segmented system" (which is simply more than one hub), you should start with two Signal Ground (SG) Altaira hubs. An example of a segmented system, would be one segment for a digital "front end" (e.g. streamer, DAC, CD player, switch, etc), and the other segment for the amplification components, such as preamp, amp, mono blocks, etc). This is the configuration I use in my system, as an example.

Another example of a segmented system could also be for fully dual-mono amplification chain: preamps and amplifiers. You can use two SG Altairas, one for each channel, L and R, of your fully dual-mono amplification system.

With something as important as grounding, both for safety reasons and proper application reasons, it's very important for potential Altaira customers to do their homework, upfront, first. I can't stress this enough. And, then work with a trained and certified Altaira dealer to know how to properly and safely implement the Altaira system for their respective components and applications. Ivan is fully trained and certified and can get you properly set-up. There's a number of folks that now have their Altaira systems set up and working well, so feel free to reach out with questions. I can't stress enough, though, the importance of doing the foundational reading and then work with Ivan on your best set-up.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by piolaxo

Is it possible to share the MSRP. I'm sure is out of my range, and I don't even have the space for it, so just curious.

The Altaira hubs are approximately $3K USD. The Altaira hubs are also fairly small and designed such that you can simply place them on top of a component already in the rack. You don't need a dedicated shelf or space for them.

As shown here: one of my SG hubs, solely dedicated to the "source" components, my Lumin P1 and EAR phono stage, sits on top of the Lumin P1. The source components are the only components connected to this specific SG hub Altaira.

The other Altaira, on the bottom shelf, just sits on top of the Constellation Inspiration integrated amp, so it doesn't require any additional rack shelf, either. The Inspiration integrated amp is the only component connected to this specifc SG Altaira. Because the Inspiration is fully dual-mono, I have two separate pairs of L/R grouding cables for unused input ports (a pair of unused RCAs and a pair of XLRs) connected to independent zones on this Altaira, for a total of four cables in all. Each Altaira SG hub is connected to a GP-NR terminal on my Everest power distributor with an Omega CGC ground cable.

Originally Posted by piolaxo

The comments here are so tempting. Then also in my system the benefits won't be as dramatic of the systems here in AA.

I would not make that assumption if I were you.

I would actually go down on the specification of the preamp/amp or integrated and put those funds to an Altaira if I had to allocate those funds one way or the other. That's how foundational Altaira is, in my experience.

Let's consider a real world example: since I'm fan of integrated amps, let's say you've got $9K to spend on an integrated amp, and you decide to invest in a Hegel H590 integrated amp. A really nice integrated amp at a price point that many folks in our hobby could afford and would consider. So: 1) you could put your $9K into a Hegel H590, or 2) you could spend $6k on a Hegel H390 and use the remaining $3K to purchase an Altaira CG hub. And, if I were considering these two choices, that's exactly what I would do, choose "Door #2".

Here's why: a lot of folks (most, probably), think that the "noise" rides "down low", at the bottom of the "signal + noise" component of the source "information" being amplfied. This is not true: the noise actually rides "on top" of the signal...as such, its deteriorates and degrades the integrity of signal itself. As shown here with a digital signal source.

This is reality...., here's a graphic depicting 2 and 5 noise components riding on top of the analog voltage square wave that actually comprises a digital signal (BTW there are NO 0's and 1's, that is only how the original digital information is encoded, but I digress).


So, to my mind, why would I spend that extra $3K on the H590 only to have it amplify all the noise (which we hear as "grit, grain, grunge, hash", etc.) that is still there, mind you, BETTER than the H390? When, alternatively, I could buy an H390 AND an Altaira and have it eliminate the "grit, grain, grunge, hash" up front, and thus allowing the less-expensive H390 amplify a much quieter, much cleaner, more accurate, and truer-to-the-recording signal?

Which would you rather listen to?

To my reasoning, that's a simple choice.

[jfray]

Thanks for the detailed response! I will read thru all of it….. obviously you are extremely happy with it which has me highly interested

[Masterlu]

I just ordered Altaira for my Reference Grandioso Stack.

[SCAudiophile]

Just curious,...Altaira SGC or CGC?

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by SCAudiophile

Just curious,...Altaira SGC or CGC?

Both

[SCAudiophile]

Cool...

[piolaxo]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

The Altaira hubs are approximately $3K USD. The Altaira hubs are also fairly small and designed such that you can simply place them on top of a component already in the rack. You don't need a dedicated shelf or space for them.

As shown here: one of my SG hubs, solely dedicated to the "source" components, my Lumin P1 and EAR phono stage, sits on top of the Lumin P1. The source components are the only components connected to this specific SG hub Altaira.

The other Altaira, on the bottom shelf, just sits on top of the Constellation Inspiration integrated amp, so it doesn't require any additional rack shelf, either. The Inspiration integrated amp is the only component connected to this specifc SG Altaira. Because the Inspiration is fully dual-mono, I have two separate pairs of L/R grouding cables for unused input ports (a pair of unused RCAs and a pair of XLRs) connected to independent zones on this Altaira, for a total of four cables in all. Each Altaira SG hub is connected to a GP-NR terminal on my Everest power distributor with an Omega CGC ground cable.





I would not make that assumption if I were you.

I would actually go down on the specification of the preamp/amp or integrated and put those funds to an Altaira if I had to allocate those funds one way or the other. That's how foundational Altaira is, in my experience.

Let's consider a real world example: since I'm fan of integrated amps, let's say you've got $9K to spend on an integrated amp, and you decide to invest in a Hegel H590 integrated amp. A really nice integrated amp at a price point that many folks in our hobby could afford and would consider. So: 1) you could put your $9K into a Hegel H590, or 2) you could spend $6k on a Hegel H390 and use the remaining $3K to purchase an Altaira CG hub. And, if I were considering these two choices, that's exactly what I would do, choose "Door #2".

Here's why: a lot of folks (most, probably), think that the "noise" rides "down low", at the bottom of the "signal + noise" component of the source "information" being amplfied. This is not true: the noise actually rides "on top" of the signal...as such, its deteriorates and degrades the integrity of signal itself. As shown here with a digital signal source.

This is reality...., here's a graphic depicting 2 and 5 noise components riding on top of the analog voltage square wave that actually comprises a digital signal (BTW there are NO 0's and 1's, that is only how the original digital information is encoded, but I digress).


So, to my mind, why would I spend that extra $3K on the H590 only to have it amplify all the noise (which we hear as "grit, grain, grunge, hash", etc.) that is still there, mind you, BETTER than the H390? When, alternatively, I could buy an H390 AND an Altaira and have it eliminate the "grit, grain, grunge, hash" up front, and thus allowing the less-expensive H390 amplify a much quieter, much cleaner, more accurate, and truer-to-the-recording signal?

Which would you rather listen to?

To my reasoning, that's a simple choice.

Thanks for the insight. Yes it is not crazy expensive, so I could be
interested. I have one tuner that is not hooked up and it may give up its
place in the rack. Real state is at a premium.

After watching a couple of videos I can see the benefit. The preamps and
the amp are the immediate targets, but the some of the sources as well.

Now, I need to do more research on the components to see what is likely
to be grounded and what not. Some have a ground screw, others nothing.
In one of the Shunyata videos I heard that there would be a database
to guide which components were candidates for chassis grounding and
which ones for signal grounding, but I didn't find it. That could be quite
useful.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by piolaxo

Thanks for the insight. Yes it is not crazy expensive, so I could be
interested. I have one tuner that is not hooked up and it may give up its
place in the rack. Real state is at a premium.

After watching a couple of videos I can see the benefit. The preamps and
the amp are the immediate targets, but the some of the sources as well.

Now, I need to do more research on the components to see what is likely
to be grounded and what not. Some have a ground screw, others nothing.
In one of the Shunyata videos I heard that there would be a database
to guide which components were candidates for chassis grounding and
which ones for signal grounding, but I didn't find it. That could be quite
useful.

Actually, the guidance is straightforward:

1) If you will be getting a single Altaira ground hub for your entire system, get a CG Altaira hub. Whiie it's optimal to use a dedicated ground terminal on the component to connect a Shunyata CGC (chassis ground cable) from the component to the Altaira, you can also use a chassis fastener (after checking with an ohm meter between that fastener and the ground pin in the IEC receptacle that a connection to ground is made, i.e., reading < 1 ohm). If neither those connections is possible, you can use an unused interface port (e.g. an unused RCA or XLR input or output) by using the appropriately terminated CGC ground cable. So, for example, if you have an unused RCA input or output jack, the RCA "barrel" makes a connection to chassis ground, so that RCA jack can be used. If your component is dual-mono, you should use TWO CGC ground cables, one for each channel, to the CG Altaira. Same applies for unsued XLR interfaces. The key thing is, if you are going to use an RCA or XLR port to connect a ground cable to Altaira, you MUST use a Shunyata RCA or XLR ground cable (or ground cable tail), because it is constructed so that the cable only makes a connection to "chassis ground" (DO NOT use a regular IC in this application).

2) If you are going to be implementing a "segmented system", e.g. one Altaira for say, a "digital stack" (e.g., streamer, network bridge, switch, or DAC, etc) and another for the "amplification" stack (integrated, pre, stereo amp, monos, etc), the guidance is to use SG hubs for this application. Same rules as in No. 1 above apply for connecting your components to these (respective) Altairas. In some cases, this can be more straightforward. For example, if you're connecting a DAC, and have an unused S/PDIF, BNC, or USB port, you only need to connect a single cable from that DAC to the Altaira. If you're connecting an Ethernet switch, you can connect a CGC with an RJ45 "tail" to an unused RJ45 port on that switch, and so and so forth. Whle it's optimal to have a proper, dedicated ground terminal as a lot of the Asian company components (Esoteric, Aurender, Lumin, etc) do, the range of various tails ensures you should be able to connect to an unused interface port, whether it be RCA, XLR, S/PDIF, BNC, RJ45, USB A/B, etc, to connect these devices to your Altaira.

Here's a real world example: Because my Constellation Inspiration integrated is my only "analog amplification device", I'm using a dedicated Altaira SG hub just for the Inspiration. As the Inspiration is fully dual-mono throughout, and there is no dedicated chassis ground terminal, I am using two XLR ground cables, one for an unused Left XLR input and one for an unused Right XLR input. Same would apply for the RCA connections on unbalanced only components, e.g. from C-J or First Sound, etc. For example, for my First Sound preamp, which is also fully dual-mono, I would also connect two individual RCA ground cables, one for each channel.

Hope this helps...feel free to ask if you have any other questions.