Shunyata Sigma NR v2 Power Cord review

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by kennyb123

I guess my opticalModule isn’t really a switch as it’s a fiber media converter. But it’s powered by an inexpensive Chinese linear power supply with the power cord being a Venom V14D. Downstream from that is an EtherRegen powered by a Farad Super3. The power cord is also a V14D. I really like that cord with these all-digital devices.

Yes, it really works well in applications where the devices are in the digital domain only (i.e., digital in, digital out). The V14D came out Shunyata's sister company, Clear Image Scientific. It was originally developed for medical imaging applications, e.g. cardiac monitors, etc. It lets cardiac surgeons see heart signals they literally could not see before due the proponderance of noise in the image.

[RRibeiro]

Originally Posted by kennyb123

I guess my opticalModule isn’t really a switch as it’s a fiber media converter. But it’s powered by an inexpensive Chinese linear power supply with the power cord being a Venom V14D. Downstream from that is an EtherRegen powered by a Farad Super3. The power cord is also a V14D. I really like that cord with these all-digital devices.

Thanks Kenny and Puma Cat.
This is a topic that matters a lot to me. I have been reading a lot about this setup: Ehternet from Router - Optical Converter - OF - EtherRegen powered by a Farad Super3 - ethrnet down into Nucleus. And I would like very much to try the EterRegen setup on my system, but unfortunally Uptone Audio and EtherRegen or Farad are not available here. But Shunyata distributor in Portugal asked me, instead of EtherRegen, to test the Sotm switch (also their representation), the sNH-10G with also an Optical kit.

First findings are
- after swapping my old TP-link conventional switch by the Sotm, I clearly prefer my somehow old, Alpha Digital PC on the Hypsos/Nucleus/Roon, than the Venom V12 NR. Surprisingly (?) the Alpha Digital does the job (highs noise filtering) much better.
- prefer the all ethernet setup, without the Optical module. With the Optical kit it get more clean air and better transients, but shows (perhaps the correct word) with a little more highs distortion, and too much upfront and coldness. Less musicality overall.

Perhaps everything needs more burnin ( only 100 hours yet) or the cheap awitching power supplies associated are not helping.

The less-highs-noise struggle aon the Roon front still occupies me.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by RRibeiro

Thanks Kenny and Puma Cat.
This is a topic that matters a lot to me. I have been reading a lot about this setup: Ehternet from Router - Optical Converter - OF - EtherRegen powered by a Farad Super3 - ethrnet down into Nucleus. And I would like very much to try the EterRegen setup on my system, but unfortunally Uptone Audio and EtherRegen or Farad are not available here.

Did you contact UpTone Audio directly? My understand is they ship direct to customers worldwide. I don't know about Farad.

Originally Posted by RRibeiro

First findings are
- after swapping my old TP-link conventional switch by the Sotm, I clearly prefer my somehow old, Alpha Digital PC on the Hypsos/Nucleus/Roon, than the Venom V12 NR. Surprisingly (?) the Alpha Digital does the job (highs noise filtering) much better.

- prefer the all ethernet setup, without the Optical module. With the Optical kit it get more clean air and better transients, but shows (perhaps the correct word) with a little more highs distortion, and too much upfront and coldness. Less musicality overall. Perhaps everything needs more burnin ( only 100 hours yet) or the cheap awitching power supplies associated are not helping. The less-highs-noise struggle aon the Roon front still occupies me.

You might try again when you have more hours in the Optical module. And, by all means, get rid of the cheap switching power supply. That is very likely the problem.

[SCAudiophile]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

Did you contact UpTone Audio directly? My understand is they ship direct to customers worldwide. I don't know about Farad.



You might try again when you have more hours in the Optical module. And, by all means, get rid of the cheap switching power supply. That is very likely the problem.

Uptone may not sell to Portugal, even direct. The other challenge with those is wait time for build. Seems they have long waits. HDPlex does get backordered but has shorter overall turnaround time. They make a very solid product,...on my 2nd generation and it provides great results.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by RRibeiro

And I would like very much to try the EterRegen setup on my system, but unfortunally Uptone Audio and EtherRegen or Farad are not available here.

and....

Originally Posted by SCAudiophile

Uptone may not sell to Portugal, even direct.

I just wrote to Alex Crespi at UpTone Audio and he says he ships direct to Portugal, and he fulfills orders there virtually every month. Shipping is only $34 door-to-door FEDEX. So, there is virtually no reason not to order it if you're interested.

You can place an order directly at this link: https://uptoneaudio.com/products/etherregen

Cheers,
PC

[RRibeiro]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

and....

I just wrote to Alex Crespi at UpTone Audio and he says he ships direct to Portugal, and he fulfills orders there virtually every month. Shipping is only $34 door-to-door FEDEX. So, there is virtually no reason not to order it if you're interested.

You can place an order directly at this link: https://uptoneaudio.com/products/etherregen

Cheers,
PC

Hi Puma Cat. Thanks for your help. I spoke to Alex Crespi this afternoon and just ordered the EtherRegen. As soon as it arrives I will keep you and the forum updated.

I also begin to optimize my Shunyata PC loom, and placed the Sigma NR on the GS150 Amp (through adapter C15/C19) which was indeed kinda unprotected without any NR, and sent the high current Alpha HC to the PS Audio that has NR built in. So far so (really) good. It's probably too soon yet to conclusions, but first impressions are positive, highs more clean, tunefull and detailed, overall more quiet and musical.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by RRibeiro

Hi Puma Cat. Thanks for your help. I spoke to Alex Crespi this afternoon and just ordered the EtherRegen. As soon as it arrives I will keep you and the forum updated.

I also begin to optimize my Shunyata PC loom, and placed the Sigma NR on the GS150 Amp (through adapter C15/C19) which was indeed kinda unprotected without any NR, and sent the high current Alpha HC to the PS Audio that has NR built in. So far so (really) good. It's probably too soon yet to conclusions, but first impressions are positive, highs more clean, tunefull and detailed, overall more quiet and musical.

That sounds great, Rui. Also, you may notice that the power cords will improve over the next couple days as they settle. Great to hear that you were able to chat with Alex at UpTone.

[kennyb123]

Originally Posted by RRibeiro

Hi Puma Cat. Thanks for your help. I spoke to Alex Crespi this afternoon and just ordered the EtherRegen. As soon as it arrives I will keep you and the forum updated.

I think you will be very pleased with the EtherRegen.

I noticed in your signature that you have a Wireworld Platinum Silver Ethernet cable. Where will you be using this?

I was going to encourage you to try a Shunyata Ethernet cable. The WW Platinum Silver (WWPS) is really impressive when heard on its own. A few of us put it up against a few other Ethernet cables including the Alpha in my system. Our impression was that the WWPS has too much of the sound signature typically associated with silver conductors. The WWPS seemed impressive initially in the way a TV on a showroom floor will look more impressive if the brightness is cranked up. Obviously in some systems that might be a good thing, but in my system it made the highs painful on some recordings.

Smart to focus on power cables first, but once you get settled there you may want to try one of the Shunyata ethernet cables.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by kennyb123

I think you will be very pleased with the EtherRegen.

I noticed in your signature that you have a Wireworld Platinum Silver Ethernet cable. Where will you be using this?

I was going to encourage you to try a Shunyata Ethernet cable. The WW Platinum Silver (WWPS) is really impressive when heard on its own. A few of us put it up against a few other Ethernet cables including the Alpha in my system. Our impression was that the WWPS has too much of the sound signature typically associated with silver conductors. The WWPS seemed impressive initially in the way a TV on a showroom floor will look more impressive if the brightness is cranked up. Obviously in some systems that might be a good thing, but in my system it made the highs painful on some recordings.

Smart to focus on power cables first, but once you get settled there you may want to try one of the Shunyata ethernet cables.

Absolutely, 100% agree, Kenny. Some folks may remember I did extensive competitive benchmarking back in 2019 of Ethernet cables. I extensively compared Audioquest Cinnamon, Vodka, Wireworld Starlight Cat 8, Belden Cat6A, Supra Cat8 and two Shunyata Ethernet cables, entry-level Venom and the mid-level Alpha. Even the entry-level Shunyata Venom Ethernet cable was significantly better than all of the others, and the degree it was better was not subtle. I remember one night I when I substituted the Shunyata Venom for the Audioquest Vodka (which in of itself is a good-sounding cable), and the Venom was so superior, I literally laughed out loud. It was not even close.

The Alpha is even better, as the CMode filter on the Alpha, Sigma, and Omega Ethernet cables really takes them to another level. Common-mode noise is a notable and significant class of noise component on digital cables that operate in the high-frequency bandwidth that Ethernet cables function in.

Oh, and another point. The electromagnetic waves that propogate along cables are susceptible to the impact of reflections, and in particular, at the bandwidths that digital cables operate in, digital cables are particularly susceptible to these reflections. This is why the minimal length USB or Ethernet cable you should buy are 1.5M.

[RRibeiro]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

Absolutely, 100% agree, Kenny. Some folks may remember I did extensive competitive benchmarking back in 2019 of Ethernet cables. I extensively compared Audioquest Cinnamon, Vodka, Wireworld Starlight Cat 8, Belden Cat6A, Supra Cat8 and two Shunyata Ethernet cables, entry-level Venom and the mid-level Alpha. Even the entry-level Shunyata Venom Ethernet cable was significantly better than all of the others, and the degree it was better was not subtle. I remember one night I when I substituted the Shunyata Venom for the ...

The Alpha is even better, as the CMode filter on the Alpha, Sigma, and Omega Ethernet cables really takes them to another level. Common-mode noise is a notable and significant class of noise component on digital cables that operate in the high-frequency bandwidth that Ethernet cables function in.
... This is why the minimal length USB or Ethernet cable you should buy are 1.5M.

Thank you for your recomendations Kenny and Puma Cat. For sure as soon as I have the ER thing running, I will test the best matching Ehternet cable, specially the Alpha.

One doubt Puma Cat. When you say minimal 1,5m... was it a mistake, not maximum? Besides the WWPS with 2 m, I have an USB KS2436 Select silver feeding the Wadia DAC/CD, with 1m 😔. Perhaps not the best length so...