New Shunyata Altaira Grounding System

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by Antonmb

Stephen, I couldn't get my ER feet off without possibly damaging something. Not sure if maybe they're screwed from the inside, or just have a super duty adhesive. In any case, it isn't really necessary - just put the Tenderfeet in a cross pattern between the original feet, it's quite stable that way.
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Cool, Tony, thanks, good to know.

ER has been relegated to the remote server room (RSR). I've purchased a Lumin P1 "integrated" streamer/DAC/preamp and am running LC/LC optical fiber from the RSR straight into the back of the P1.

No more "tons 'o crap" in the main audio rack just to stream content from the RSR to the preamp. By doing this, I was able to remove, get this, 15 "bits of gear"...just from main audio rack! Now, there's just 2 PCs and 1 pair of ICs from the P1 to the amp. Job done!



I'll add that Lumin also put a proper ground terminal on the back of the P1, so it's connected to an SG Altaira segment for the analog amplification segment: power amp, pre (P1) and phono stage.

Plus the P1 sounds...f**king amazing. Whoa.

[Clyde2]

I have ordered a Chassis hub and Alpha grounding cables (many thanks to Ivan for his assistance) for what I consider to be a relatively modest system of few components. While I have every reason to expect these items will be excellent additions, I can't help but wonder about the "segmented" application separating digital from analog and the performance such a set up would bring. But all I have read here, elsewhere, and in the Shunyata documents suggests "segmented" applications be done with Signal Hubs to gain the most. However, under the recommendation to use Signal Hubs for this, The Hub Selection Guide does state owners of a grounding system consisting of a Chassis hub "will only need to purchase a single Altaira Signal Hub for the digital components." If known, what would this option be giving up compared to dual Signal Hubs?? And, how superior are the Omega grounding cables, especially in the space connecting the hub(s) to the Denali/Everest?? Thanks in advance and I've really enjoyed reading the posts by so many here. Very informative and helpful.

[j3brow]

In a separate thread here on AA, there was a discussion regarding a McIntosh IEC inlet cracking due to aftermarket power cord. During the repair, the owner reported that the ground pin on the 3 prong power inlet was not connected to anything inside the chassis. IF this is true and McIntosh’s 3 prong power inlet doesn’t actually connect to a ground, am I correct to assume that McIntosh gear shouldn’t be used with Altaira? Anyone here used McIntosh with Altaira? In the other thread, the Mc amp in question was current model MC462.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by j3brow

In a separate thread here on AA, there was a discussion regarding a McIntosh IEC inlet cracking due to aftermarket power cord. During the repair, the owner reported that the ground pin on the 3 prong power inlet was not connected to anything inside the chassis. IF this is true and McIntosh’s 3 prong power inlet doesn’t actually connect to a ground, am I correct to assume that McIntosh gear shouldn’t be used with Altaira?

You are correct in your understanding that if there is no "ground prong" on an IEC receptacle on any component, and by extension in your example, if there is a ground prong that is not connected internally to a (very) short, green, ground wire that makes a connection to chassis (earth) ground, then you should not connect that specific McIntosh to an Altaira. I don't think one can assume from that particular model, though, that all McIntoshs do not have an internal ground wire making a connection to chassis ground.

[tdelahanty]

Originally Posted by j3brow

In a separate thread here on AA, there was a discussion regarding a McIntosh IEC inlet cracking due to aftermarket power cord. During the repair, the owner reported that the ground pin on the 3 prong power inlet was not connected to anything inside the chassis. IF this is true and McIntosh’s 3 prong power inlet doesn’t actually connect to a ground, am I correct to assume that McIntosh gear shouldn’t be used with Altaira? Anyone here used McIntosh with Altaira? In the other thread, the Mc amp in question was current model MC462.

IEC gnd. open (not connected) is more common than any of us realize. Esoteric, Marantz and others do this. Lumin may also do this, to be sure I'd have to look inside the unit.

Mark Levinson connects the IEC gnd. Also noteworthy they have two gnd's, signal and chassis.

[tdelahanty]

My Lumin X1 is chassis grounded, some models appear to have nothing connected to the chassis gnd. lug ??????

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by tdelahanty

IEC gnd. open (not connected) is more common than any of us realize. Esoteric, Marantz and others do this. Lumin may also do this, to be sure I'd have to look inside the unit.

Mark Levinson connects the IEC gnd. Also noteworthy they have two gnd's, signal and chassis.

I have 21 Esoteric components, all of which have the IEC ground pin connected to Chassis (Earth) Ground YMMV.

Esoteric responds exceedingly well to the Altaira CGS.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

I have 21 Esoteric components, all of which have the IEC ground pin connected to Chassis (Earth) Ground YMMV.

Esoteric responds exceedingly well to the Altaira CGS.

I would think so. That's cool that it does. The Lumin P1 does too.

It's also really nice that these companies (Aurender, as well) put a dedicated ground terminal on the back of the chassis that is "user-accessible"

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by tdelahanty

My Lumin X1 is chassis grounded, some models appear to have nothing connected to the chassis gnd. lug ??????

There doesn't (necessarily) have to be anything that is connected to the chassis ground lug/terminal/binding post "internally".

What's required is that the ground terminal actually connects to chassis ground. For example, the ground terminals on my First Sound preamp don't have anything connected to them. They are simply "bolted" onto the chassis. Hoever, when I checked with these ground terminals for the First Sound preamp with an ohm meter, that there is a reading of 0.0000 ohm when measuring resistance at the preamp's ground terminal and the IEC receptacle ground prong.

[tdelahanty]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

I have 21 Esoteric components, all of which have the IEC ground pin connected to Chassis (Earth) Ground YMMV.

Esoteric responds exceedingly well to the Altaira CGS.

Look at pics on Esoteric's website, the IEC connector has only two wires connected, the third pin (gnd) is open.