Shunyata X series power cords

OP, I share your curiosity.

There is also a sigma X QR, that is supposed to be better than the Omega.

@bwguy, I heard similar.  My interest is limited to the Alpha X though.

I will be evaluating a pair of the Alpha X interconnects shortly. Given that I have lived with Nordost Tyr 2 interconnects for several years, this will be an interesting experience. The system will be entirely composed of Shunyata cables: power, speaker and interconnect.

I tried Alpha X USB cable and while it was very good at detail retrieval and dynamics it is a bit lean and cool for me. I also tried their previous Alpha v2 power cables and observed the same sonic traits. I’d be curious yo hear if their interconnects and speaker cables deviate from the surgical precision and cool tonal balance I heard with the latest USB. 

I recently had the opportunity to demo a pair of Shunyata Alpha-X NR power cables and to compare them to Cardas Clear and Shunyata Theta and Delta V2 power cables. I found the Alpha-X to be extremely musical and well-balanced, with excellent performance at both frequency extremes combined with a natural presentation in the midrange. These cables present a very wide and realistic soundstage. Bass is clear, tight, and extended. Tone is full and natural - neither too lean nor too fat. These cables are very easy to listen to, with no listening fatigue and an overall sound that is sweet and smooth. Small details are reproduced clearly and with delicacy. I especially like the performance of the Alpha-X on my DAC and streamer.

The Theta power cables represent an excellent value for their cost, but they may not match well with some systems that can come across as bright or edgy. In my system, they were lively and engaging when used to power my Atma-Sphere GaNFET monoblock amps, but they still sounded a bit lean and would have benefitted from more convincing fullness and body. An impression of strong high-frequency energy was more a problem than a strength when the Theta was used to power my DAC and Innuos Pulsar streamer. Fortunately, the combination of the Alpha-X on the upstream digital gear (DAC and streamer) and the Theta on the downstream analog gear (monoblock amps) was a wonderful match, producing sound that was engaging, realistic, and natural. The Cardas Clear combines clarity and body with a hint of warmth, but it did not sound as refined or balanced as the Alpha-X did in my system. However, the Clear did quite well in powering my BHK tube preamp while the Shunyata cables powered the other equipment.

I hope these observations are helpful, but I would strongly recommend an in-home demo before purchasing any of these cables. The Cable Company was very helpful  in setting up a demo for me at a reasonable cost.

@audphile1 

That is an interesting observation about the Alpha line.

I’ve had every generation Shunyata’s put out, so the progression is clear. However, when they introduced the Alpha ZiTron - and I already had the Cobra - I was expecting something great. But it was not great. And then, when I got the Alpha HC, I observed the same trait, a very mild scooping out of the lower midrange/upper bass area that rendered things like Frank Sinatra’s voice (which should ALWAYS sound ’warm’) a bit less luscious than it should have been. And so the Alpha NR V1 never captured me, although the Sigma, CLEARLY the warmer of the two, DID. And so I bought it! Years ago, when it was just the Sigma NR.

And now, I have the Alph-X interconnects on hand, because my Nordost Tyr 2 developed a problem in one channel, so it seemed a good time to listen to Shunyata’s Alpha-X interconnect. 

I can’t say too much about it, but, coming from the Tyr 2, it certainly isn’t (yet) more transparent. But I wouldn’t expect it to be with only 1 day of burn-in on it. Despite whan Shunyata has said (ONLY applicable to past generations) about their cables, that they only take w100 hours to burn in, when ANY of us on the Whatsbest forum have an experience extended by a couple of hundred hours. Even the conductor!

 Anyway, what it does have that is immediately noticeable is a mid and  upper bass that Nordost can’t match. And it’s not a euphonic coloration: marching drums on Nordost cables always sound smaller than one knows they are in life (and even on many recordings heard pre-Nordost decades). They don’t have all the ’body’ that a cable with a ’richer’ tonal palette would have, but the tradeof is that you hear a gigantic amount of musical detail, if your electronics and speaker are up to it. Other than that, nothing noticeable is jumping out. I’ll have to reinsert the NAD C399, which I took out of the system when the Nordost wiring broke internally and stopped working. According to Shunyata, the X-Series has the added benefit of not needing extensive break-in. That’s nice, although I’ve grown so used to burn-in time over the past 45 years that I don’t even give it a second thought. Two weeks, 24/7 breaking in? No problem! I'll put in the ASR Emitter after a decent amount of time with the NAD.

The Alpha has a ways to go (measured in days), I think, for anything other than playing my fun, teen  ’60s Shangri-Las, Chiffons, Beach Boys (in honor of Brian Wilson), Herman’s Hermits and Iron Butterly CDs!

My system prefers to pair older Shunyata Alpha V2 power cables with Moon Audio RCA interconnects - Silver Dragons.

@gbmcleod interesting. I use Tyr2 XLRs between dac and integrated. I like the sound a lot. But I haven’t heard Shunyata interconnects. 
The Alpha X USB cable that I recently tried took over 200hrs to settle. Keep cooking the new ICs. Looking forward to your thoughts as I can definitely agree with some if your observations about Tyr2. There is no such thing as a perfect cable though….there are always trade offs…

@audphile1 Thanks for that information. I expected there would still be a reasonably extended burn-in time. From what you wrote, it sounds like burn-in will still take a while. Just not 400 hours any more. Cool. Good to know!

@sdl4 Thank you for the review.   Very helpful.  How did you find the Delta v2 compared to the other cables? 

@rssb The Delta v2 is kind of my basic default power cable. I have several of them, and they are solid performers in my system. They are a significant step up from the earlier v1 version.

Compared to the new Theta cables, the Delta v2 seem somehow "slower" and less "live" - if that makes sense. Theta also seems to pick up more details of the room in which the recording is being made. 

Compared to the new Alpha-X, the Delta v2 seems less delicate and refined. The Alpha-X also produces tighter and more impactful bass, although the Delta is decent on the low end. The Alpha-X exhibits more natural tone and soundstage depth throughout the frequency range. 

Thank you for this @sdl4   I have a Delta v2 and have been considering getting a Theta or Alpha x so this is very useful.  Have you noticed any areas where you prefer Delta v2 over Theta, or are all differences you noted positive in your system?

@rssb I really think you have to demo any of these cables in your own system to decide if you like one better than another. In my system, power cables seem to have a more significant effect when powering the DAC and streamer than when powering the amp or preamp.

With respect to the Theta cables, I really enjoy the energy, imaging, and engagement they offer when powering my monoblock amps, although they do offer a bit less tonal body to guitars and upright bass than is ideal for me. The Delta v2 in my system is less engaging and "alive" when used on the amps (compared to Theta), but the Delta v2 cables provide a slightly fuller tonal body on the low end for me. Fortunately, using the Alpha-X cables on my DAC and streamer provides more fullness and body to the overall sound than I get from either the Theta or Delta v2 anywhere in the chain.

Although I fell in love with the "in the room" sound that the Theta can provide, it was too much of a good thing when powering my DAC and streamer. The ideal power cable combination in my system is using the Theta on my amps and the Alpha-x on my DAC and streamer. I already have the two Theta cables in place, and my two Alpha-X cables are scheduled to be delivered on Friday. 

Thank you again @sdl4.  Agree that it is best to try cables in one’s system first.  However, hearing about your experiences, and those of others is valuable in helping narrow down the options and highlighting some of the considerations for identifying the best fit for one’s system.