Allow me to jump in, if I may here guys and add to the fun. Vhiner and I know each other very well. We've discussed the cables for some time and collaborate quite a bit.
I have King Cobra and Anaconda CX AC cables throughout and all Anaconda ZTron signal/speaker cables along with the Python XLR digital cable. Both Vhiner and I have the same digital front end.
My Anaconda ZTron signal/speaker cables now have well over 800 hrs on them. They sound magnificent in all reference aspects and are easily the finest signal cables I have yet heard in my system and I have had many over the 40+ years in this crazy hobby.
You will find they take a minimum (MINIMUM) of 500 hrs to get to about 95% of their final settle in. Vhiner and I both know at least one other fellow Shunyata user who has stated that Shunyata can take up to 1,000 hrs to be finally fully settled in. By the way my Anaconda ZTron's have sounded past the 500 hr mark I have no doubt he is correct. As they have aged they become sweeter, if you will, and more refined in a micro sense. Up to the 500 hr region you will find they will drive you nuts closing in, muffling, then opening up for a very short time giving you hints of their greatness, then muffling/closing back in, etc., until they finally settle. When they do, Robert Harley was right on with his TAS review - they are SOTA in sound. Yes, others may have strenghts here or there, but as others I have seen in this thread have heard during their break in process, they begin to hear pieces of what they truly can possess. They are, in a word, magical, in your system once they settle.
The main difference, besides a slight difference in wire gauge for the Anaconda ZTron signal cables vs. the Python, is they Anaconda does not have a second, typical shield around them. Yes, they have the ZTron circuit shield which is not a normal grounded at one end shield, only. According to Shunyata, that makes them more open on the top end and extended. However, supposedly, it makes them somewhat more environment dependent due to the fact they could pick up external noise. So far, in my system, I have not heard any sort of noise, hum, RFI, EFI or any other artifact entering my system through these cables. They are dead quiet and possess the lowest noise floor of any cable I have ever used, period (once they are fully broken in). Their "startle factor", speed, dynamic expression, pacing, etc. are exquisite, sounding so naturally alive and real, it is uncanny.
The point Vhiner makes, and I want to concur is that you have to be patient. VERY patient. Your patience and virtue will be well rewarded once they are all settled in.
Like Vhiner, I have no idea nor explanation why they Ztron cables take so long to finally sing, but they do. Frankly, I don't care why, just that it does which my ears and emotional connection to the musical expression easily were able to ascertain. Prior to the 500'ish mark, I could not easily connect with them. Now, its a joy beyond measure each time I sit down and spin a disc.
The interesting thing, too, is that the Python XLR ZTron digital cable took exactly the same turn of events. Odd, that a digital cable would make that difference. But, oh, boy, did it ever and once it passed the 600 hr level it just blew my mind.
I hope my experience can help shed some light and give those in the process right now breaking their cables in a bit of emotional stability while they go through this process. You are not alone, but please, make sure you go through it and not give up or you risk losing the best thing you could have added to your system.
Hang in there guys, its worth its weight in platinum.
Best,
Odd
