Shunyatas New CX series


I looked for the thread where someone inquired if anyone had heard the new Shunyata power cords, but it's gone. Hence, new thread.

In the last 3 weeks, I've purchased the Python CX and then again, I got a new baby -- Viper CX.
As I said in my other post, there's no distinction between Alpha and Helix lines. It's two (slap), two (slap) two cords in 1 (apologies to the old two-mints-in-one commercial).
As I also said before, I wasn't expecting to hear a noticeable difference. BUT. BUT. I did.
Already covered the lowering of grain so that a fine mist - or grain - in the soundfield, is gone. What was the Python.
Having had to endure the Viper CX that came in 10 minutes ago on an Arcam FMJ22 while awaiting the Antique Sound Labs Flora premap's arrival, I wasn't expecting much. Got it, though, and right off the bat. Now, you may say, well, it could sound "exciting" because it's cold. And in other circumstances, I might agree. But I've had every generation of Shunyatas and none, out of the box made me cock my head like a dog who hears something nobody else can hear.
Even on the Viper (and I prefer the more expensive cords because, lets face it, they put more into them), the dynamic jump was obvious, the grain lower and more fluid--just like the Python. Obviously, I'm not going to make up stories about how the soundfield expanded: it's 10 minutes old, dummy! Like I should know from that?!?!? Suffice it to say, for $700, it made me take noitce in a way that my older Python Helix Alpha and VX didn't themselves do, right out of the box. I use the lazy ear approach: pay zero attention and see if your attention is captured despite yourself. I'm not yet captured, but I'm sure snagged. I think Shunyata surpassed their old bugaboos: a slightly soft upper midrange and lower treble (those hits on triangles not only lacked punch, they lacked transient bite and, even more, shimmer). Can't tell about the shimmer now, but I'm taking the day off work. I'm snagged ENOUGH and that works for me. '
I'd recommend starting with a Viper, because I KNOW you'll hear it, and if you can hear it from the lower cords in the range, you can expect jumps from the higher ones. One Python and One Viper today: 2 more Pythons in a couple of weeks (there goes the summer vacation in Ibiza, but given the medical things happening, I'll just have to use my imagination when I'm listening to Chabrie that I'm in sunny Spain or on Ibiza. I think with these cords, I could fool myself [don't worry, I've have the fan on to simulate the breeze]).
Try these out guys. I'm using Ushers, and driven by ASL Hurricanes and the Cambridge Audio 840C with transparent interconnects/speaker cable. (yeah, yeah, stifle yourselves. I have Shunyata speaker cable and interconnects too, but this is what's in the system at the moment and I'm HIGHLY analytical. Never change a compoenent during a controlled experiment)

Oh, one more thing: the tonal quality of groups has improved in the new iteration of cords: brass are a LITTLE golden, strings silvery, and on Balalaika, I actually heard more of the body of the instrument, which is to say, instead of just strings, there's more texture, so it doesn't sound like it could just be a guitar. Quite a jump in the line's resolution, especially the low-level resolution...Maybe it's the midbass-to-lower midrange dynamics, which SEEM more powerful. OR maybe it's the fumes from that Rogaine I just put on my scalp ...
gbmcleod

Showing 5 responses by digsmithd

If your next move is to conditioner,skip the guardian level and go to hydra 4 or 6.I thought how much better can 4 be than the hydra 2 and was glued to my seat with changes.Better overall timber of instruments,everything was just right for lack of better description,for the money on audiogon cant go wrong,imho.
A while back i switched out all to the helix line,Taipan and Python.20 amp on hydra,python cd, taipan on amp.At first i wasnt impressed and thought what a waste of money.I talked to grant and he said put your python on your amp for a half an hour.Did so and switched around and lo and behold wow.The differance was remarkable,like you said separation and punch,3d imaging.He claimed that the python has more noise reduction than the taipan and he would be really surprised if i went with python on amp taipan on cd.Grant is always really helpfull,quite impressed with shunyata,There products never seem to let me down.
Yes it was a fairly big differance,I am pluging amp and cd into the hyra 4 as i did with the 2.Using sim gear,i feel its resolving enough..it sounds sweeter in the high end, not bright to me(using adagios).Python on cd,and tiapans rest of system.To my ears it really was the icing i needed.4 also same layout(silver buss bars).For amps 2 is the ticket ive heard.
I think my post said that i didnt believe it added brightness to my system...Nor did it take anything(slam,dynamics)away.Same as pluging straight into wall(amp),The little 4 is a bargain at the prices on a gone.
Thanks grant for your insight on the older python,really am enjoying what im hearing...unfotunatly just bought one used on agone and would have liked to try the mamba hc.In the future.Wondering what kind of footer you can recomend for hydra 4.got it on thick maple cutting board...but want to further it a bit....are the newer 4,s better now?copper,instead of silver.thanks dave.