Best of Class vs. Shunyata Exclusively?
 

[Previously, I posted the following question on "Cables Galore" without a single response, so I thought I'd try a modified -- and more specific -- version here, though it is still a pertinent question in the more generalized sense.]

Over the last few months, I've made a serious investment in the power conditioning/delivery aspect of my audio system. This has included the purchase of a number of Shunyata Venom HC and 14 power cords plus my first Venom NR-V10 (on order), a Denali 6000/S conditioner and even one Venom Defender (on order). Pleased with my discerned sonic improvement in the power aspect of my system, I also purchased my first Shunyata interconnect -- one of their HDMI cables – and have again been very happy with the result. Generally, I have always done as much research as practicable before purchasing a component -- even a cable. In this way, for example, I recently decided to upgrade to WireWorld's Chroma 8 Ethernet cables, and a few years ago I opted for a MIT phono cable to my phono preamplifier.

My assumption is that no one cable supplier is capable of offering the best available performance (at a comparable price) for every type of application. However, particularly in Europe, a growing number of high-end audio equipment manufacturers have begun to offer complete audio systems, including the necessary cabling, and no one can argue with the resultant quality of those systems.

This has caused me to wonder: is there any benefit to be gained by having an audio system essentially "wired" exclusively by Shunyata's cables?

Yes.

+1. Absolutely. Ive been pure Shunyata for about 8 years now (except HDMI for my I2S connection being WW Platinum 7). Love every minute of it with zero plans to change.

+1 to your +1.

I still have some non-Shunyata ICs but that will change soon enough...

You all probably expected this as a follow-up: why? Is there some technical advantage arising from the commonality and, if so, what is it? After all, each cable type (power, analog interconnect, digital interconnect, Ethernet, USB and HDMI) is designed for a different function -- sometimes radically different (e.g., phono vs. power).

In the past 6 months I've purchased both a Venom and Alpha USB cables, Venom 75 ohm digital cable, and a pair of Venom interconnects.

In the next six months I'm planning to buy Venom speaker cables and power cables. That will give me a full loom of mostly entry level Shunyata. I know they make better, but retired guys are on a budget.

I'm guessing one of these days Ivan will have a power cable bing bang super sale and I'll be set.

- Bob

In my experience the answer is no. That does not mean that Shunyata is not excellent cables. I currently use them on all of my dCS gear.

I did perform a A/B between their Sigma PC and my Transparent Opus PC's on my power and pre-amp. "I" much preferred my cables.

Previously I professed to believe that a One Brand loom was the way to go. At some point cost comes into play and I am not planning on purchasing 3 more Opus PC's to see if they better the Shunyata on my digital gear. I am very happy with the way it sounds now.

Why?

Well, my thoughts about this could get pretty technical and we'd soon be discussing things like EM wave propogation, current drift, dielectrics, and resonant modes but....

Here's why, at least for me: in my experience over the last 9-10 years, and in my (quasi-professional) view, Shunyata Research has the deepest intellectual & scientific (incl. quantum physics) understanding and engineering core competencies required to conceive, design, engineer and manufacture superior audio cables and power distribution products. I don't know of anyone else who put in the hard work and effort to develop a completely new meaurement system specifically designed to measure & characterize dynamic transient current delivery (DTCD) in power cords, or a proprietary technology designed to eliminate the need for cable "burn-in" (KPIP).

And while each class of cable has (some different) specific requirements for its respective application, I respectfully disagree that they are "radically different".
Some factors may differ in "type" and "scale" depending on application, but they are not all that different when the underlying physics is well-understood.

Also, as Grant has pointed here on a number of occasions, virtually every design parameter for every product is carefully and thoroughly thought-through, e.g. different cable geometries are used for RCA ICs vs. XLR interconnects to filters in Ethernet cables designed to attenuate common mode noise to managing audio frequency current resonances in speaker cables (HARP technology).

A case in point: a week after I recieved my Sigma Ethernet cables, I got an email from Shunyata Research effectively saying (and I'm paraphrasing a little here): "Stephen, we've just improved the RJ45 connectors on the Sigma Ethernet cables you just received with a notably better Telegartner connector. We're sending Sigma cables with these new connectors out to you; just send the ones you already have back once you get the new ones."

Who else does that? :scratch2:

Lastly, and most importantly: All of the Shunyata Research products I've used work together additively and synergistically to create engaging and beguiling musical experiences than products from other companies. The more of their products I use in my system, the more engaging and beguiling those experiences become.

At the end of the day, its all about the music. :music:

Right there with ya...I really like the Venom line, too.

When funds and your budget allows, I would really encourage you to try the new noise-reducing Venom NR-V10 and/or NR-V!2 series of power cables. They are amazing. I put in a single Venom NR-V12 Friday night from my Triton V1 to my Schitt Gumby DAC, and I was blown away at the improvement it brought; my system took a quantum jump up in overall performance and presentation; I could not believe it. Virtually any attribute or characteristic one would care to discuss about an audio system's performance & presentation was better. I mentioned in another thread I was "gobsmacked" and...I was. I'm going to replace virtually all my Shunyata Black Mamba CX and HC/CX power cords with Venom NR-V10 and V12 power cords ASAP.

Dear Puma Cat,

Thank you for your thoughtful reply.