i today received a Sigma cable. For the previous week I have been using a loaner from the store, an Alpha USB cable.
antipodes feeds a DAVE and then into bi-amplified JBL 4344 - relatively high resolution i think.
the Alpha replaced a FTA Callisto.
Both Shunyata cables make it clear that the FTA Callisto has a fair bit of colour. Not that this is a terrible thing. But this helps to relay the Shunyata sound with USB, it sounds neutral.
The Alpha is burnt in I guess but didn't have enough time to settle. Similarly I've only just heard Sigma today. Sigma brand new.
So one week with loaner Alpha and one afternoon with brand new Sigma. Impressions:
1. Alpha amazing but a little soft or reticent
2. FTA Callisto is a superhuman performer for the price and is alot of fun too. It definitely blooms bass a bit though and is euphonic or something (sounds shimmer a bit). So nice
3. Shunyata's thing is purity (no noise). To my ears more "no noise" is always better. Especially it needs to cross a specific threshold for me, to make up for the lack of artificial "spice". Say this is a specific threshold which is the threshold at which dynamics strongly improve. I feel like the Alpha was for me enchanting in its tonal trueness and sheer information density, but a little dull. I think it lacks dynamic a little. The Sigma on other hand does have dynamics in spades and the sound stage and 3d. sigma tone/timbre were more clearly described than Alpha. and IME to a meaningful degree. this may correspond to the fact that for me, the USB cable location is subject to wifi as well as normal signal and power transmission issues (zero cable management too).
the realism of the Sigma is at 11 and this makes it super interesting to listen to. the Alpha was fun to listen to (i've been waiting ages to get my hands on these usb cables) and the bass was incomparably more resolved and clear. in fact, if one were to like bass, and one bought a different amp for its prodigious bass capabilities, if this is what you heard, you'd be over the moon. I have never heard bass like i did thru the alpha USB (until i heard Sigma). Sigma not night and day better in bass department than Alpha I reckon. better but not really different for all intents and purposes. but Alpha versus any other cable I've heard before. no comparison. amazing.
it seems weird to spend $4k (AUD) on a USB cord but it was the only rational thing to do given the upgrade in overall system performance on offer.
honest
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