Shunyata Alpha USB 1.5

[RH67]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

Yes, this is my impression, too. VERY quiet, clearly more definition, yet more relaxed, and "musical" at the same time. "Sweet-sounding" in the best possible meaning of the term (NOT warm, syrupy, colored). Also, with a burned-in one, more spaciousness, air, open-ness, refined yet defined top-end, better bass definition, articulation and texture, instrumental and vocal weight, more refined and complex vocal and instrumental timbres.

Is there a burn in time? Weeks, months? I received my cable yesterday and have about 10hrs of music playing time and so far i`m not experiencing what you or others have mentioned. What i`m getting is a forward HiFi presentation close to being edgy and bright. Lost is 3D imaging, tone and texture.

I`m leaving it in for three weeks and hopefully things will get better.

[DMelby]

Originally Posted by RH67

Is there a burn in time? Weeks, months? I received my cable yesterday and have about 10hrs of music playing time and so far i`m not experiencing what you or others have mentioned. What i`m getting is a forward HiFi presentation close to being edgy and bright. Lost is 3D imaging, tone and texture.

I`m leaving it in for three weeks and hopefully things will get better.

Don't worry at all. I noticed that a bit too in the first few days but that was gone I think by day 3-4. For me it took about 1 week maybe a little longer to reach its zenith.

[RH67]

Originally Posted by DMelby

Don't worry at all. I noticed that a bit too in the first few days but that was gone I think by day 3-4. For me it took about 1 week maybe a little longer to reach its zenith.

Thanks!

[jimtranr]

Originally Posted by RH67

Is there a burn in time? Weeks, months? I received my cable yesterday and have about 10hrs of music playing time and so far i`m not experiencing what you or others have mentioned. What i`m getting is a forward HiFi presentation close to being edgy and bright. Lost is 3D imaging, tone and texture.

I`m leaving it in for three weeks and hopefully things will get better.

Mine started shedding closed-in "wool" at about 25 hours and kept opening up after that. In my case it replaced not only a competitor's entry-level USB cable, but also a USB "regenerator" coupled to an upgraded linear power supply. noticeably besting the musical presentation achieved with that combination.

[RH67]

Originally Posted by jimtranr

Mine started shedding closed-in "wool" at about 25 hours and kept opening up after that. In my case it replaced not only a competitor's entry-level USB cable, but also a USB "regenerator" coupled to an upgraded linear power supply. noticeably besting the musical presentation achieved with that combination.

Good to know, thanks.

[Puma Cat]

Yeah, I can't speak to burn-in on mine, as I originally rented one in from TCC, and then purchased it, so it was already burned in.

[RH67]

I have about 30hrs.on the cable and i`m still waiting for the magic to return. I`m playing music for about four hours a day at low volume, because it upsets me to listen i leave the room and just let it play. I have experienced no change from day one.

This is what i`m experiencing. A bright edgy transistor sounding forward presentation, a big sound that lacks sound staging and 3D imaging, for the first time in years i`m experiencing sibilance from vocals sounding like a misaligned phono cartridge, a lack of natural tone and pitch, a lack of definition between instruments and their placement.

I`m leaving it in for another two weeks and if it turns around this will be the biggest come back i`ve experienced from any audio product.

[DMelby]

Originally Posted by RH67

I have about 30hrs.on the cable and i`m still waiting for the magic to return. I`m playing music for about four hours a day at low volume, because it upsets me to listen i leave the room and just let it play. I have experienced no change from day one.

This is what i`m experiencing. A bright edgy transistor sounding forward presentation, a big sound that lacks sound staging and 3D imaging, for the first time in years i`m experiencing sibilance from vocals sounding like a misaligned phono cartridge, a lack of natural tone and pitch, a lack of definition between instruments and their placement.

I`m leaving it in for another two weeks and if it turns around this will be the biggest come back i`ve experienced from any audio product.

This doesn't sound right at all. Perhaps are you able to keep data flowing through the USB constantly for a few days and leave your amp and such off? Don't know if it makes a difference, but I left the music streaming from my Aurender to Berkeley DAC through my new USB 24 hours a day for a week or two (but kept my amp off). Perhaps that may speed getting past this tough phase. I would think though if this isn't just slow breakin then something else is wrong

[RH67]

Originally Posted by DMelby

This doesn't sound right at all. Perhaps are you able to keep data flowing through the USB constantly for a few days and leave your amp and such off? Don't know if it makes a difference, but I left the music streaming from my Aurender to Berkeley DAC through my new USB 24 hours a day for a week or two (but kept my amp off). Perhaps that may speed getting past this tough phase. I would think though if this isn't just slow breakin then something else is wrong

I know it does not sound right and that`s a big reason i`m upset. If it was even a side ways move i would not like it but it would be better than two steps back. The Nordost and Uptone Regen were the cables feeding my one off Lampazator DAC and for now the Alpha are replacing the Nordost.

[DMelby]

Originally Posted by RH67

I know it does not sound right and that`s a big reason i`m upset. If it was even a side ways move i would not like it but it would be better than two steps back. The Nordost and Uptone Regen were the cables feeding my one off Lampazator DAC and for now the Alpha are replacing the Nordost.

I guess just speaking to my own experience on digital cables (YMMV), the bright edge yuck sound is common during breakin so I don't worry and just let it burn in. The Shunyata KPIP has cut down drastically on breakin but its still present, and if you heard a good sound to start and it got really bad then just need to be patient and keep the data flowing through the cable. The end result in my experience is substantially better than first listen. A new cable or even power distributor for me honestly is like a lost week or two in terms of music listening as it can be kind of not so good at times until finally breaking in. I just take it as par for the course. I'd give it at least another 4 days (100 hours) of constant data flow through your USB cable before making any further judgements (just my experience).