Shunyata and Devialet

[adhesiv]

Caelin,

As a spin off from our other thread I'm excited to hear that you're personally using a Devialet D-Premier and would love to learn more about your experience and setup with it.

Do you perchance recommend a specific cable setup based on your product line? I know power cables have been a tough go due to the slim profile so interested what you did (if anything) to make that work.

[CGabriel]

Originally Posted by adhesiv

Caelin,

As a spin off from our other thread I'm excited to hear that you're personally using a Devialet D-Premier and would love to learn more about your experience and setup with it.

Do you perchance recommend a specific cable setup based on your product line? I know power cables have been a tough go due to the slim profile so interested what you did (if anything) to make that work.

Several of my European distributors told me that the Devialet was a very special integrated amplifier, about 2 years ago. My German distributor sent me one and after doing the software upgrade, I kept it for my office system. I run an optical cable from the MacBook Pro to the Devialet which is connected to the lovely KEF LS50s.

My German distributor told me that there were NO high-end power cables that they could use with the Devialet because of the tight clearance on the back of the unit, so I took that as a challenge and set about creating a cable that could match the performance level of the amplifier. The distributor liked it and Devialet liked it enough to order two for themselves. This power cable is called the ΞTRON Z-PC10. It is extremely flexible and compact at the IEC end of the cable. It is good for any component that has a shrouding or very tight clearances around the AC input.

There is also a speaker cable (ΞTRON Z-SP10) that was similarly designed to be routed through tight spaces (within an entertainment cabinet for instance). These are the two cables that I use other than the optical. Both cables are made with Cobra level conductors and ΞTRON technology so the performance will be similar to the Cobra power cable and speaker cable.

The other power cable in our line that works very well is the VENOM-HC and it is half the cost.

cg

[BlueFox]

Originally Posted by CGabriel

ΞTRON

Now for a tough question. How do you type that first letter? I don't see it on an iPad keyboard. I guess I have to stick with Ztron.

[CGabriel]

Originally Posted by BlueFox

Now for a tough question. How do you type that first letter? I don't see it on an iPad keyboard. I guess I have to stick with Ztron.

Yeah, that is always a source of some grief. It is a Greek letter, technically pronounced "ksi". So, "zy" is close enough.

You can find it under special characters on some operating systems. I just save the Greek letters in a text file and cut and paste them when necessary.

cg

[djn04]

Caelin-

I too have a Devialet and I'm currently using a Venom 3 with it and I'm looking to upgrade. I see that the Z-PC10 is now on the website, and it sounds like that would be a step in the right direction.

When I bought the Devialet my dealer said not to use it with a current limiting power conditioner. I have a PS Audio Quintet but I have the Devialet plugged directly into the wall.

Do/did you use one of your power distributors with the Devialet? If so are they all acceptable for use with the Devialet or are some better suited?

Thanks.

[CGabriel]

Originally Posted by djn04

Caelin- I too have a Devialet and I'm currently using a Venom 3 with it and I'm looking to upgrade. I see that the Z-PC10 is now on the website, and it sounds like that would be a step in the right direction. When I bought the Devialet my dealer said not to use it with a current limiting power conditioner. I have a PS Audio Quintet but I have the Devialet plugged directly into the wall. Do/did you use one of your power distributors with the Devialet? If so are they all acceptable for use with the Devialet or are some better suited? Thanks.

We first created the Z-PC10 specifically at the request of our German distributor for the Devialet and they sent two of them to Devialet. Yes it works terrifically with the amplifier.

No HYDRA or the new VENOM-PS8 have any current limiting whatsoever. The are no current limiting transformers, coils, baluns, torroids, ferrites or carbon impregnated materials in their design. Only the new HYDRA DPC-6 has a Shunyata designed compound digital coil in its design but that unit is designed specifically and only for computers and digital components.

Yes I currently use a HYDRA CYCLOPS with the Devialet. There is no dynamic compression and there is an improvement on the transients removing some digital harshness to the sound quality.

[Puma Cat]

Caelin,
What do you guys estimate the retail for the DPC-6 to be once it's launched?

[CGabriel]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

Caelin, What do you guys estimate the retail for the DPC-6 to be once it's launched?

It is launched and was on display at the CES show.

We are taking orders and will ship units in a week.

Retail US$3995

[Glisse]

Originally Posted by CGabriel

We first created the Z-PC10 specifically at the request of our German distributor for the Devialet and they sent two of them to Devialet. Yes it works terrifically with the amplifier.

No HYDRA or the new VENOM-PS8 have any current limiting whatsoever. The are no current limiting transformers, coils, baluns, torroids, ferrites or carbon impregnated materials in their design. Only the new HYDRA DPC-6 has a Shunyata designed compound digital coil in its design but that unit is designed specifically and only for computers and digital components.

Yes I currently use a HYDRA CYCLOPS with the Devialet. There is no dynamic compression and there is an improvement on the transients removing some digital harshness to the sound quality.

Same issue with Linn Klimax DSM and Klimax Solo 500 power amps - IEC sockets tucked up under a shroud, and a very thin chassis.

It makes me a little angry that companies like Devialet and Linn are both arrogant and ignorant in terms of AC into their flagship products to deliberately engineer an interface that prevents using high end power cables

In the case of Linn, they obviously know that the Klimax DSM product creates noise on the AC line, as they have put a ferrite coil inside the unit. I thought it was common knowledge for the last couple of decades that a ferrite coil causes as many problems as it does solutions?

I had investigated the Z-PC10 following your first mention of it here at AA - I never knew it existed until then. But some correspondence with Grant, who was extremely helpful as always, did clarify the Z-PC10 is an adaptation of the Zitron Cobra.

I had bought some IEC extenders which come out past the shroud, which enabled me to compare the Cobra to the Python into the Klimax gear. And a King Cobra Vx on the Klimax DSM, which still works well with digital sources (and the only one of my older Shunyata power cables within touching distance to the Zitrons).

For me, the Pythons were fantastic with the Klimax Solo power amps. The Cobras were significantly limiting dynamics and bass response in comparison. But then, I think you intended the Cobra to be used with lower powered source components. But I don't want to stay with the IEC extenders: I only have to look at them the wrong way and they fall out. The weight of the Python and the crappy IEC socket Linn use means a very tenuous grip into any of the Linn components. And an adapter is always going to create some compromise in sound quality.

But now that I have heard how the Linn gear performs with Pythons, it is very difficult to go back to a lesser solution. The Linn Solos produce a lot more power than the Devialet, so perhaps that makes a difference?

Grant did explain the 10AWG aggregate of the Cobra was the absolute limit of what you could terminate into a rectangular IEC plug. But then, you managed to terminate a 9AWG Venom-HC into a rectangular IEC plug. Probably because that is a custom moulded plug specially made for you?

I think the main reason for the large cylindrical IEC plugs currently produced by your suppliers, and others, is largely cosmetic (to match the AC input plug) and due to the clamping systems used. Surely a clever redesign of a rectangular IEC plug could get 7AWG into it?

Whilst products like Devialet and Linn might be outliers at the moment, there seems to be some trend in the high end towards sleeker, more integrated and efficient component designs rather than the huge behemoths of old. So a more compact IEC plug available on the top performing AC cables could become increasingly relevant in the future.

As an addendum, I did get a Cyclops to run the two Linn Solo amps. It is a fantastic match. It substantially improved the top end, as you found with the Devialet. And I also got much improved bass definition

[CGabriel]

While it is true that the Python is supeior to the Cobra, it is also true that you are loosing significant performance by running through the extender. Overall you will get better performance with the Z-PC10.

The VENOM-HC is a 10 gauge cable and we developed the IEC connector for it. This is also a great cable for Devialet at a much lower cost.