Delta NR replaces Hydra-to-DAC Venom NR v10

[jimtranr]

In February 1964, a review in Audio pronounced the McIntosh MR67 FM tuner “superb”. A year later, the Audio reviewer declared the newer MR71 “superber”. Loathe as I am to plagiarize, that succinct comparative assessment pretty well summarizes my listening impressions after replacing the C15-terminated Shunyata Venom NR v10 with the Delta NR as the power cord linking the bedroom system’s Hydra 8 v2 power distributor to a TEAC UD-501 USB DAC.

My August review of that Hydra-to-DAC configuration praised the Venom for imparting greater transparency, heft, dynamic contrast, soundstage layering, and speaker-disappearing palpable presence to music reproduction in my nearfield setup. I was tempted at that point—in view of the Omega NR, please keep in mind that I’m a fixed-income retiree on a tight budget--to hearken back to “The Spy Who Loved Me” and cut my out-of-tune vocal cords loose on “Nobody Does It Better”.

After subjecting the Delta NR to the same diet of large orchestral, massed choral, solo vocal, chamber, operatic duet, jazz combo, and solo instrumental program and logging 100+ hours of settling time, I have to alter the song title, replacing “Nobody” with “Delta”. As excellent as the Venom is, connecting with the Delta extracts even more foundational body, transparency, and inner-space delineation from a given recording. Given that both cords are 10-gauge and the wiring geometry appears similar, I suspect that the conductivity of the CopperCONN connectors has something to do with the improvements in definition, transient speed, and vocal and instrumental nuance I hear in everything from aria to orchestral tutti.

So the Delta NR’s a keeper. And the Venom NR hasn’t gone very far. It’s now parked in the living-room system, linking that setup’s Venom NR v10-connected original-version Hydra to a conrad-johnson Premier 17LS line stage (they make a beautiful sonic couple).

(One more change is coming, though, and it’ll shake up the batting order a bit: I’ve just ordered a Hydra Delta D6 power distributor with SSF-38 feet for the bedroom system. Which means musical-chair Hydra upgrades for both the living-room and home-office systems.)

[Parabellum]

Nice review Jim. You confirmed to me once again that I need to go with the Delta NR instead of the Venom NR. Can't wait to get those inserted in my system. I must upgrade 3 more fuses in my amp and the USB cable before I get there.

[Puma Cat]

Have to agree with Serge, Jim, nice review, as always.

Your notes comparing Delta NR with Venom NR are very, very concordant to my experiences.

Another attribute I would say they bring is what I refer to as "dynamic slam"; the ability of the system to transition very quickly and powerfully from, say ppp to ff and back again, and have the presentation hold tightly with coherence. Their ability to convey depth and space and hall ambience in the recording is really remarkable, as well. A great example of this is the superb orchestral recording and mastering of Rodrigo's Concerto de Aranjuez by The Academy and Pepe Romero on Philips.

[jimtranr]

Thanks, Serge and Stephen.

Agreed on the improvement in dynamic slam. And the space-demo quality of the Aranjuez (along with its associative evocation of Ricardo Montalban praising luxurious Corinthian leather in a long-ago Chrysler commercial).

One other venue-illuminating recording I'd cite is the Falletta-conducted Jerome Moross Symphony No. 1 and The Last Judgment on a Koch CD engineered by Michael Fine. The Venom NR puts you in the Abbey Road studio. The Delta NR leaves you breathing its every nook and cranny. Big-time.



Now awaiting with bated breath whatever additional magic the on-order Delta D6 will bring to the party.

[Audiofan1]

Very nice write up and all I needed to know to get a Delta NR.

Thanks