Shunyata Alpha USB 1.5

[crion2]

RH67, I'm glad the cable is opening up to where you need it.

I think we can just agree to disagree. I think a streamer with LPSU that still sounds great doesn't have to cost 30k. I use a Meridian 210 streamer (internal LPSU) for just $1250 with an AES/EBU output over CAT6A cable. A Xeon based NAS with ECC memory for several times more. You just have to take care of it a bit better with great PC's, SGS (Signal grounding), CGS (Chassigrounding) and vibration control. Things that mostly are taken care of in costlier components. I know I can probably get a Meridian 818V3 or the Ultra DAC that will beat this cheapo device, but I simply have no room in the rack for that size of premium streamer components the size of vivaldi or the Ultra DAC.

I'm "guessing" the Mac mini hardware wise is closer to my ATV4K. I plan to modify the coming 2020 ATV4K (ATV6 with A12X CPU/GPU) with a custom 12V board so that I can run an LPSU with it. But it outputs HDMI ofcourse, S/PDIF was taken away in a previous generation. But it will work great with my UHD722 HDMI audio upsampler. Interestingly the 2020 ATV6 will be hovering around 4-6 core intel performance which is why apple is going to abandon intel for its own CPU/GPU in the coming years.

Sorry, for pursuing the hunt but after that alpha breaks in and your system hopefully goes into the sublime status where is the ceiling/culprit then? I don't know if the latest mac mini could be modified with a 12V board for LPSU use(?).

The current ATV4K has a simple DC board that can be switched in:
https://carsystems.com.ua/universal-...ower-supply-en

[jimtranr]

Originally Posted by RH67

...just streaming music into my DAC with the amp off. So this evening i decided to do some listening and i have noticed an improvement and i mean a big improvement. I`m going to continue this.

"...a big improvement" is good to hear. It should keep getting better for a while. Hope you'll keep us posted.

[RH67]

Originally Posted by jimtranr

"...a big improvement" is good to hear. It should keep getting better for a while. Hope you'll keep us posted.

Will do. I`ll do some more listening tomorrow.

[John Jordan]

Originally Posted by kennyb123

Now that you have an Alpha USB, you should most certainly hear significant differences between servers.

I've also owned an Alpha USB and I can assure you that it's a fantastic cable. It would be a terrible waste to use one of these though with a Mac - unless the Mac was powered by a really good linear power supply. But even in that case, you would be best served following Puma's advice.

RH67-

Here is a quote from a HiFi+ Review:

""While it works best with computers rather than dedicated music servers,
we still think “it makes USB sound better!” ""

Complete review is downloadable on the Shunyata website.

Sometimes some cables work better on some systems than others. In any event, the customer service at Shunyate is outstanding. I am sure you will be fine with whatever your final decision may be.

[kennyb123]

Originally Posted by John Jordan

RH67-

Here is a quote from a HiFi+ Review:

""While it works best with computers rather than dedicated music servers,
we still think “it makes USB sound better!” "".

Alan Sircom is one voice and just because his reviews get published in a magazine doesn’t mean he’s the most knowledgeable on this. The Melco was the one dedicated server he tried it with. That he was so impressedwith his MacBook Pro makes me question his findings. Sircom is more of a traditional reviewer and I think he gets it right an awful lot when reviewing the traditional components you expect to find reviewed in that magazine. I would put much more weight on Puma_Cat’s advice in area of servers.

But having said all that, I don’t doubt that an Alpha can improve the sound of what’s coming out of a computer. It’s a phenomenal cable. I think the biggest mistake that one can make is to ignore the server. I see server/software/cable/DAC as very analogous to turntable/tonearm/cartridge/cable/phono stage. Ensuring that all pieces of commensurate level will pay huge dividends.

[RH67]

Originally Posted by John Jordan

RH67-

Here is a quote from a HiFi+ Review:

""While it works best with computers rather than dedicated music servers,
we still think “it makes USB sound better!” ""

Complete review is downloadable on the Shunyata website.

Sometimes some cables work better on some systems than others. In any event, the customer service at Shunyate is outstanding. I am sure you will be fine with whatever your final decision may be.

Thank you John!

[mr_gray]

i certainly found the sigma USB improved over a period of a month but most drastically after about 12 days. it wasn't very nice during that initial period at all and the use of the phrase "transistor sound" resonates with me. but then it changed and changed and changed and now it is extremely compelling and silky fast.

[RH67]

Originally Posted by mr_gray

i certainly found the sigma USB improved over a period of a month but most drastically after about 12 days. it wasn't very nice during that initial period at all and the use of the phrase "transistor sound" resonates with me. but then it changed and changed and changed and now it is extremely compelling and silky fast.

I`m still waiting for the transistor sound to disappear at 130hrs in, i`m also missing some detail, tone and musicality.

I`m really giving this cable a chance a lot more than i have done with others.

[SackATK]

This is just my experience with my gear so I don't know how much of this would be applicable to you but when I first had the Alpha USB, it went straight from the microrendu to the DAC and I heard the benefits many here have described. Then I upgraded the microrendu to opticalrendu and heard a big improvement. Upgrading the power supply to the opticalrendu brought improvement. I inserted an ISO regen between the rendu and the DAC (Alpha USB is final USB cable, Uptone LPS 1.2 feeds ISO regen along with other DC power tweaks) and this surprisingly made a very noticeable improvement. In summary, for me one single USB cable and only this cable before the DAC is not the end all be all.

[Masterlu]

SackATK... Welcome to AA!