Thread: ALTAIRA grounding hubs
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February 21, 2022, 10:07 AM #1
ALTAIRA grounding hubs
Can anyone elaborate on this grounding system as number of boxes needed/ cables etc. I’m already using the Everest for the Chassis grounding part. How does that effects using the hubs. I do realize it’s not yet available on the open market.
ThanksGryphon Essence stereo amp and preamp/dac Hurricane power cords
Fyne Audio F1-10, Lumin T2, Moon 260 Transport
Shunyata Research Everest, Sigma V2 XC,
Shunyata Research Sigma USB and Ethernet
Argento Audio speaker cables and interconnects
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February 21, 2022, 10:22 AM #2
ALTAIRA grounding hubs
It’s a product that won’t be ready until the summer. There is a lot of documentation and video training being developed.
But basically, one is chassis grounding and the other is signal grounding. We’ve been testing the prototype for weeks in the store.
We have done several tests of having it all connected than removed, than connected, than removed. Richard from Shunyata was conducting this AB live in our room. Let’s just say everyone had the same reaction we’ve been having for weeks.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ProMy Systems: http://www.audioshark.org/showthread...481#post158481
"We can hear everything we measure, but we can't measure everything we hear. Let your ears be your guide."
Dealer for: Aqua Hi-Fi, Aurender, AudioQuest Cables & Power Products, Berkeley Audio, Block Audio (distributor), Boulder Amplifiers, Bowers & Wilkins (B&W), Bryston, Clarisys Audio Loudspeakers (distributor), Classe’ Audio, Degritter Record Cleaning Machines, Esoteric, Finite Elemente, FirstWatt, Focal Loudspeakers and Headphones, GigaFoil, Harbeth Loudspeakers, Hegel, HiFi Man, Innuos, ISO Acoustics, Keces Power Supplies, Kharma Loudspeakers and Electronics, Kuzma Turntables, Lumin, Luxman, Magico Loudspeakers, MBL Speakers & Electronics, MSB Technologies, MySonicLabs Phono Cartridges, Nordost Cables, Ortofon, Pass Labs, Quadraspire, Rega Turntables and Electronics, Shunyata Research, STAX, Stein Music Products, Stillpoints, Soulution, VAC, Vicoustics, Viva Audio, VPI Industries, WireWorld Cables.
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February 22, 2022, 12:45 AM #3
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Re: ALTAIRA grounding hubs
Here is a completely different approach.
Chassis and signal ground still makes sense but Audiophile grounded ? I sure can hear a difference in that video...wow
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February 22, 2022, 02:19 AM #4
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February 22, 2022, 08:33 AM #5
Re: ALTAIRA grounding hubs
Oh boy. I sat through this ‘demonstration’. It was a slick carney act. 20 seconds of music, flip a switch, 20 seconds of music, “Did you hear that?”, 10 seconds, now let me flip this switch.
No time to hear anything. I will be kind and say nothing more but the entire room, roughly 10 people, all walked out at the same time in the middle of the pitch.Main Equipment: Kharma Elegance dB11-S, JL Audio F113v2, Block Audio Line & Mono SE Amplification, Bricasti M21 DAC, Antipodes Kala K-50 Server with 4TB internal SSD
Power: Shunyata Everest 8000, Sigma XC v2, Block Audio Power Cords, Defender, ADDPowr Wizard
Grounding: Shunyata Altaira CGS - Alpha CGS cables
Network : Supra Cat 8+, Twin (Nenon) Modified Buffalo GS2016 Switches with fiber in between powered with Keces P3 LPSU,
Cables: Wireworld Platinum Starlight 8 USB, Wireworld Platinum Eclipse 8 Speaker cables, 1M & 6M Tubulus Concentus ICs,
Other: Isoacoustics GAIA I footers on the Kharmas, GIK & Stillpoint Apertures, Stillpoint Ultra SS under
Everest and Amplifiers, Three dedicated 20 Amp lines w/Furutech GTX - Gold outlets, Adona 5 Shelf rack, ROON, a few HRS weights
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February 22, 2022, 08:39 AM #6
Re: ALTAIRA grounding hubs
Richard from Shunyata did the A/B for my group of merry audiophiles on Saturday morning. We listened to the Eagles, Long Road Out Of Eden for 3 or 4 minutes with the new systems plugged in. He and Mike M unplugged everything and played the same song again. Boom. Congestion went away and the sound stage became smaller. 3 or 4 minutes and they plugged everything back in.
Boom - clearly better sound. No words, no sales pitch, just tell us how you want us to run this test and listen.
If they come in at the price points suggested and can get them in peoples rooms to demo, I think they will sell a lot of them. I know one or both units will be headed my way.Main Equipment: Kharma Elegance dB11-S, JL Audio F113v2, Block Audio Line & Mono SE Amplification, Bricasti M21 DAC, Antipodes Kala K-50 Server with 4TB internal SSD
Power: Shunyata Everest 8000, Sigma XC v2, Block Audio Power Cords, Defender, ADDPowr Wizard
Grounding: Shunyata Altaira CGS - Alpha CGS cables
Network : Supra Cat 8+, Twin (Nenon) Modified Buffalo GS2016 Switches with fiber in between powered with Keces P3 LPSU,
Cables: Wireworld Platinum Starlight 8 USB, Wireworld Platinum Eclipse 8 Speaker cables, 1M & 6M Tubulus Concentus ICs,
Other: Isoacoustics GAIA I footers on the Kharmas, GIK & Stillpoint Apertures, Stillpoint Ultra SS under
Everest and Amplifiers, Three dedicated 20 Amp lines w/Furutech GTX - Gold outlets, Adona 5 Shelf rack, ROON, a few HRS weights
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February 22, 2022, 01:39 PM #7
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February 22, 2022, 01:47 PM #8
Re: ALTAIRA grounding hubs
I'm pretty sure I was one of them. I was just not a fan of this room - it simply didn't sound good to me - nor of the presenter. I agree it felt far too slick and carnie. Fwiw I heard zero difference. But you always have those few people oooohing and aaahing. He actually even used the word voodoo at one point, which was the only thing he said I believed.
I tried visiting that room 3 or 4 times hoping to just hear the system, but each time he was deep into his "human grounding" act.
The Shunyata rep was more credible to me in every way. He took time to explain things to me personally. I wish I could have heard the demo he did.Main System
Lumin X1 > Boulder 1161 > Scansonic MB3.5 B
Headphones
Home: HiFiMan Susvara > Schiit Lyr+
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February 22, 2022, 03:19 PM #9
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February 23, 2022, 05:03 PM #10
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Re: ALTAIRA grounding hubs
Well, I guess I agree to the fact of SR's vodoo science is very confusing but I have to say that I got their newly released carbon tuning disc yesterday and it works wonders. Just don't know how though and in no way I thought or imagined before those small disc can do anything. On the contrary, Shunyata's product are indeed based of real science but they doesn't seem to work on every system, just like any other product - I have some of their latest that are collecting dust but that doesn't mean they can't work wonders in other systems.
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February 23, 2022, 10:01 PM #11Legacy Audio Valor+Wavelet v2, Esoteric S-02 Amps HDPlex 300W, RevAudio Labs DC Umbilical, Esoteric Grandioso P1, P1PSU & dual D1 DACs, Cybershaft Prem Ltd OP21A 10 MHz Clock, Esoteric C-02X, Shunyata Everest 8000 & Altaira SG-NR hubs, Sigma SGC/CGC ground cables, VTX-Ag ground tails, AfterBurner8 duplexes, CSP Inc Q4B, S2B IEC plates, Shunyata Omega CLOCK-50 cables, Tubulus Concentus HDMI, Elrod Master Series Diamond SE & Masters Series Gold Power cords and Statement Gold XLRs, Diamond XLRs & Master Series Diamond XLRs, Shunyata OMEGA QR-s power cable, Anaconda Z-tron XLR, Elrod Statement Gold speaker cables, Adona Zero GX3, GX2, GX racks, Composite Audio CF-2010, Townshend Audio Podiums, HRS DPX Damping Plates, Stillpoints Ultra SS w/Ultra Bases, pArtScience 64-well, 2D QRD 3-inch SpaceArray Diffusors
Travel/Rip: Apple MacBook Pro 16” 2023 M2 Max, 12-core CPU, 38-core GPU, 32 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD for Audirvana+ v3, iTunes, REW Audio Analyzer, dbPowerAmp, DVD Audio Extractor
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February 23, 2022, 10:27 PM #12
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February 24, 2022, 09:25 PM #13
- Join Date
- Jan 2015
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Re: ALTAIRA grounding hubs
Chassis grounding I understand, but what is signal grounding? TIA
Source: MSB Reference w/ Reference Digital Director
Amplifiers: CH Precision A1.5
Server: Antipodes OLADRA
Switch: Melco S-100 w/ Pink Faun clock upgrade powered by 2 x Farad Super3
Speakers: Vivid B1 Decade
Subwoofer: 2 X JL Audio f112 v2
Crossover: JL Audio CR-1
Cables: Shunyata Sigma v1 interconnects, Sigma v2 power cords and Sigma v1 speaker cables
Room: Dedicated 12' X 15' X 9' with Vicoustic treatments
Power Conditioners: Shunyata Everest (frontend), Denali 6000s v2 & Typhon T2 (amps & subs)
Rack: Symposium Foundation Ultra, Symposium Ultra Pro Ampstand (Stealth Edition), HRS SXR
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February 24, 2022, 10:27 PM #14
Re: ALTAIRA grounding hubs
In electronics engineering, a signal ground is defined a point in a circuit as a reference point. This reference point is known as ground (or GND) and carries a voltage of 0V (zero volts). Voltage measurements are relative measurements, so a voltage measurement must be compared or referenced to another point in the circuit. If it is not, the measurement is meaningless.
David Davenport at DIY Audio has a very good introduction to this complex topic.
It goes without saying, that in order for an audio component to be worthwhile, it must process an audio signal in some manner. For a signal voltage to be meaningful, it must be referenced to something. In some cases, as in a differential amplifier, the signal is presented to the positive input and the reference is the negative input. In other cases, as in a single-ended amplifier, the signal is presented to the input and the reference is “ground.” I will call this ground “signal reference.” A triode is a three-terminal device: the input signal is presented to the grid with the cathode as the reference, and the output is taken from the plate with the cathode as the reference. The cathode is usually connected to power common, either directly or through a bias resistor. Thus, signal reference is connected to power common; however no current flows in the connection between power common and the signal reference. Each circuit has a signal reference and some circuits may be analog while other circuits are digital. It is a good idea to keep the digital references separated from the analog references.
The last use of the term “ground” that I will address is shields. There are basically two different shields in an audio system – chassis and cable shields. There are two important characteristics of a shield: the continuity of the enclosure and the material it is made of. By continuity, I mean that for a shield to be maximally effective there must be no holes or gaps in the chassis or in the connection between the cable shield and chassis. This may not be practical in an audio system, but it is good to keep in mind as a goal. Of course, plastic or wood will offer no shielding, while copper or aluminum will provide electrostatic shielding and steel or mu metal will provide both electrostatic and magnetic shielding.
Rule 1. In Morrison [1] (page 39) states, “An electrostatic shield enclosure, to be effective, should be connected to the zero-signal reference potential of any circuitry contained within the shield.”
It is Important to not have a chassis isolated – it must have some ground. Everything has a potential to everything else. Either control it or you have noise potential. Thus a chassis or cable shield must be connected to signal reference; however, no current flows in the connection between the shield and the signal reference.
I use the terms “ground buss” and “star ground” in this article. A ground buss is a piece of wire at ground potential. A star ground is two or more grounds connected to one physical point. A star of stars is just that – several star grounds in turn all connected to a single point.
And this is where the noise issues for Signal Grounding specifically come into play. Dave continues:
So in an audio system we have earth and possibly multiple safety grounds, power commons, signal references and shields; all interconnected. I have said that under normal, non-fault, conditions that no current will flow in these interconnections. This is not entirely true. for there is noise in the system which may flow between the different “grounds” and cause degradation of the sonic performance of the audio system.
Therefore the goal is to minimize the noise traffic in a system by first reducing the noise and second, by reducing the propensity for the remaining noise to move around; or alternatively to control the paths so as to minimize the effect.
The Signal Ground Altaira hub is designed to remove noise from signal grounds, specifically.
Hope this helps...
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February 25, 2022, 04:29 AM #15
Re: ALTAIRA grounding hubs
BTW, the Shunyata Ground Hubs came are named "Altaira" after the daughter of Professor Morbius, played by Anne Francis in the classic science-fiction movie, Forbidden Planet 😎
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February 25, 2022, 01:24 PM #16
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- Jan 2015
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- 23
Re: ALTAIRA grounding hubs
Just to clarify, you don't have to have Krell products to use the Altaira? ;-)
Source: MSB Reference w/ Reference Digital Director
Amplifiers: CH Precision A1.5
Server: Antipodes OLADRA
Switch: Melco S-100 w/ Pink Faun clock upgrade powered by 2 x Farad Super3
Speakers: Vivid B1 Decade
Subwoofer: 2 X JL Audio f112 v2
Crossover: JL Audio CR-1
Cables: Shunyata Sigma v1 interconnects, Sigma v2 power cords and Sigma v1 speaker cables
Room: Dedicated 12' X 15' X 9' with Vicoustic treatments
Power Conditioners: Shunyata Everest (frontend), Denali 6000s v2 & Typhon T2 (amps & subs)
Rack: Symposium Foundation Ultra, Symposium Ultra Pro Ampstand (Stealth Edition), HRS SXR
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February 25, 2022, 02:51 PM #17Legacy Audio Valor+Wavelet v2, Esoteric S-02 Amps HDPlex 300W, RevAudio Labs DC Umbilical, Esoteric Grandioso P1, P1PSU & dual D1 DACs, Cybershaft Prem Ltd OP21A 10 MHz Clock, Esoteric C-02X, Shunyata Everest 8000 & Altaira SG-NR hubs, Sigma SGC/CGC ground cables, VTX-Ag ground tails, AfterBurner8 duplexes, CSP Inc Q4B, S2B IEC plates, Shunyata Omega CLOCK-50 cables, Tubulus Concentus HDMI, Elrod Master Series Diamond SE & Masters Series Gold Power cords and Statement Gold XLRs, Diamond XLRs & Master Series Diamond XLRs, Shunyata OMEGA QR-s power cable, Anaconda Z-tron XLR, Elrod Statement Gold speaker cables, Adona Zero GX3, GX2, GX racks, Composite Audio CF-2010, Townshend Audio Podiums, HRS DPX Damping Plates, Stillpoints Ultra SS w/Ultra Bases, pArtScience 64-well, 2D QRD 3-inch SpaceArray Diffusors
Travel/Rip: Apple MacBook Pro 16” 2023 M2 Max, 12-core CPU, 38-core GPU, 32 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD for Audirvana+ v3, iTunes, REW Audio Analyzer, dbPowerAmp, DVD Audio Extractor
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February 25, 2022, 08:59 PM #18
- Join Date
- Jan 2015
- Posts
- 23
Source: MSB Reference w/ Reference Digital Director
Amplifiers: CH Precision A1.5
Server: Antipodes OLADRA
Switch: Melco S-100 w/ Pink Faun clock upgrade powered by 2 x Farad Super3
Speakers: Vivid B1 Decade
Subwoofer: 2 X JL Audio f112 v2
Crossover: JL Audio CR-1
Cables: Shunyata Sigma v1 interconnects, Sigma v2 power cords and Sigma v1 speaker cables
Room: Dedicated 12' X 15' X 9' with Vicoustic treatments
Power Conditioners: Shunyata Everest (frontend), Denali 6000s v2 & Typhon T2 (amps & subs)
Rack: Symposium Foundation Ultra, Symposium Ultra Pro Ampstand (Stealth Edition), HRS SXR
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February 27, 2022, 05:39 PM #19
Re: ALTAIRA grounding hubs
I guess it was over our heads. ???
Synology 1019D+ - SGC Sonictransporter I9 w Roon/HQ Player- UltraRendu- PBD Stream IF to Playback Designs MPS5 via fiber optic - ARC 40th Anniversary Pre - ARC 610 T's - Martin Logan CLX's - 4 Martin Logan Depth i Subs - Shunyata Hydra, DIY PCOCC interconnects, speaker cables and power cords with Furutech terminations. Blue Jeans CAT 6's. Acoustically treated room with one permanent chair.
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February 27, 2022, 08:55 PM #20
Re: ALTAIRA grounding hubs
I got it right away!
SOTA Cosmos TT (vacuum, Electronic Flywheel), SME V, Koetsu Rosewood Signature, Pass Labs XP-15 phono stage, Klaudio LP200 ultrasonic RCM
Marantz SA-10 SACD player, Alesis ML-9600 mastering CD burner, Nakamichi 700 ZXE Cassette Deck
Pass Labs XP-30 (SS) & Hovland HP-100 (tube) preamps
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Rockport Atria & Infinity IRS Beta Speakers
Audience AU24 SX Phono cable, MIT Shotgun ICs, Shunyata Alpha v1 SCs
Revelation Audio Labs 'Passage' CryoSilver Reference DualConduit DB-25 umbilical cables for Pass XP-30
Shunyata Everest 8000 power conditioner w/Sigma v2 XC (on BBA platform), Shunyata Alpha NR v1, Delta NR v1, & Venom HC PCs. Also PS8 & 2 Venom Defenders.
Audio Magic Ultimate SHD Bees Wax Fuse, Synergistic Research Blue & Black fuses, Hi-Fi Tuning fuses
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February 27, 2022, 09:25 PM #21
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March 1, 2022, 10:40 PM #22
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- Australia
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Re: ALTAIRA grounding hubs
Yet another new product coming out of the Shunyata skunk works. Still haven't seen a Denali v1 in our market, or an Everest for that matter. I guess it will be a few years before we see the new Shunyata stuff arrive here.
Speakers: Magico M3, ACC, S-SUB | Electronics: Esoteric Grandioso stack | Amplification: Halcro |
Analog cables: Crystal Cable | Digital cables: Shunyata Sigma | Rack: YG Acoustics Rack 1.8
| Source: Kaleidescape Premiere (4 x 6TB) | Power: Shunyata Typhon-QR, Everest and Denali
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March 1, 2022, 11:23 PM #23
Re: ALTAIRA grounding hubs
My Systems: http://www.audioshark.org/showthread...481#post158481
"We can hear everything we measure, but we can't measure everything we hear. Let your ears be your guide."
Dealer for: Aqua Hi-Fi, Aurender, AudioQuest Cables & Power Products, Berkeley Audio, Block Audio (distributor), Boulder Amplifiers, Bowers & Wilkins (B&W), Bryston, Clarisys Audio Loudspeakers (distributor), Classe’ Audio, Degritter Record Cleaning Machines, Esoteric, Finite Elemente, FirstWatt, Focal Loudspeakers and Headphones, GigaFoil, Harbeth Loudspeakers, Hegel, HiFi Man, Innuos, ISO Acoustics, Keces Power Supplies, Kharma Loudspeakers and Electronics, Kuzma Turntables, Lumin, Luxman, Magico Loudspeakers, MBL Speakers & Electronics, MSB Technologies, MySonicLabs Phono Cartridges, Nordost Cables, Ortofon, Pass Labs, Quadraspire, Rega Turntables and Electronics, Shunyata Research, STAX, Stein Music Products, Stillpoints, Soulution, VAC, Vicoustics, Viva Audio, VPI Industries, WireWorld Cables.
https://suncoastaudio.com/
Phone: 941-932-0282
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Suncoast-Au...1105178279194/
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March 1, 2022, 11:51 PM #24
Re: ALTAIRA grounding hubs
Bud
Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
Sony XA-5400ES SACD
Pass XP-22 pre, X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers, SPOD spikes
Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR for source, Denali 2000 (2) for amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables
Mapleshade Samson four shelf maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits.
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Yes...it makes for a BIG improvement. Every demo I've heard where at Altaira was in the system, folks listened, and then the Altaira(s) were removed, and folks immediately demanded the Altaira be put...
Altaira or Gemini CGS on...