Niagara 7000 vs Denali 6000T - my experience

J

Justin

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Over the past 4 years or so, I have upgraded from my initial system and had reached a point where I felt that power really needed to be addressed. Current system is Rockport Atria speakers, VAC Signature SE preamp, Hegel H30 amp, Berkeley Ref DAC, Kubala cabling... I had been using a Shunyata Venom PS8 for the past few years (going into a dedicated 20 amp circuit). Really like the Rockports but spend way too much time trying to figure out what my next speaker is.

Anyways, with the help of Paul Chambers at Goodwin's High End, one of the nicest guys I've met in audio, I have been able to demo at home the Niagara 7000 and Denali 6000T in my system over the past 10 days. I expected to like Niagara more, based on all the feedback I've heard and buzz about it.

I initially had my VAC preamp plugged into a high current bay on the 7000... as soon as I moved it to one of the many lower current spots it sounded great. Felt like a layer had been peeled off... among other improvements, noticeably better bass. Clearer, easier, fuller. I assumed this would be the easy winner.

After living with the 7000 for a week, Paul swapped it out for the Denali yesterday. I was shocked at my reaction. Compared to the 7000, the Denali was immediately more open. There was more space. There was more detail. Much bigger soundstage. I could hear the instruments in their right places instead of a more unified sound. More detail - but not cold. To me, significantly more neutral, transparent, musical.

We went back and forth. A to B for a bit. For both of us, it was clear as day which we preferred. The Denali did not seem to add or change anything in the music -- I would describe it as feeling totally neutral, just dramatically lowering the noise floor and letting me hear everything better. When going back to the Niagara, it felt like listening to music that was more compressed... I absolutely was left with the impression of a darker background, a quieter system with the Denali.

So now I sit listening to Neil Young - Harvest Moon on a Saturday morning, enjoying the 6000T.

Am I crazy for preferring 6000T to 7000? Do I just prefer the Shunyata "house" sound to Audioquest? Do I need to have my hearing checked with an audiologist ASAP? Flame away if you must!

Maybe it's my specific system that is favoring the Denali... I don't know.

The good news to me is that my fear is always leaving a demo utterly confused about a preference. In this instance, there was no doubt about preference. Quieter, more detail, more musical to me, less altering of the music... it sounds tremendous. Big thanks to Paul and Goodwin's for giving me plenty of time to hear each of these on my own turf.

Justin
 
Did you see this test? I use my Entech as well. You either have good clean AC or you don't. The Entech doesn't lie. The funniest part is when I take it to friends places who think they have good clean power and then they hear the crap that's on their lines.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6f1kwyZbM8


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I had both in my system also. Both are great products and depending on ones system and incoming power etc. I can see somebody liking either one depending on the system.
 
Justin said:
After living with the 7000 for a week, Paul swapped it out for the Denali yesterday. I was shocked at my reaction. Compared to the 7000, the Denali was immediately more open. There was more space. There was more detail. Much bigger soundstage. I could hear the instruments in their right places instead of a more unified sound. More detail - but not cold. To me, significantly more neutral, transparent, musical.

Am I crazy for preferring 6000T to 7000? Do I just prefer the Shunyata "house" sound to Audioquest? Do I need to have my hearing checked with an audiologist ASAP? Flame away if you must!


Justin
Click to expand...

First off IMHO, you are never crazy for believing what your ears tell you and what you like for your system regardless of what others may say, what hype is on the street for a product you choose not to get, or even what any "professional reviewer/expert" has to say. Always use your ears and select what you think is right for your system and tastes. I think it is great that you stand by your experience and listening instead of going with what others may say or what hype surrounds a given product. So, no, you are not crazy at all in my book..

When my wife and I chose the Niagara 7000, we also compared it to other units (including your Hydra), but for our tastes we preferred the Niagara. I do firmly agree with what theprofessor stated elsewhere on this thread that both are great products and our choice of the Niagara came down to what it did in our system vs. the Hydra. On a side note, it did (to our ears in our system) significantly improve over our old Equi=Tech 2Q) and thus was a reason for us purchase it.
 
Thanks for sharing your feedback on the Audioquest and Shunyata power products.

This year, I switched to a Shunyata Triton V2 / Typhon from a PS Audio P10 after listening and finding similar differences between those products, as you did between the 2 that you demoed.
 
Justin,

I haven't had a chance to try the Niagra 7000, but like you, the Denali 6000 had a very significant and positive effect in my system.
 
I think the Niagara is a great product, but as in PS Audio case, as soon as you mess with the electricity you get into murky waters IMHO. And well yes, I am obviously a Shunyata guy - guilty as charged :).


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Justin said:
Over the past 4 years or so, I have upgraded from my initial system and had reached a point where I felt that power really needed to be addressed. Current system is Rockport Atria speakers, VAC Signature SE preamp, Hegel H30 amp, Berkeley Ref DAC, Kubala cabling... I had been using a Shunyata Venom PS8 for the past few years (going into a dedicated 20 amp circuit). Really like the Rockports but spend way too much time trying to figure out what my next speaker is.

Anyways, with the help of Paul Chambers at Goodwin's High End, one of the nicest guys I've met in audio, I have been able to demo at home the Niagara 7000 and Denali 6000T in my system over the past 10 days. I expected to like Niagara more, based on all the feedback I've heard and buzz about it.

I initially had my VAC preamp plugged into a high current bay on the 7000... as soon as I moved it to one of the many lower current spots it sounded great. Felt like a layer had been peeled off... among other improvements, noticeably better bass. Clearer, easier, fuller. I assumed this would be the easy winner.

After living with the 7000 for a week, Paul swapped it out for the Denali yesterday. I was shocked at my reaction. Compared to the 7000, the Denali was immediately more open. There was more space. There was more detail. Much bigger soundstage. I could hear the instruments in their right places instead of a more unified sound. More detail - but not cold. To me, significantly more neutral, transparent, musical.

We went back and forth. A to B for a bit. For both of us, it was clear as day which we preferred. The Denali did not seem to add or change anything in the music -- I would describe it as feeling totally neutral, just dramatically lowering the noise floor and letting me hear everything better. When going back to the Niagara, it felt like listening to music that was more compressed... I absolutely was left with the impression of a darker background, a quieter system with the Denali.

So now I sit listening to Neil Young - Harvest Moon on a Saturday morning, enjoying the 6000T.

Am I crazy for preferring 6000T to 7000? Do I just prefer the Shunyata "house" sound to Audioquest? Do I need to have my hearing checked with an audiologist ASAP? Flame away if you must!

Maybe it's my specific system that is favoring the Denali... I don't know.

The good news to me is that my fear is always leaving a demo utterly confused about a preference. In this instance, there was no doubt about preference. Quieter, more detail, more musical to me, less altering of the music... it sounds tremendous. Big thanks to Paul and Goodwin's for giving me plenty of time to hear each of these on my own turf.

Justin
Click to expand...

Hi Justin,

Thanks for your review of the two power conditioners. What make and model power cords did you use for your comparison?

Thanks,
Ken
 
I agree with the premise that one's ears tell him/her what he/she likes for your system regardless of what others say. While I personally do not have much experience with the Hydra, the Denali to my ears is a game changer - I know others who have sold off their Hydra for Denali as they feel Denali is in an entirely different league altogether.
 
One big difference as I see it, is that the AudioQuest has a 90amp power reserve for dynamic spikes. I don't see any power current reservoir on the Denali.

Also, from speaking with Denali users, many are plugging the amps into the wall, and the rest of the gear into the Denali, therefore negating the principle of common/star grounding.

I would love to compare the AQ1000 to one of the Denali's. That would be a level playing field since the 1000 doesn't have the 90am power reserve bank.

Thoughts?


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One big difference as I see it, is that the AudioQuest has a 90amp power reserve for dynamic spikes. I don't see any power current reservoir on the Denali. Am I wrong?


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Mike said:
One big difference as I see it, is that the AudioQuest has a 90amp power reserve for dynamic spikes. I don't see any power current reservoir on the Denali. Am I wrong?


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Click to expand...

I don't see where the Denali stores any power but then the Denali doesn't limit current and passes a full 20 amps via the lower connections and a full 15 via the remaining connections.

I have been auditioning one in my system for about 10 days now. I contacted my dealer today to inform him I will be keeping the unit. I have had my Momentum's connected to the unit and just returned from my other dealer with a 15' Transparent PC so that I can also connect my pre-amp. I have been going back an forth between a Transparent connection to the Denali with Shunyata's Alpha HC. It is TBD which I will end up using.
 
Two different ways to get your equipment better power. Both are good products.

My $.02. Without a battery pack or way to store power like big capacitors for very short needs, I don't think there is a way to get more power than from the wall plug itself. That would be a perpetual motion generator. Transformers are not 100% efficient, you loose power with them. So physics aside, it seems like the 90amp power reserve spec has some holes in it unless the wall plug has 91 amps.

Again - using my ears - both are worth auditioning and who cares about specs.
 
the professor said:
Two different ways to get your equipment better power. Both are good products.

My $.02. Without a battery pack or way to store power like big capacitors for very short needs, I don't think there is a way to get more power than from the wall plug itself. That would be a perpetual motion generator. Transformers are not 100% efficient, you loose power with them. So physics aside, it seems like the 90amp power reserve spec has some holes in it unless the wall plug has 91 amps.

Again - using my ears - both are worth auditioning and who cares about specs.
Click to expand...

Hi Jock,

I think the Niagara 7000's output is 90 amps peak current and 20 amps continuous current in the high-power outlets.

Best,
Ken
 
Alpinist said:
Hi Jock,

I think the Niagara 7000's output is 90 amps peak current and 20 amps continuous current in the high-power outlets.

Best,
Ken
Click to expand...

That's exactly right. You can see on the internal pics a large "tube".


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Mike said:
Did you see this test? I use my Entech as well. You either have good clean AC or you don't. The Entech doesn't lie. The funniest part is when I take it to friends places who think they have good clean power and then they hear the crap that's on their lines.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6f1kwyZbM8


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I have the same Entech noise analyzer and use it often. The Monster guys used to use this device to demonstrate the noise reduction of their units years ago. Today, Shunyata has videos posted on their website using it to demonstrate the efficacy of the Denali in this same regard. If you can get your hands on one do so - it's a fun little toy. From a practical standpoint however it measures some line noise but perhaps not all - there are several different types of noise. I can tell you whether I use the Audience, Shunyata, etc, the meter almost always reads "0" or very close to it. To me, it is not just how one marker on line noise reads but all about that magical sound experienced that Justin was talking about in his listening experience and review.


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the professor said:
Two different ways to get your equipment better power. Both are good products.

My $.02. Without a battery pack or way to store power like big capacitors for very short needs, I don't think there is a way to get more power than from the wall plug itself. That would be a perpetual motion generator. Transformers are not 100% efficient, you loose power with them. So physics aside, it seems like the 90amp power reserve spec has some holes in it unless the wall plug has 91 amps.

Again - using my ears - both are worth auditioning and who cares about specs.
Click to expand...

I agree with Jock. Again, different people will prefer different gear. There is not one that outperforms all others necessarily. This said, while a nice feature to have, at least in a good number of cases the Audioquest 90 amp power reserve spec may indeed be redundant. It's only for milliseconds. Good power amps have these integrated into their power supplies as well. For me, it all comes back to the sound...


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La Dolce Vita said:
I have the same Entech noise analyzer and use it often. The Monster guys used to use this device to demonstrate the noise reduction of their units years ago. Today, Shunyata has videos posted on their website using it to demonstrate the efficacy of the Denali in this same regard. If you can get your hands on one do so - it's a fun little toy. From a practical standpoint however it measures some line noise but perhaps not all - there are several different types of noise. I can tell you whether I use the Audience, Shunyata, etc, the meter almost always reads "0" or very close to it. To me, it is not just how one marker on line noise reads but all about that magical sound experienced that Justin was talking about in his listening experience and review.


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Click to expand...

I have the entech line noise analyzer. The 7000 measures 0.00
 
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