Also from my side a small contribution to this topic. My very first post at all. Hope it is not gonna be boring…
I compared the Alpha v2 NR power cord to the Sigma v1 NR power cord. After I upgraded my Triton v3 to the Everest 8000 including the Sigma v2 XC PC and Sigma v2 NR PC into the upgrade, I had the Sigma v1 NR PC basically leftover.
But before I come to the point, a short excursion to the Alpha v1 NR PC. Some time ago, when the Alpha v1 NR PC hit the market, I bought three of them to feed my dCS Vivaldi Stack (DAC/Upsampler/Clock). I was satisfied but then I read about some Ching Cheng power cords in an audiophile forum and I bought a couple of them just out of curiosity and because they were cheap. To my own surprise, I was not able to hear a relevant difference between the Ching Chengs and the Alpha v1’s. After switching back and forth between the power cords for some time, I decided that there was no point in keeping the Alpha v1’s. So I sold them and I was using the Ching Chengs since then. Until two weeks ago, when I plugged the Sigma v1 NR PC into my Vivaldi DAC, replacing the Ching Cheng. And again. The Sigma v1 NR PC brought on the DAC a surprisingly small and frankly disappointing improvement over the Ching Cheng – a five Euro power cord. A bit better resolution in the upper end. Textures in the mid band were also slightly better. That’s it. The difference was for sure not what one would expect given the price difference. From my perspective.
And here comes the Alpha v2 NR PC into play. Reading all the positive opinions about the Alpha v2 generation in this thread, I decided to go for one. It replaced the Sigma v1 NR PC on my Vivaldi DAC. In my environment, the Alpha v2 sounds better by some margin. And it is not just a matter of taste. All the gray shade is gone. Much more color and resolution from midband to the upper end with better textures and better transient speed. I could not hear much of a difference in the lower end, however. But that’s just the technical view of things. Much more important, for me, is the Alpha v2’s capability to connect emotionally to the music. Here its individual capabilities are blended so well together and lock in with each other so palpable (a puzzle comes into my mind or a good meal which consists of many ingredients) that the result in the end is more than the sum of its ingredients. The Sigma v1 NR PC sounds in comparison dull, whereas the Alpha v2 NR PC brings all the same, fine ingredients to the music like the Sigma v2 NR PC. Not its power delivery capabilities, of course. But on a DAC, I doubt the Sigma v2 NR PC will bring a relevant improvement. In particular not in the field of emotional connection. Btw, I made identical experiences with both power cords on my Antipodes K40 music server.
So what to buy? A used Sigma v1 NR PC or a new Alpha v2 NR PC. On a low power and constant current draw equipment, I would go for sure for the Alpha v2. On high-current equipment, Sigma’s power delivery capabilities may predominate its weaknesses. This may be a question of taste and system dependence.
Normally, I recommend always to skip a generation in-between upgrades. But not this time. As for the power cords, the v2 generation is a must for v1 owners. Shunyata made a fantastic job here. I wonder already, how they are going to manage a similar step forward with the v3 generation. Or shall we skip the v3?
You challenged yourself, Caelin.
BTW, a big thank you all the members for your valuable opinions on Alpha v2 in this thread.
