Shunyata Alpha-X and Sigma-X Power Cables

Yup. We got 6. Awesome. I may have taken 2 home. Just saying. Clarity, detail and vanishing noise floor. IMO, Sigma now beats old Omega.
 
Aurender N30SA and VAC Master preamplifier each with a robust external power supply connected to a Denali/Typhon/ALTAIRA stack. At what point are power cords less important? Current PCs are Alpha NR V2.
 
Aurender N30SA and VAC Master preamplifier each with a robust external power supply connected to a Denali/Typhon/ALTAIRA stack. At what point are power cords less important? Current PCs are Alpha NR V2.
In my experience, and from the research I've done into this, they are always important. Also, the NR-spec PCs are important for AC-powered components that use FWBR (full-wave bridge rectifier) power supplies, which most do, whether the power supplies are external or not. These power supplies are a major source of impulse noise in a system, especially after dynamic transients, such as when the rectifiers "slam shut" after a dynamic musical passage. Important to remember that for any AC-powered component, the current does not flow from the wall receptacle or power distributor in to the component one direction only, like water from a hose. The current goes INTO the component, and BACK OUT of the component at 60X/sec in the USA. This is simply the physics of alternating current. This means the noise from FWBR in amps can, and does, go back OUT of the amp, upstream to contaminate upstream lower-signal source components. This is specifically what the Shunyata noise-reduction PCs were designed to prevent, and why they are so effective at reducing noise and making the system quiet.

I can provide a reference written by Caelin if you're interested. Cheers.
 
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Aurender N30SA and VAC Master preamplifier each with a robust external power supply connected to a Denali/Typhon/ALTAIRA stack. At what point are power cords less important? Current PCs are Alpha NR V2.
Absolutely. Funny, I was thing Pass XS300 when you said that. LOL.
 
In my experience, and from the research I've done into this, they are always important. Also, the NR-spec PCs are important for AC-powered components that use FWBR (full-wave bridge rectifier) power supplies
This is very true, for components that have traditional linear power supplies.
Components with Switch Mode Power Supplies have a different way of generating power line noise.
 
This is very true, for components that have traditional linear power supplies.
Components with Switch Mode Power Supplies have a different way of generating power line noise.
That’s correct. SMPS can also generate and high-source leakage impedance current, which can generate noise components. Low-source impedance current can produce threshold jitter, yet another noise component.
 
For folks reference, here's the article Caelin Gabriel wrote about why power cables make a difference in an audio system. I found this article very informative as a foundation for understanding the physics and engineering behind this application.

Ref link to full article here: Why Power Cables Make a Difference

Here's an excerpt speaking to a point referenced above:

Misconception #1: AC Power is like water coming from a large power tank, flowing through several 10s of feet of power hose into a component. This implies that the component is at the end of this system.

Answer: “Actually, the component sits between two power conductors: the hot and the neutral. AC power oscillates (alternates) back and forth at a 50-60 Hz rate. So power does not pour into the component at all. The component's power supply is within a complex network of wires and connectors. ALL of the wire and connectors can and do affect the performance of the component's power supply.”

I'll just end with another thought to put this into context. Many folks still think an electron is a discrete particle, like a moon orbiting a planet or planet orbiting a star. This concept is what is known as the "Bohr model".

pf2018_shutterstock_101843260.jpg


This is, in fact. false.

Electrons are probabilistic quantum wave functions, and are much more accurately depicted as this:

Atomic Orbital2.jpg

Coming back to audio applications: many folks that think that the "signal" flows through a signal cable's conductor material like water in a hose or marbles in a tube. This is as inaccurate as the Bohr model above. The signal is a 3-dimensional electromagnetic wave that propagates along the cable's conductors, just as electrons are a probabilistic quantum wave functions as depicted above.
 
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...This is specifically what the Shunyata noise-reduction PCs were designed to prevent, and why they are so effective at reducing noise and making the system quiet.
The discontinued TYPHON QR plays that game too. I can vouch for that.
 
For folks reference, here's the article Caelin Gabriel wrote about why power cables make a difference in an audio system. I found this article very informative as a foundation for understanding the physics and engineering behind this application.

Ref link to full article here: Why Power Cables Make a Difference

Here's an excerpt speaking to a point referenced above:

Misconception #1: AC Power is like water coming from a large power tank, flowing through several 10s of feet of power hose into a component. This implies that the component is at the end of this system.

Answer: “Actually, the component sits between two power conductors: the hot and the neutral. AC power oscillates (alternates) back and forth at a 50-60 Hz rate. So power does not pour into the component at all. The component's power supply is within a complex network of wires and connectors. ALL of the wire and connectors can and do affect the performance of the component's power supply.”

I'll just end with another thought to put this into context. Many folks still think an electron is a discrete particle, like a moon orbiting a planet or planet orbiting a star. This concept is what is known as the "Bohr model".

pf2018_shutterstock_101843260.jpg


This is, in fact. false.

Electrons are probabilistic quantum wave functions, and are much more accurately depicted as this:

View attachment 34116

Coming back to audio applications: many folks that think that the "signal" flows through a signal cable's conductor material like water in a hose or marbles in a tube. This is as inaccurate as the Bohr model above. The signal is a 3-dimensional electromagnetic wave that propagates along the cable's conductors, just as electrons are a probabilistic quantum wave functions as depicted above.

Stephen, I think the article should have been titled....... 'Why power cables can make a difference'. For not all things measurable can actually be heard !
 
Stephen, I think the article should have been titled....... 'Why power cables can make a difference'. For not all things measurable can actually be heard !
I guess the fine points of semantics could be debated. What’s most important is the content of the article rather than specific wording of the title, and I’ve never experienced an application where power cables don’t have a significant influence on audio or video quality.

BTW, if you want to see visually firsthand the improvement they can provide, use a Shunyata power cable to power your HDTV. It’s pretty remarkable.

Cheers.
 
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