johnthomas
Member
Mike, just curious were you able to compare the sound of Everest CGS grounding post to components vs. Altaira CGS to components? I’m assuming the Altaira would be more beneficial.
Shunyata Launches - ALTAIRA GROUNDING SYSTEM!!
- Thread starter Mike
- Start date
- Thread Author
- #62
No. We asked this question and Caelin indicated the use of the Altaira would yield superior results due to the individual isolation, etc. We’ve been using Altaira since February and every time we A/B with it in and out of the system, we are shaking our heads. One experiment we want to try is tapping into the ground lug on the Fyne Audio speakers.
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“Big differences in filtering and isolation between grounded devices. The Everest has one GP-NR for all ground posts, Altairas have one for each ground post.”
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MPW
Member
Keep us informed on how the Fyne test goes. Very interested to hear the results.
The A/B referred to was A = Altaira and B = nothing, or B = Everest GP-NR?
- Thread Author
- #65
No. We don’t ground to the Everest now that we have Altaira. We compare with Altaira Vs no grounding.
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- Thread Author
- #67
That we do, but we don’t skip the Altaira and just ground to the Everest.
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- Thread Author
- #69
You’re so confused.
We always ground Altaira to Everest. What I was saying was we never did equipment to Everest without Altaira in the middle.
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GSOphile
Active member
So this is true even though the M-10X does have a signal ground post? Interesting.
- Thread Author
- #72
Best to read the manual.
So there is no confusion, the above is incorrect.
In just a simple, single Altaira system, Shunyata recommends the chassis unit first for these single hub systems, regardless of the types of electronics.
Components to Chassis Altaira Hub. Chassis Altaira Hub to power conditioner ground.
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SCAudiophile
Active member
This statement "signal grounds do not get connected to Everest. Component signal grounds get connected to Altaira, and Altaira gets connected to Everest."
As shown is not incorrect.
It should however read:
"signal grounds do not get connected to Everest. Component signal grounds get connected to Altaira SG version, and Altaira gets connected to Everest through lug #7 which is labeled 'CGC' ".
This configuration is shown in the diagram:
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As shown is not incorrect.
It should however read:
"signal grounds do not get connected to Everest. Component signal grounds get connected to Altaira SG version, and Altaira gets connected to Everest through lug #7 which is labeled 'CGC' ".
This configuration is shown in the diagram:
Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk
BobK
Member
Hi Mike,
Just watched your awesome interview with Caelin on What's Best Forum. Great job by all parties! Thank you for doing this.
Just watched your awesome interview with Caelin on What's Best Forum. Great job by all parties! Thank you for doing this.
- Thread Author
- #75
Thank you. Let me know if that’s something you want to discuss further.
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BobK
Member
Of course, we will...I see a couple of Signal Grounds in my future!
stevebythebay
New member
So, I've had the Altaira CG at home for a month or thereabouts. It's been an eye opener in many respects. Did find benefit in using the Uptone Audio etherREGEN's dedicated ground to the Altaira, more than anything else - initially. I'd also used BNC tails with a dCS Vivaldi APEX DAC and Upsampler and found these of less clear benefit. Tried to do the same with the dCS Clock, but this was not at all helpful, and seemed to take me a step back. No clear idea as to why. So, I then decided to give a try to my Cybershaft clock which is acting as "master" for both my dCS and etherREGEN. That required changing my Cybershaft's "isolated" (floated) ground to grounded via switches for each of the clock outputs and wiring from the dedicated ground screw to the Altaira. That initially seemed to provide a better result.
Although the preferred approach is to first use a dedicated ground, then, if no dedicated ground, to use chassis grounding, and finally signal grounding if no continuity exists for chassis grounding. Through my own experience, the exterior silver chassis screws were found to be of a design which would not support the spade lugs (deeply recessed and no bite for the spades). That's why the BNC tails were used.
However, after Grant returned from his recent trip overseas, he contacted me, and suggested I use the smaller black screws on the back of the dCS Clock and see if that would work. Though he hadn't tested as yet on his unit, since he didn't have the smaller spade lugs, he ran the continuity test which proved, as expected, a better level of performance in grounding. I happened to have received a few of the smaller spade lugs, originally in hopes these would fit better on the two dedicated ground posts I'd been testing. Sure enough a smaller spade filled the bill on the dCS Clock. And I no longer found a problem with using the Altaira with the dCS Clock. However, I now noticed that the soundstage had shrunk a bit and I was getting less focus and, oddly, more tweeter hiss. Now confused and downcast, as you might imagine.
Since I was going to return my loaner cable I simply removed it from the Cybershaft and let this clock revert to Isolated (ground lifted) mode. And when I turned everything on again I was very surprised to hear a much better system than ever. I went ahead and removed the BNC tails and wired the spades to the black chassis screws on the back of the Vivaldi DAC and Upsampler. And things jumped up another level. All the odd things that happened with the Cybershaft had disappeared and all the hoped for benefits of the Altaira came to fruition.
So, lesson learned: assume nothing when on the hunt for eradicating "ground gremlins"...
Although the preferred approach is to first use a dedicated ground, then, if no dedicated ground, to use chassis grounding, and finally signal grounding if no continuity exists for chassis grounding. Through my own experience, the exterior silver chassis screws were found to be of a design which would not support the spade lugs (deeply recessed and no bite for the spades). That's why the BNC tails were used.
However, after Grant returned from his recent trip overseas, he contacted me, and suggested I use the smaller black screws on the back of the dCS Clock and see if that would work. Though he hadn't tested as yet on his unit, since he didn't have the smaller spade lugs, he ran the continuity test which proved, as expected, a better level of performance in grounding. I happened to have received a few of the smaller spade lugs, originally in hopes these would fit better on the two dedicated ground posts I'd been testing. Sure enough a smaller spade filled the bill on the dCS Clock. And I no longer found a problem with using the Altaira with the dCS Clock. However, I now noticed that the soundstage had shrunk a bit and I was getting less focus and, oddly, more tweeter hiss. Now confused and downcast, as you might imagine.
Since I was going to return my loaner cable I simply removed it from the Cybershaft and let this clock revert to Isolated (ground lifted) mode. And when I turned everything on again I was very surprised to hear a much better system than ever. I went ahead and removed the BNC tails and wired the spades to the black chassis screws on the back of the Vivaldi DAC and Upsampler. And things jumped up another level. All the odd things that happened with the Cybershaft had disappeared and all the hoped for benefits of the Altaira came to fruition.
So, lesson learned: assume nothing when on the hunt for eradicating "ground gremlins"...
stevebythebay
New member
Sorta'.
I'd say I didn't know why the dCS Clock was adversely affected by connecting to the Altaira. That simply led to seeing if the Cybershaft would work with the Altaira. Clearly that didn't play out as hoped. It wasn't until Grant's recommendation to try chassis connecting the dCS Clock to the Altaira that the situation improved, leading to additional chassis connections to the other dCS components and finally the serendipity of removing the Cybershaft from the Altaira that everything improved to where it is today.
I'd say I didn't know why the dCS Clock was adversely affected by connecting to the Altaira. That simply led to seeing if the Cybershaft would work with the Altaira. Clearly that didn't play out as hoped. It wasn't until Grant's recommendation to try chassis connecting the dCS Clock to the Altaira that the situation improved, leading to additional chassis connections to the other dCS components and finally the serendipity of removing the Cybershaft from the Altaira that everything improved to where it is today.
crwilli
Active member
Damnit! You can’t un-hear the sonic benefits the Altaira make - even over the CGS capabilities of an Everest.
My order is placed.
My order is placed.