I am using two Altaira SG-NR hubs for two zones of signal grounding and have Typhon T2-30amp and Everest 8000 power conditioners. The Altaira units are chassis grounded to the Everest (via post #7 on Altaira) as are all other components. All cables are Sigma v3 with STIS terminations. VTX-Ag ground tails are used where needed for signal grounding, otherwise it's STIS spades and bananas.Considering adding a grounding system. Is the Shunyata Altaira the one to go with?
I have an Isotek Sigmas power conditioner to power all my source components (AudioNET Pre G2 Pre Amp, Mola Mola Tambaqui DAC, AudioNET PAM G2 Phono Stage, Roon Nucleus+ Music Core & Naim Uniti Core Server) and Shynyata Altaira Chassis Grounding unit recently introduced a Shunyata Denali Power Conditioner as a replacement for my existing Isotek Sigmas, as I am currently awaiting my ordered Shynyata Altaira Chassis Grounding unit to ground all my analogue gear, plus my AudioNET Max Mono Power Amps 7m from my component rack. I temporarily had the Shunyata Denali Power Conditioner on demonstration audition and connected to my AudioNET Max Mono Power Amps which draw significant power current with only very minor improvement in upper treble simblence and a slightly more defined bass.Currently using Isotek V5 Titan from a dedicated 20amp circuit. Also have a Isotek V5 Aquarius plugged into the Titan.
I noticed Isotek and AudioQuest don't make a grounding system. Do you think others are going to follow Shunyata?
Do you think more manufacturers will start adding ground terminals? I don't think any of my gear has it now, even Isotek.
I second that! There are few "real deal" engineers in the cable and accessory space. Caelin is one of them. My Altaira is on the way after hearing what a jaw dropping improvement it made to the sound of my amplifier at a recent visit and listening session in Robert Harley's listening room.I am using two Altaira SG-NR hubs for two zones of signal grounding and have Typhon T2-30amp and Everest 8000 power conditioners. The Altaira units are chassis grounded to the Everest (via post #7 on Altaira) as are all other components. All cables are Sigma v3 with STIS terminations. VTX-Ag ground tails are used where needed for signal grounding, otherwise it's STIS spades and bananas.
I cannot comment on SR, CAD or Nordost, or others, as I've not used them and will not as I'm all-in with the Shunyata solution from proved audible benefit, price/value points of view. Shunyata's research in this area and their attention to detail is very impressive to me.
Will be interested in your report on this addition to your system.I second that! There are few "real deal" engineers in the cable and accessory space. Caelin is one of them. My Altaira is on the way after hearing what a jaw dropping improvement it made to the sound of my amplifier at a recent visit and listening session in Robert Harley's listening room.
Hi - I have been using the Synergistic Research Active Ground block for a few years now. It works as advertised by providing a star grounding location for all the cables and equipment in my system. With all electronics and cables at the same ground potential, the hum and background noise is eliminated providing for the black backgrounds that audiophiles crave. I haven't used the others, but the basic idea is the same and I expect they will all work equally well. I would expect most people will go with the brand provided by their cable supplier. The advantage of the SR grounding system is that it allows for grounding up to 32 items together, including cables.Considering adding a grounding system. Is the Shunyata Altaira the one to go with?
I had the same concern as you regarding demonstrable proof of efficacy. I once asked someone with a Tripopint if I could disconnect it to hear the results and connect it again but the owner politely declined. However, at AXPONA a few years ago I asked Bea Lam if I could do the disconnect/connect experiment in her room with the Nordost QKore 1and 3 and she kindly agreed. We were playing a superb live recording of Beethoven's 1st piano concerto on LP and I'll be damned but I heard the difference with and without instantly. It wasn't hard to appreciate. So I bought the QKores for my front end and have been very pleased. I have not done a thing about my Mephisto amps with regard to grounding and that is my present quandry. It's tempting but not inexpensive. Hmmm....Shunyata done all out with separate boxes for Signal and Chassis and maybe even another for digital, plus cables can quickly get you into the $10K to $15K range. Keep that in mind. It can add up quick so you hope your getting a real and audible return.
Judging these boxes can be tough as you are suppose to let them sit for a day or 2 to so to speak, fully saturate? Then when you unplug them, people will say, well you didn't hear anything because it takes some time to dissipate. Maybe some people hear an instant result. People with Shunyata can comment.
If your dealing with ground plane level variation between outlets you can measure with a meter, you have not wired your room correctly. No one should purchase a ground box before optimizing the electrical infrastructure. Your placing a band aid over a gaping wound. FWIW a power conditioner is a band aid too unless you bring an appropriate dedicated feed to the unit.Hi Guys - I have a very complex system using all Synergistic Research cables, Power treatment, and room treatment. I had some issues with hum because of different ground plane levels between the several amps,
I do believe that the real effectiveness of these products lies in their use of Star Grounding to connect all grounds to the same electrical location, resulting in the elimination of all hum. I think that the effect of hum may be at a Very low level in your system so that it isn't noticed until you connect one of these products to your system, were upon that almost subliminal hum is eliminated resulting in a "blacker" background.
The real key is in my opinion, the application of Star Grounding, which you can do (inexpensively) by connecting all the grounds in your system to the same location, then grounding that to the main house ground system.
Thanks for the info on house grounding. These are all things that have been done here in my home. There is one effect you don't mention - that is the different resistance in the power wiring going from one piece of equipment to another. It takes only millivolts/milliamps to excite hum in some audio equipment, which star grounding of all together IN ADDITION to the normal power plug ground system resolves.If your dealing with ground plane level variation between outlets you can measure with a meter, you have not wired your room correctly. No one should purchase a ground box before optimizing the electrical infrastructure. Your placing a band aid over a gaping wound. FWIW a power conditioner is a band aid too unless you bring an appropriate dedicated feed to the unit.
I agree but disagree you comments on star grounding. There is 0 resaon you should be creating parallel ground paths for hum to be created between the ground on the power cord and a secondary tied to the chassis.
And I know ground devices from all these manufacturers are more advanced than a bolt or block of metal with all wires attached at a single point. Even a simple box wirh piezo minnerals and a properly constructed cable is creating a environment where stray electrons from induced EMF "may" be attracted too.
Lastly, I have never run into a hum issue with a properly wired room that was not equipment related. As in, the manufacturer has a signal ground wire too close to a power lead in the amp. Or the phono stage modulates RF into the signal that is then boosted.
Consider this. Most audio dealers have more gear connected throughout their store than you have. They don't have hum issues. They wired the store correctly for the load.
Propper grounding has little to do with earth and the rod in your yard. It has everything to do with what panelboard you used and how the wires are landed inside the panel. That is the critical ground point in your system. I do wonder how much affect a ground box will have if you actually have your panel made up properly. The comments I receive are mostly from my clients. A few random people will reach out. If they are my client, they have wired and grounded their loadccenter/panel correctly. Just because Harley has a dedicated room does not mean he used a dedicated panel designed for audio and that the branch neutrals and grounds aren't haphazardly landed in the box. Make your infrastructure correct a priority.
Last night I had my Puritan disconnected for hours. I played music. It sounded great. I plugged it back in, got water, used the bathroom. Just fiddled around for 10 minutes, then played more music. Honestly, I feel like it had more bass when I started with it unplugged. But for the most part I would say I heard nothing.
If you have 2 x 10 gauge wires going to your rack with 1 piece of equipment plugged into each, and the chassis of the equipment is properly bonded to the power inlet, and your panel is made up right, I see no reason a wire from one piece of gear to another piece of gear is doing anything other than creating a secondary ground path that is a loop.Thanks for the info on house grounding. These are all things that have been done here in my home. There is one effect you don't mention - that is the different resistance in the power wiring going from one piece of equipment to another. It takes only millivolts/milliamps to excite hum in some audio equipment, which star grounding of all together IN ADDITION to the normal power plug ground system resolves.
Rex, having worked with you on my home's power system, my curiosity begs me to ask the following. How far do you get by having a very well executed panel and ground plane fronting your audio system. Because you do have that, can that be the reason you're not hearing a benefit from the Puritan hardware?I want to say one more thing. I have had a couple people confidentially tell me they tried an Altaira and heard nothing. I have had a couple others say they have tried the Altaira and its a suble improvement.
Both of these groups are going very limited and only try 1 unit and a few cord.
It seems the people who really love the Altaira have a minimum 2 box. A signal and a Chassis. And very likely have a 3rd to separate the digital. And most all have a Everest or Denali to plug the Altaira into. Those are the people very excited about what they hear. A real investment. So if your going to approach it from a 1 box and a couple Venom entry cables, understand your not installing the equipment as Shunyata says it should be done. Shunyata says 2 or more boxes is the right way to go.
I have therfore wondered what would happen if I put 3 of the Puritan Groundmasters to my system?????? What if my digital got one, my front end got one and my amps got one. Would I hear something I could state more definitively??? I don't know.
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