For low to medium power amps, I recommend the Sigma Analog. For very high power amps, use the Sigma HC. High power means something over 200-250 watts/ch.
Shunyata Sigma Digital Power Cord Review
- Thread starter Steve williams
- Start date
For low to medium power amps, I recommend the Sigma Analog. For very high power amps, use the Sigma HC. High power means something over 200-250 watts/ch.
Thought I would post an update and some findings with Sigma cables. I have just taken delivery of a MSB Select DAC, mine has the dual power base option. I also ordered 2 Sigma Digital PC'S to use with it. All has been fine and the DAC and the cables are now well run in. The sound is superb, well beyond what I believed digital was capable of. I have a Sigma Analog which is unused at present, I was in no big rush to try experimenting because the Shunyata distributor told me emphatically that all Sigma Digitals were the only way to run.
My wife also listens to the system and this morning commentated that it sounded a "bit boring" so I found out from MSB which of the 2 power bases powered the analog section of the DAC and swapped out the Sigma Digital for the Sigma Analog. Bang straight away an obvious increase in SQ, more air, wider soundstage and importantly the mid range which was excellent before was now tonally richer and thicker if that makes sense. I tried the Sigma Analog on the other power base powering the digital section just to test it and there was very little change, but if anything it was marginally worse. So now I have on one DAC a mixture of Sigma Analog and Digital PC'S.
I learned an important lesson that with these cables its best if you can, to test with both types to make sure you have the correct Sigma cable in the right spot.
My wife also listens to the system and this morning commentated that it sounded a "bit boring" so I found out from MSB which of the 2 power bases powered the analog section of the DAC and swapped out the Sigma Digital for the Sigma Analog. Bang straight away an obvious increase in SQ, more air, wider soundstage and importantly the mid range which was excellent before was now tonally richer and thicker if that makes sense. I tried the Sigma Analog on the other power base powering the digital section just to test it and there was very little change, but if anything it was marginally worse. So now I have on one DAC a mixture of Sigma Analog and Digital PC'S.
I learned an important lesson that with these cables its best if you can, to test with both types to make sure you have the correct Sigma cable in the right spot.
I'm moving to a Shunyata loom on my dCS Vivaldi full stack. I had some cables from my previous DAC & SACD player, and had been using them with many of the stock cables which dCS ships with the Vivaldi units. The dCS stack will be using:
4 Sigma Digital Power Cords
5 clock cables (Anaconda BNC)
5 digital to digital interconnects (Anaconda AES/EBU)
1 pair 2m Anaconda to preamp (for DAC to preamp connection)
I've also been using Shunyata's USB cable which I like as well.
My system will have all Sigma power cables after this round comes in - except for one Alpha Analog, which powers my Linn Lingo (turntable motor power unit).
I also use a Triton V2, Typhon, and DPC-6.
4 Sigma Digital Power Cords
5 clock cables (Anaconda BNC)
5 digital to digital interconnects (Anaconda AES/EBU)
1 pair 2m Anaconda to preamp (for DAC to preamp connection)
I've also been using Shunyata's USB cable which I like as well.
My system will have all Sigma power cables after this round comes in - except for one Alpha Analog, which powers my Linn Lingo (turntable motor power unit).
I also use a Triton V2, Typhon, and DPC-6.
Do you plug your Vivaldi dac into the Triton v2 or the DPC6? I've done both (dac to Triton v2 or the DPC-6)...and find I like all the Vivaldi pieces into the DPC-6 (dac on it's own outlet), the DPC6 to the Triton v2 with the Typhon into the same outlet as the DPC6 on the back of the Triton v2.
I have been plugging it in to the Triton v2 - with a Sigma Analog power cord. When the Sigma Digital power cords arrive, I'll try both. My Dpc-6v2 is maxed out on outlets though. Caelin mentioned, in another forum, that that DAC sounds best in the Triton with the digital power cord. I'll experiment a bit when my loom arrives and gets some burnin time. I have three racks and will be placing the power boxes in the middle rack now- permitting ease of trying different outlets.
I'm currently investigating power cord upgrade options for my headphone system, which is an AK380 DAP optically linked to a Chord Dave DAC (a FPGA DAC), into which I plug my headphone - will soon look at more convenient server options. I have on loan at the moment a Zitron Alpha Analogue, which I have to say is showing some significant improvement over the stock Dave cable. I would have liked to try the Alpha Digital but Shunyata are in the process of changing the UK distributor and the Analogue was the only cable the previous distributor still had available to supply my dealer with. One or two on other sites have said that they prefer the Alpha and Sigma Analogues with the Dave, which I understand is reasonably well shielded from putting digital noise back into the supply. I would welcome more feedback from anyone who has tried Shunyata power cables with the Dave for a view on the pros and cons of using analogue and digital cables. My mains supply (London) is pretty stable and a recent trial with a PS Audio P3 regenerator brought little improvement. I would be grateful for any views on the best Shunyata cable to pair with the Dave. Should I wait for a chance to try the Alpha Digital? Thanks
Hi SR-1 and welcome to WBF. Both Caelin and Grant are members here and check in on a regular basis and are always very informative in their suggestions.
Steve, thanks for the welcome. If the guys from Shunyata do look in, a follow-up question would be: Do the HC cables combine the differently tuned cleansing effects of both the analogue and digital cables, and should a HC cable be seriously considered as an option to bring even further improvements to the low current Dave?
A bit more on the Dave - as I understand it, it does not have a separate amp stage, but instead (according to the Dave designer, Rob Watts) uses a 2nd order analogue noise shaper (a conventional amp is a first order noise shaper). For more info, see Rob's post http://www.head-fi.org/t/766517/chord-electronics-dave/4470#post_12829875 Cheers
Hi Sr-1.
I would recommend the Alpha HC as the easy choice for anything that is not entirely a digital-signal out-put device. Yes, the the filters are slightly more complex in the HC models because in our experience, amps ---(and pure digital devices) are the real problems in terms of noise production. Amps can have a broader range of Low- to-High frequency noise and pull harder on the line, so best choice may be an Alpha HC there. Choosing a Sigma HC for lower current amps simply doesn't make as a much sense from a price-perforamce perspective. The weight of the power cord and turn-radius issues could also be a problem. We have great feedback on both the Alpha and Sigma HC products but I hesitate to recommend Sigma HC because of cost and ease of use. I would consider the Alpha HC as a first option. I hope this is of some help. Feel free to call or e-mail with any system specific questions.
Best regards,
Grant
I would recommend the Alpha HC as the easy choice for anything that is not entirely a digital-signal out-put device. Yes, the the filters are slightly more complex in the HC models because in our experience, amps ---(and pure digital devices) are the real problems in terms of noise production. Amps can have a broader range of Low- to-High frequency noise and pull harder on the line, so best choice may be an Alpha HC there. Choosing a Sigma HC for lower current amps simply doesn't make as a much sense from a price-perforamce perspective. The weight of the power cord and turn-radius issues could also be a problem. We have great feedback on both the Alpha and Sigma HC products but I hesitate to recommend Sigma HC because of cost and ease of use. I would consider the Alpha HC as a first option. I hope this is of some help. Feel free to call or e-mail with any system specific questions.
Best regards,
Grant
Thanks, Grant. I'll wait for the new UK distributor to make the Alpha HC cable available to my dealer so that I can compare with the other Alphas.
Have you found that tube amplifiers of 200-300 watts benefit as well from a high current power cord as solid state? Have tubes not been more "voltage" oriented rather than current oriented or is this more a matter of circuit topology?
How did you get a stable mains supply in London? The rest of us have fluctuations from 237 - 253v, though not sharp fluctuations. Have you measured?
Hi Mcbrion,
Amps, pre-amps, DAC's, phono-based systems are all sensitive to peak current-- pure and simple. All amps, whether they are tube, solid state, even digital amps benefit from better gauge and better instantaneous current-. For example, we have a very committed legion of Devialet converts that use our better power cords.
The only components that don't require larger gauge and the best possible peak current transfer for "better sound" are digital-signal output devices, such as computer servers, Transports, NAS, video or imaging systems-- as in our medical applications. Those components are all about noise reduction and keeping them isolated from analog-based components. But even they can benefit from top quality connections--which is what we do.
From our perspective, "sound quality" is first and foremost about timing and dynamics . Connections from power to Amps, pre-amps and any ancillary analog-output devices are the the very key to that aspect of performance. Analog-signal output devices should have the best power transfer (power cords and power connections available), This is regardless of specific system contexts in recording, studio work or HE Audio. We all listen differently, so people can differ if they like--but that is our perspective. We measurably reduce noise better than anybody in the business,-- but only after protecting DTCD--instantaneous current.
The Alpha HC or Sigma Analog are the two power cords that have the best reputation with customers. Richard Rogers (our main service rep) and I speak with many customers and they are by far the most highly thought of power cords for amps/pre-amps. I recommend them without hesitation because of the feedback. I don't often recommend the Sigma HC only because of its expense, and weight--meaning it is a small bit heavy and hard to twist. Otherwise, its an amazing power cord. If you have OTL amps or other Class-A biased amps it makes sense, but I feel strongly about the Alpha HC or Sigma Analog working best in almost every amp application except the extremes: Atmasphere, Boulder, ZOTL Berning, DAG etc........
Everything matters in terms of connecting high-performance components in audio with good instantaneous power. Then, you can worry about noise, because better connections and DTCD = lower noise. After you have all the good connections, you can filter and isolate the in-system noise-sharing between electronics (Component to Component interference) and you have a great result in terms of performance regardless of the system you have.
We are all participants in a very detail oriented hobby/business. We pay attention to the details--Room, power, component-isolation. Then, electronics and speakers. It may sound, backward. It's not. At least from my experience--and I've been a few places.
Thanks for the question. I hope this is of some help.
Best regards,
Grant
Amps, pre-amps, DAC's, phono-based systems are all sensitive to peak current-- pure and simple. All amps, whether they are tube, solid state, even digital amps benefit from better gauge and better instantaneous current-. For example, we have a very committed legion of Devialet converts that use our better power cords.
The only components that don't require larger gauge and the best possible peak current transfer for "better sound" are digital-signal output devices, such as computer servers, Transports, NAS, video or imaging systems-- as in our medical applications. Those components are all about noise reduction and keeping them isolated from analog-based components. But even they can benefit from top quality connections--which is what we do.
From our perspective, "sound quality" is first and foremost about timing and dynamics . Connections from power to Amps, pre-amps and any ancillary analog-output devices are the the very key to that aspect of performance. Analog-signal output devices should have the best power transfer (power cords and power connections available), This is regardless of specific system contexts in recording, studio work or HE Audio. We all listen differently, so people can differ if they like--but that is our perspective. We measurably reduce noise better than anybody in the business,-- but only after protecting DTCD--instantaneous current.
The Alpha HC or Sigma Analog are the two power cords that have the best reputation with customers. Richard Rogers (our main service rep) and I speak with many customers and they are by far the most highly thought of power cords for amps/pre-amps. I recommend them without hesitation because of the feedback. I don't often recommend the Sigma HC only because of its expense, and weight--meaning it is a small bit heavy and hard to twist. Otherwise, its an amazing power cord. If you have OTL amps or other Class-A biased amps it makes sense, but I feel strongly about the Alpha HC or Sigma Analog working best in almost every amp application except the extremes: Atmasphere, Boulder, ZOTL Berning, DAG etc........
Everything matters in terms of connecting high-performance components in audio with good instantaneous power. Then, you can worry about noise, because better connections and DTCD = lower noise. After you have all the good connections, you can filter and isolate the in-system noise-sharing between electronics (Component to Component interference) and you have a great result in terms of performance regardless of the system you have.
We are all participants in a very detail oriented hobby/business. We pay attention to the details--Room, power, component-isolation. Then, electronics and speakers. It may sound, backward. It's not. At least from my experience--and I've been a few places.
Thanks for the question. I hope this is of some help.
Best regards,
Grant
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Saying it's fairly stable is a relative term. Certainly, compared to some of the variations I've heard about, including yours, it is fairly stable. The PS Audio P5 regenerator I mentioned I had on loan for nearly three weeks (no longer got it) constantly displays the incoming voltage, and this never went outside the range 237-246 volts. For atound 90% of the time it stayed within 240-244 volts. I live in east London.
I don't know much about the different effects mains supply can have on audio equipment but the loan of the P5 left me wondering whether variation in the voltage has that much of an effect. The reason I say this is that I experimented with the P5's ability to change (in one volt increments) its output voltage, and I could hear little or no difference when I took it down to 230 volts compared to the stable 240 volts.
FWIW, when i visited Audiocrack and his legendary system, he took his older PS Audio 300 where he could set the voltage manually or something...and he had his Scarlatti full stack playing through it. I had my eyes closed, and when he changed the voltage just a few Volts (3-4 volts or something) i knew immediately when he had done it. The sound did change noticeably. It sounded amazing either way, but there was definitely an idea setting and when he moved the voltage just a few volts, it was clear something had happened which was just off the absolute-magic mark.
240V for UK and yes, straight from the wall using Gryphon's VIP Ref Power cable which came with it when i bought it 2nd hand.
I assume you must have tried plugging it into the Burmester or the QX4 and preferred it from the wall
Interesting question...i plugged it into a power conditioner of 'top tier repute'...not necessarily a beast but was certainly supposed to be able to handle it. I admit, it had a nice sound, even a bit cleaner...after 4 weeks, the socket in the power conditioner actually melted. i have put it straight into the wall ever since, and the dealer allowed me to trade the melted unit back in for another power conditioner which i used for the source components. Note: this was with my old Antileon amp many years ago, and i definitely have never plugged the Colosseum into anything but the wall. Today, it is plugged into a special dedicated high-voltage line with the following outlet...the powercable had to be reterminated as well:
You may recognize these from the Boulder amps which use these as standard on their 2000 and 3000 series amps.
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