Audioquest Angel vs Synergisitic Research Atmosphere Alive

@ted_denney 

I have a pretty extensive and robust power setup. Here is the power chain to the HD6:

Audioquest NRG Edison socket
Shunyata Reference Delta v2 XC (C19)
Shunyata Venom V16 Power Distributor
Kimber Kable Summit Palladian P14 (to HD6)

The remaining interconnects to the HD6 are Foundation.  I have Foundation speaker cables connecting the Powered HD6 to the Passive HD6.  Then I have Foundation RCAs going from the HD6 to Audioengine's S8 sub. That S8 sub is using Kimber Kable's Ascent power cable.

I will say that I am also using Synergistic's FEQx4 with Red ATM as well as using a Purple Fuse in the HD6.

@audiosaurusrex 

It's starting to sound like I should stick with Synergistic.  I have been wanting to upgrade the Kimber Palladian to their Atmosphere Excite power cable, but...the Kimber's an elegant beast. :)

@femoore12 

Well, that might just settle it. I should stick with Synergistic. :)

Blast my impatience, though.

Because I have to specialize my order, I can't just go on The Cable Co's website and just order it. There has to be some communication with a sales rep about the cable's specific design for this application.  I have to order the Phono cable, and specify 3.5 stereo mini-pin for the source end and L/R RCA for the downstream end in the notes and hope that info gets sent to Synergistic. At least, that is how we did it last time.

 

@ted_denney 

Just curious, does the Phono Atmosphere X Alive Level 1 cable have an upgraded 3.5 stereo mini pin over Foundation's Phono cable or will it be the same, at the source end?

@ted_denney 

It is done!  Cable ordered. 

Now comes the fun part....waiting. /sarcasm

😁

@audiosaurusrex 

In my experience, I feel PCs and power sources are more important than ICs and speaker cables. Speakers can only give you what you provide it first. The first item in the chain in your electrical socket and electric cable. 

@ted_denney 

Sorry to bother you, but my impatience is getting the better of me. :)

Can you tell me what differences you'd expect to hear if you were upgrading from Foundation to Atmosphere X Level 1?

@ted_denney 

I have a loom of Foundation starting from source to powered speaker, then between the powered speaker and passive speaker and then from the powered speaker to the powered subwoofer.

I placed an order for an Atmosphere X Level 1 Phono cable, with a 3.5 source end on Dec 17th.  Not sure if that would be the new version or not.  The invoice says this:

"1    1.5m    Synergistic Research Atmosphere X Alive Level 1 Phono Cable "
 

@ted_denney 

"Do you have mismatched power cords". 

Sadly, yes. The power chord is a Kimber Kable Summit Palladian. I am currently looking into getting your Atmosphere Excite SX to replace it. Which, honestly is a whole other question. From what I can tell, because the power cord I require has to be an IEC C7 (figure 8), Excite SX is probably as high in Synergistic Research power cables as I should go, right?

"Honestly the Foundation phono cable is excellent."

No arguments there! I am not at all displeased...just curious if going to the Atmosphere X Phono cable will squeeze out more performance. Based on the spec sheets, I am losing the pure silver for the silver matrix, but with Teflon as a dielectric.  I have heard the drastic changes that Teflon as a dielectric makes on just basic copper. Will I lose anything leaving the Foundation line for Atmosphere?

@andynotadam 

Exactly.  I used to have a full loom of Audioquest cables. But Audioquest limits how far you can go under certain configurations, no matter what your budget is. For example, a lot of high end audio equipment coming out is starting to use IEC C7 (figure 8) power inputs.  Audioquest refuses to go beyond the NRG Z2. It's just not a high resolving power cable.  Before I found Synergistic Research, the only other option I had was Kimber Kable. They use Wattgate connectors in their high end. So, I was allowed to buy their flagship, top-end power cable and give it a C7 connector and BAM, it was liquid magic.

I love Synergistic, largely because they allow me the option of being creative about what kind of cable I want, even if the application is largely unorthodox.  For example, the cable I ordered isn't offered directly; it's custom. IF/when I get the power cable, it will also have to be custom.

Unfortunately, I am a bit of a nerd and love going over specs and trying to understand them. That's why I am asking Ted so many questions. :)

@ted_denney

I am a little confused. :( Replacing my main power cables with Foundation seems like a step backward, no offense intended.

From the wall I am using Audioquest’s NRG Edison socket. Then I am coming out of the wall with Shunyata’s Reference Delta v2 XC high current cord. That’s a $900 cord to start the power train with. It uses both Copper and Silver and uses Teflon as a dielectric. This cable powers the Shunyata Venom V16 power conditioner, a $2000 investment. The cable I am looking to replace is the Kimber Palladian, a $1500 cable. It uses a special filter that dampens the Standing Wave Ratio of the cable. I liken this tech to your Atmosphere SX Level 2 Excite, except yours has active shielding and Kimber does not. Also, the metallurgy in your cable would surpass the Kimber.

This is why I am looking at the single high end cable, the system that precedes where I want to connect your cable is also high end and expensive. :) With that said, would it be better to replace the Kimber, which requires the C7 connector, or should I replace the Shunyata Delta which would require a C19 high current connector? Maybe that’s a better choice since the power chain would start with Synergistic?

Just an update.

I received the SR Atmosphere Lv 1 Alive custom Phono cable. It has exceeded my expectations and it hasn't even remotely finished breaking in.

The addition of the Teflon Dielectric with copper mix has brought back the deep, rich mid-range and mid-bass tones while at the same time keeping the detailed, airy treble. I cannot wait to see just how far it expands as it breaks in. 

It was well worth the upgrade. :)

@chazm007 

Yeah, do it.  The Shunyata PCs at the Venom level will not remotely exceed Synergistic Foundation PCs.

I am actually considering having Synergistic make a custom Foundation PC that uses an IEC C5 (Clover leaf) connection.  I want to increase the clarity of power to my laptop, as that will increase the fidelity of digital/streaming playback via USB. I have been using Shunyata Venom V14 Digital cables for their IEC C5 connection. They're great, but Foundation's cable geometry, metallurgy and treatments would surpass these cables.