Thanks Grant, I knew you'd' understand. Yours, Dante |
O Dear. . . not again! Grant, I am afraid this is the 2nd time at least I call you Norm on these threads. Rather than sending you custom apologies each time, I should generate abject apologies automatically. Apologies once again! |
It will be very interesting to determine where the new Shunyata Helix series fits in the continuum. |
Grant (TVAD), for 2 reasons
1. I am a curious doode and want to know what Shunyata has done with a PC I already love.
2. The only way to subscribe to a thread is to post to it.
. |
TVAD, I thussly confess that I am one of the doodes that buzzed around BabyBear during his analysis. I concur with all his findings. I should only like to add the following: One of the chords he lists is the Kimber Palladium, which we found to be extended but also having a lot of harsh upper glare, so much so that in works having legato treble lines, such as Violins, flutes, etc. . . the treble was so glaringly prominent to hide the detail of midrange and bass.
BabyBear's characterization of the Tara The One is right on. in addition, with that PC on the amp, Jean-Pierre Rampal's flute in J. S. Bach Flute Sonatas sounded somewhat unnatural and bloated/boomy, more like a trumpet than a flute. Nordost Valhalla was delicate and extended, but trim to the point of sounding anorexic in the midrange. Conversely, a phenomenally graceful result, having controlled top to bottom extension, just the slightest tuneful bloom in the midrange, and a vast and tightly-defined stage was finally achieved with an Epiphany on the digital source, Anaconda Alpha on the linestage and Elrod Statement on the amp. Needless to say. . . your mileage may vary |
Norm, I will let BabyBear comment about Anaconda VS Python on his system. I did an Anaconda VX versus Python VX comparison last year on a Teac Esoteric X-01. By comparison the Python had a smaller soundstage, less defined imaging, fuzzy bass, less detail and was in genral less involving than the Anaconda. Note for posterity: my findings were with the old Python, not the new Helix version. |
I have just posted a mini review discussing sonic differences caused by Epiphany and Shunyata Python Helix VX on an Esoteric X-01. See:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?fcabl&1126432063&openmine&zzGuidocorona&4&5#Guidocorona
rather than classifying neutral the one and warm the other or viceversa, I would characterize the Epiphany as openly energetic and the Python Helix as 'balanced'. |
TVAD, I guess the reason why I do not like the word neutral very much is that it has a certain connotation of lack of character, which is something I would never accuse the Epiphany nor the Python Helix of.
In my view the Epiphany has a lot of transient energy, reasonably well distributed, and only slightly shifted towards the treble compared to the Python Helix VX. This makes the Epiphany particularly well suited for music of a percussive nature, especially where higher pitch percussion instruments are used, or whenever its especially open tymbre is desired. The only situation where the slight softening of bass register transients could have been perceived as a problem was in a slight lack of resonance from the lower two piano octaves in fast passages or chords.
However, this energy shift towards the upper register appears to me more pronounced in sustained notes. In particular, I noticed that in Rostropovitch's performance of the Bach cello suites the G and C strings do not resonate sufficiently, assuming instead a wooden quality, while the d string, and even more markedly the A string in the upper plaing positions had become somewhat harsh and almost winy, as in Jargar Forte strings on some lower cost instruments. |
I have recently listened to both Anaconda Helix Alpha and the original Anaconda Alpha on the same system. My detailed observations can be read at:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?fcabl&1126432063&openfrom&40&4#40
While I much like the Helix over the original anaconda, and am very much in love with it, I am not sure that the apellation of either neutral or warm even fit the Helix series at all. The effect is much more that of a polarizing filter deepening and saturating sonic colors, letting more of the music through and cutting off that stray glare that seem prima face exciting, but is in reality nothing but distortions. |
Sure thing Grant. . . was that order with supersized fries as well? |
I have just posted a relatively detailed listening comparison of the Shunyata Anaconda Helix Alpha and Anaconda Helix VX on a thread entitled "A Tale Of Two. . . Anacondas (Helix)". You will find it at:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?fcabl&1146623467&openfrom&1&4#1
For the comparison Babybear and I connected the Anacondas to the X-01 Limited in his system. |
Tplavas, I am delighted you will be introducing your own line of PCs soon, after considerable audition of the competition. In addition to what TVAD already correctly pointed out, a lot of us are conducting PCs comparison tests in very controlled environments, mostly on our own systems, or on multiple well-known systems, with our own music selections, and often have the opportunity of letting new PCs settle in for weeks at a time before expressing a firm opinion. As such, we are likely also somewhat qualified to express our findings publicly. |
