Interesting find in the Venom 16. Thank you for sharing that here.
Review Shunyata Venom V16 Power Distributor
I know I am new here, but I wanted to share my
experience.
I just got the newly released Shunyata Venom V16 power distributor. I also
acquired the Shunyata Reference line Delta v2 XC C19 cable to power it. I also purchased the optional SSF-38 shock
absorbing feet. This is replacing Audioquest’s Powerquest 3 linear filter power
strip. I know, it’s quite a large jump.
I still have a few more days of burn-in to truly get critical, but right off
the bat, day one, this product obliterated the Audioquest’s gains. The sound
stage expanded to a degree where the desktop speakers vanished. You could be staring straight at the speaker
and swear it wasn’t on. It created a
sound “bubble” in the space where sound appeared to travel in three dimensions.
The micro details became louder and had more depth. High notes carried further. Piano notes had
even more realistic metallic reverb. You could definitively hear when a piano
key was struck harder than another. You
can hear the shuffle of the player's feet as they work the pedals. Mid-bass
tones/instruments no longer affect vocals, as the singer's voice was separate. Words are
clear, concise, and sound more life-like.
In older songs, you can hear track hiss get louder as a new track is
being added into the song. The bass got tighter and more forceful. Then there was the emergence of new bass rhythms that
I hadn't heard before in some songs.
Here is the system I am currently using.
Speakers:
Audioengine A2+
Audioengine S8 subwoofer.
The A2+ is being powered by Kimber Kable Summit Palladian
The S8 subwoofer is being powered by Kimber Kable Ascent
I am running these through an Acer Helios 300 Predator using Foobar2000 via
USB:
Audioquest FMJ Jitterbug
Audioquest Dragonfly Cobalt
Audioquest Yosemite
From the A2+ I am running Synergistic Research’s Foundation RCA interconnects
to the S8 subwoofer.
From A2+’s powered speaker to the passive speaker, I am running a vintage,
modified Audioquest CV-4 using their Suregrip 500 series banana plugs.
The laptop is running Shunyata Research’s Venom V14 Digital cable. I am also
using Audioquest’s NRG Edison power socket and PS Audio’s Noise Harvester.
A few months ago, I had a full Audioquest loom, using their NRG X,Y, and Z product line. Audioquest refuses to allow their higher end power cable line to have C5 and C7 connectors. As a result, I became somewhat disappointed
in Audioquest. It was as if you only get a real glimpse of what they offer if
you buy their top-most products and they limit you on what areas you can upgrade. Anything
beneath that line is essentially a “broken” version of their better cable, in order to ensure it doesn’t sound superior to
the model above it. This led me to seek out other manufacturers. I discovered
that even though other companies like, Kimber Kable, Shunyata Research
and Synergistic Research also diminish their lower product lines, they don’t do
so by damaging the audio signal. They
typically reduce the amount of tech, but still use their best technical
advances so as not to hurt the signal on purpose. In other words, Audioquest breaks their
promise of, “Do no harm.” That doesn’t
mean I dislike all Audioquest products.
As you can see, I still have some of their product line within this setup and will keep it in
the system. Besides, I like having a varying degree of manufacturers to balance
all the different “house” sounds. :)
In about a week or so, I am changing out
the AQ Yosemite and AQ CV-4 for Synergistic Research’s Foundation cables. This way I will have a full loom in the
direct audio chain.
I have to say, folks have underestimated the A2+, they are extremely well engineered. :)
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I want to commend you for keeping your cables separated and not touching each other. I’ve written about this in forums for years, and have done it since 1990. It makes a significant difference in the sound, as does turning off power outlets, lights and especially the microwave(!) unit in the home, regardless of whether or not you have dedicated circuits (which I’ve had since 1990, also) or not. These things all affect the sound. I also don’t have anything touching the floor. NOTHING. And despite naysayers, it’s a reality. I was once a writer for one of the major "underground" mags, an editor for another and a writer, later on in the early 21st century for a third magazine. I learned over the past 40 years to pay attention to EVERYTHING. Good for you that you are are so diligent. It can only improve your musical experience and some things (keeping cables separated) cost nothing at all! Some people just don’t trust their own ears, and think that measurements will tell them what they need to know (something I strongly disagree with!) I suppose it depends on the type of music one plays, but Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue, reissued as a 45 so you need multiples records for the whole album, would show even a half-deaf person (oh wait, that’s me now that I’m in the 7th decade of life) that a measurement will not convey the feeling of the music itself. Perhaps some people just don’t feel that music that deeply, which moves one from music lover, to music "enjoyer" (while they’re on their computer or smartphone at the same time). As they say, "I couldn’t EVEN."
P.S. My PS Audio Power Plant went on the fritz, and I decided that on Monday, I will be buying the level below yours, the Venom PS 10. Can't wait! |
@gbmcleod |
I agree with Carbon Miller about how even the most subtle vibration can throw the music "off." Of course, one can become completely obsessive about this, but it doesn't hurt to try some minor "mods" such as putting Blue Tack on an outlet cover (and my outlet covers are made by Furutech to match their outlets). But I wonder... Perhaps a Delta would suit me more than the PS10. It might have some "protections, " as one ascends the line into the Reference level I don't yet know about. This can be a beautiful hobby if we learn things even as we are immersing ourselves in music. And educate our ears at the same time!
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- 22 posts total