Shunyata Altaira(s) & Omega CGC
A Journey into audiophile wonderland
First some background information: My journey to audiophile wonderland started in 2020 when I got my Denali v2. The Denali right from the first note provided a considerable performance boost to my system. This was not the kind of „i have to listen for a certain amount of time and then switch back“ difference, but easily noticeable – even to my back then uneducated ears. Next was the Upgrade to Everest and from Sigma to Omega XC. I feared that it might provide just more „power“, but instead it added more ease, flow, spatial cues and refinement. This was when I called my dealer that I felt I just turned the key to a door where my music was hiding all the time behind. I also added first a Sigma then Omega USB cable as well as Sigma v2 XLRs. Just stunning and highly recommend! … and after saving some more funds a Omega QR-s to my DAC and QR to my streamer. Marvelous! And like the move to Everest these changes were all in the direction of … yes more audiophile stuff (details, soundstage, etc.) but at the same time more musically engaging and just bringing you closer to forgetting your system and simply enjoying your favorite (and also formerly not so favorite) music genres.
My dear friend Axel from my beloved dealer Rauch & Schall here in Munich said that Grant from Shunyata will be in the store these days to show the new Altaira. Having spoken to Grant at the High End show I was eager to see if it lives up to it‘s promise. Axel set up a simple yet high class system in the 30-40k range. When I set down to have a listen I said: This sounds more like a 80-100k system sounds like. This was with one Altaira and Alpha cables to ground the dCS streaming DAC and Chord amp. When he unplugged the Altaira, I said: It now sounds more like a system in that price range is supposed to sound. Adding a second Altaira and separating digital from analog added more ease, refinement and authenticity. I‘d say another 30% above a single Altaira. So I went home, checked my equipment for GND posts, measured where there weren’t any and placed an order for two Altaira SG and a couple of Omega grounding cables.
Fast forward, I began to install the Altaira(s) step by step. First was my streamer where there was a very clear improvement. Like play a couple of seconds into a song, smile, nod and enjoy the sound getting better over the next 1-2 weeks. Then I added my preamp (to the same Altaira) and it was even better. More musically refined, more layering, details over details without any sign of being analytical. Then I added the second SG unit and separated digital from analog. Like with the setup at my dealer this makes the system sound more „grown-up“, less Hi-Fi, more like real music. Last where my mono blocks and this was a real „We‘re not in Kansas anymore“ moment! The music took on an effortless ease combined with a toe tapping agility that I was unaccustomed before. I’d even say the musical presentation become addictive. You just could sit down and listen and listen and listen … I checked different types of music, but it was across all genres.
We always speak of the importance of removing noise (room, source, power, vibration control and now grounding) from your system. My experience with the Altairas is that is cleans up your system in ways even the best power set-up cannot do, simply because it targets a different kind of noise. Any person with passion for this hobby is empathetically encouraged to try an Altaira in their system. The magic it provides could lead you quite a big step forward on your journey toward audiophile wonderland. It did for me and chances are it does something similar astounding for your musical enjoyment. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
-Sebastian, München