Shunyata Alpha v2 Series Speaker Cables

Description

MY TAKE: Can’t think of a product line I enjoy selling more than Shunyata. The reason is simple – people love it! Virtually regardless of the system, Shunyata products consistently offer extraordinary performance and outstanding value. Let us introduce you to Shunyata products and unlock the full potential of your system. - Galen Carol

ALPHA SERIES adds to the customization and technologies of the Delta Series with the internationally patented ΞTRON® technology. ΞTRON® measurably reduces dielectric distortion, rendering improvements in perceived coherency and low-level resolution. ΞTRON® technology is one of many reasons why Alpha Series Cables are used as performance references by recording and sound professionals.

The internationally patented ΞTRON® technology is perhaps the most compelling of Shunyata Research’s technologies, with its ability to measurably lower dielectric distortion and preserve the original signal’s integrity. ΞTRON® cables have earned a legendary reputation among reviewers, customers and sound professionals for their ability to eclipse the performance of even the most cost prohibitive cables on the market. Caelin Gabriel’s research has evolved a second generation ΞTRON® technology that is making its debut in the Alpha Series interconnects and speaker cables. The Alpha Series’ combination of ΞTRON® technology, Ohno Copper, VTXTM hollow-core conductors, sonic welding terminations, and KPIPTM (Kinetic Phase Inversion Process) simply overwhelms competing products in performance, parts quality, and construction.

Speaker Cables

Next to power cables, speaker cables are the most critical signal cable links in an entertainment system. This is because speaker cables must transfer the delicate music signal while also conducting very high current into a speaker that presents a dramatically varying low-impedance load. Shunyata has spared no expense in the design of its speaker cables’ ability to deliver high current while eliminating the multiple forms of micro-distortion that would otherwise obscure and distort the original music signal. Shunyata Research speaker cables start with ultra-pure OFE copper in a VTXTM ‘hollow tube’ geometry that maximizes power transfer while minimizing skin effect.

As you go up the series ladder, more advanced technologies become available, including; patented ΞTRON® that eliminates dielectric distortion and HARP technology that reduces current resonance modal distortions. Shunyata Research uses a costly sonic welding process that bonds metals at a molecular level without the use of solder, brazing rods or any other intermediary metals. This process is superior to crimping, soldering, cold soldering and cold welding. There is no better method to join conductors to terminals, which ensures maximum power transfer and a distortion free termination. The result of these accumulated technologies is distortion-free performance rarely experienced, regardless of cost.

Alpha Speaker Cables -

Alpha speaker cables use 7-gauge VTXTM conductors and ΞTRON® technology for reference level performance. The terminals are sonic-welded ensuring minimum contact junction resistance. KPIPTM eliminates burn-in issues.

Shunyata Technology – Cable Products

Highest Purity Copper -
Shunyata Research uses only the highest purity of copper available for the production of its wire products. OFE Alloy 101 or C10100 is the highest grade of copper with a minimum 99.99% purity and a conductivity rating of 101% IACS. OFE stands for oxygen-free electrolytic and supersedes the term OFHC (oxygen-free high conductivity). C10100 is the only grade of copper that comes with a written certification of purity. Certified by ASTM F68 C10100.

Single Crystal Technology -
Ohno wire, also called PCOCC was invented in 1986 by professor Atsumi Ohno of the Chiba Institute of Technology in Japan. Copper wire is created by an extrusion process that pulls a rod of cold copper through a small orifice which creates multiple crystalline boundaries. By contrast, Ohno wire is made by a process using heated molds that cast a wire to form a single crystalline structure. Ohno wire is well known for its exceptionally pure, grain-free sonic qualities.

VTX Conductor Design -
Shunyata Research’s exclusive VTXTM conductors are made in the shape of hollow tubes. Since current can ‘only’ travel through the outer rim on the wire, there are no skin effects or random eddy currents. VTXTM conductors are made from pure OFE C10100 or Ohno (single crystal) copper.

KPIP Conditioning -
KPIPTM (Kinetic Phase Inversion Process) was developed by Caelin Gabriel after years of research into the underlying causes of various effects such as burn-in, wire directionality and the effects of cryogentic treatment. He discovered that there was an underlying core principle that burn-in and cryogenics only “partially” addressed. Once the governing principle was understood it became possible to create a processing technique and machine that could virtually eliminate the need for burn-in and cryogenic treatment.

Unique Conductor -
ArNi® is a type of wire created by Shunyata Research designed to be the finest quality wire available for audio purposes. It begins with the highest purity of copper available – OFE C0100 or Ohno (single crystal). Then it is formed in virtual hollow tubes eliminating skin effects and eddy current distortions. In addition, the wire undergoes our proprietary KPIPTM process.

Patented ΞTRON® -
ΞTRON® is a technology developed by Shunyata Research that prevents dielectric absorption and re-radiation in signal transmission. It requires a special type of conductor that has two signal paths and an electric field compensation circuit that creates a cancellation signal that prevents the insulation from developing a charge. ΞTRON® cables preserve the integrity of the source signal even when using very long runs of cable. Patent US 8,912,436, Patent Ch ZL201180047344.2.

Custom Connectors -
Many audiophile grade connectors are made from brass or bronze. While some may get a plating of silver, gold or rhodium, the majority of the current is carried by the contact’s base-metal. CopperCONN® connectors contain pure copper contacts which has a much higher conductivity that brass. The difference in performance is clearly audible.