Shunyata Altaira Grounding System

Description

MY TAKE: Without a doubt, the Shunyata Altaira Ground System is a stunning achievement. Voted Product of the Year 2022 in The Absolute Sound, and desevedly so. - Galen

NOTE: While not a complex product, it's important that we work with you to determine the optimum configuration for your system.

Groundbreaking Approach to Noise Reduction -
 

Designer Caelin Gabriel created the ALTAIRA to be the absolute state-of-the-art solution for controlling ground-plane noise in home entertainment and pro-audio systems. The ALTAIRA is a centralized grounding system that eliminates inter-component ground-loops while reducing ground-plane noise that is known to cause audible humming, buzzing and other undesirable distortions. Electrical grounds are often contaminated with various types of electromagnetic interference, including radio, television, microwave, wifi and cell tower frequencies. The ALTAIRA System uses patented technologies that significantly reduce these types of noise and distortion.

ALTAIRA is based on an expandable and scalable hub style architecture. ALTAIRA hubs combined with Shunyata Research’s purpose-built CGC/SGC ground cables provide the means to create a high performance grounding system for professional or personal use. A single six-terminal ALTAIRA hub is all that is needed for small to medium sized home entertainment systems. For pro-audio systems or for very large home entertainment systems, a more complex ground system that consists of multiple interconnected ALTAIRA hubs may be installed.

The ALTAIRA hubs reduces chassis and signal ground related noise to a degree that will astonish even the most critical music enthusiast or recording engineer. It strips away multiple layers of noise, revealing previously hidden musical detail and micro-dynamics while improving dynamic scale, tonal accuracy and timbral definition with an expanded sense of spatial dimensionality. The bass foundation has added weight, grip, and articulation. Video content has improved image resolution, Dmax, and color saturation.

The sheer degree of improvement in resolution in both audio and video performance must be experienced first-hand to be fully appreciated.

Watch: Introduction Video on YouTube

View The Altaira Roadmap

Two Unique ALTAIRA Hubs -

There are two ALTAIRA models available. Both have six terminals, each with their own dedicated zones of isolation. The ALTAIRA Chassis Hub is ideal for simple systems that have fewer than six components. The filters at each zone of isolation are tuned to the frequencies most commonly found riding the chassis-grounds of components.

For more complex systems, the ALTAIRA Signal Hub may be used to segregate and isolate certain types of components. For instance, separating the digital components from the analog components will provide a higher levels of performance. Filters are tuned to reduce frequencies that most commonly ride the signal ground of components.

Adding an ALTAIRA grounding hub to your system requires some process and deliberation. We have created a series of documents to support your considerations.

The ‌‌NIC™ (‌‌Noise Isolation Chamber) is a patented Shunyata Research device that reduces high frequency power line noise. It employs a ferroelectric substance that actually absorbs high frequency noise without any of the reactive negatives associated with transformers and large capacitors as used in conventional power conditioners.

~ Patent US 8,658,892 ~

* ‌‌CCI™ -
CCI filters have the unique ability to reduce component-generated power line noise without inhibiting DTCD® (dynamic transient current delivery). This unique filter element prevents power line noise from one component contaminating the other adjacent electronic components. Shunyata Research’s ‌‌CCI™ filter modules consist of proprietary multi-stage filters that reduce power supply-generated noise without the use of heavy transformers, coils or large capacitors.

* Six Isolation Zones -
ALTAIRA has six terminals that are each individually isolated from one another. Each terminal is designed to connect to a single component for best performance. Each zone and each component is therefore isolated from one another and from earth-ground common-mode noise.

* Dedicated Earth-Ground Terminal (7th Terminal) -
ALTAIRA should be connected to a true earth-ground for best results. All Shunyata power distributors provide a chassis ground terminal which makes an excellent method to establish a safe earth-ground connection. The Everest and Denali power distributor’s GP-NR system both provide an excellent earth-ground connection point. The 7th terminal may also be used to interconnect multiple ALTAIRA hubs. For instance, an ALTAIRA Signal Ground Hub can be connected to an ALTAIRA Chassis Ground Hub.

* Completely Passive Design -
The ALTAIRA does not require AC power or batteries. It operates without generating heat or noise of any kind.
No Hum – No Buzz – No Heat

* Pure Copper Terminals -
The ALTAIRA uses the finest pure OFHC copper terminals for best performance.

* All Metal Construction -
No cheap plastic cases here. The ALTAIRA is made from solid steel and aluminum, then powder-coated for a high quality finish that will withstand the test of time.

* Limited Lifetime Warranty -
It is all too common and easy for a company to make wild marketing claims. The true measure of a company’s confidence in their product’s performance and reliability is their commitment to stand behind the product. The ALTAIRA is built to deliver reliable performance for a lifetime. We put it in writing and guarantee it.

* ALTAIRA Optional Isolation Footers -
Available for upgrade to SSF-38 solid stainless steel feet.Shunyata Research’s SSF (Stainless Steel Feet) provide a significant upgrade in performance on ALTAIRA grounding hubs. It is well known that component performance can be improved by placing them on a shelf, a dedicated amplifier stand, and by using high-performance cones under them. While these tweaks are beneficial, they can be quite costly. We’ve developed the SSF to optimizer performance without the high cost of accessories. Our SSF feet are milled from solid blocks of high-grade stainless steel and feature an energy absorbing polymer isolator. The SSF feet are easy for the dealer or customer to install and replace the rubber isolation feet that come standard on some Shunyata power distributors.

REVIEWS:

The Absolute Sound: "I’m surprised to discover after all these years that low levels of ground noise on audio components can have such a detrimental effect on sound quality. The only way to appreciate how that noise degrades fidelity is to hear a system with the noise removed. Even more surprising was the manifold aspects of the musical presentation that were improved by lowering the noise floor. I had expected perhaps an increase in soundstage size, blacker backgrounds, and finer resolution of very low-level detail, but I certainly wasn’t prepared to hear more liquid timbres, greater timing precision in the bass, enhanced clarity of instrumental lines, or a general impression of
higher musical realism and expression.

"Shunyata’s Altaira system is a revelation, not only taking my system’s performance to the next level of sound quality but also revealing the effect of ground noise on musical realism. It has become an essential component of my reference system, and I suspect that if you audition one, you will find it equally indispensable." - Robert Harley

The Absolute Sound (Summary): "Shunyata Research’s Altaira Grounding System is a new product category that will be unfamiliar to most audiophiles—it was certainly new to me. The system is composed of one or more passive “hubs” to which you connect the ground terminals of your components via specially made cables that are part of the Altaira line. The hubs are small metal chassis, each with six equipment-grounding posts on the rear panel—there are no front-panel controls or indicators. A seventh ground post connects to a ground terminal on your power conditioner or to the ground pin of an AC outlet via an adapter plug. The Altaira ground cables feature interchangeable terminations so that they will work in any system and adapt to component upgrades. The idea behind Altaira is that the chassis grounds of all components are noisy; draining this noise from the components can improve sound quality.

"I approached this new product category thinking that I might hear a lowering of background noise and a concomitant increase in low-level resolution and spaciousness, but the Altaira did all that and more. In addition to an increase in soundstage size, blacker backgrounds, and finer resolution of very low-level detail, the Altaira system rendered more liquid timbres, greater timing precision in the bass, enhanced clarity of instrumental lines, and a general impression of higher musical realism and expression. Listen to a system with an Altaira for a few weeks and then take it out; the contrast is stark. Shunyata’s Altaira system is a revelation, not only taking my system’s performance to the next level of sound quality but also revealing the effect of ground noise on musical realism." - Robert Harley

SPECIFICATIONS:

Power Requirements: None

Number of Ports: Six

Isolation Zones: Six

Noise Reduction: 6-12dB @ 3kHz-30MHz

Earth Ground Isolation (SG-NR unit only) : >6db @ 50kHz-30MHz

Vibration Control: Isolation polymer footer

Construction: Aluminum and steel chassis and machined aluminum faceplate

Dimensions:Width: 14.1 inches (35.814 cm)

Total Depth: 6.9 inches (17.526 cm), faceplate to end of ground terminals

Depth: 5.6 inches (14.224 cm), faceplate to back of chassis

Height: 3.4 inches (8.636 cm) chassis with feet