Shunyata Research’s newest innovation has arrived, the ALTAIRA ground noise reduction system. We looked forward to launching this product globally at Ascot this year, and although we didn’t get the chance, we did have the opportunity to test the product in preparation.

Our jaws dropped as low as the noise floor.

Along with Brandon Lauer (now with Audio Research) we spent two evenings experimenting with a range of configurations starting with the simple single ALTAIRA Chassis Hub with connections to Engström components and Esoteric DAC, all of which have dedicated chassis ground posts. We then added an ALTAIRA Signal Hub - daisy chained to the Chassis Hub - and connected all the pure digital devices, so Cybershaft clock, SonicTransporter and SOTM switch, using the Ground Tail adapters. Finally we ended up with 2 ALTAIRA Signal hubs with all analogue devices on one side, and the DAC joining the digital devices on the other hub. Since we added the different components in different steps we were able to A/B/A the changes, always much easier when one person makes the changes whilst the other stays in the listening position.

We use the word “experimenting” since this was our first experience with the ALTAIRA system and there is much to learn. Shunyata have provided an impressive library of documents including brochures, concepts guide, system profile guide, hub decision tree… the list goes on. The idea is to identify the grounding system architecture best suited to your audio system and then using a component continuity worksheet/methodology determine how each component in your system will be grounded, if at all.

With the single chassis ground ALTAIRA we were immediately impressed by the changes however using 2 ALTAIRA Signal Hubs and segmenting the grounds between analogue and digital devices was dramatic with jaw dropping improvements to timing and the leading edge of notes accompanied by what sounded like a further drop in the noise floor. Yes, it was dramatic and all this was in the context of a fully maxed out Shunyata setup with Everest, Omega power cables and the new to be released Omega XLR interconnects.

We can’t wait to explore this new Shunyata tech in more detail!

Download Shunyata’s ALTAIRA brochure here for more information and technical details.