New Helix PowerSnakes Cable From Shunyata ?

I don't think the Helix will sound different at all. I believe it's just a marketing thing. If you read the literature about the previous Alpha/Vx series, they stated that Shunyata used a Helix winding pattern in their cables/cords. So I think it's just a matter of Shunyata placing the word 'Helix' on the heat shrink. I don't think the design changed at all.
Of course many will dump their 'old' cords to get the 'new' ones with the word Helix on the heat shrink. That's what I'm waiting for. :-)

If it had been an actual design change, they would have added a V2 or changed the name, like they did with the King Cobra to the Anaconda. I have no iside info, this is just my opinion of the situation as a long time Shunyata follower.

Regards,
John

Guido, your NOTE was going to be my next post.
John, yours would be included too, thanks.
I'm in no hurry to dump my *old* snakes.
However, I'll be glad to take a 2K cord for 6 or 7 hundred bucks.
We'll see how this one pans out, like everything else in the audio marketland.

My initial reaction is to agree with John that the new Helix cords will not sound any different than the models they are replacing, because the new Helix cords are basically the old cords with new printing on the heatshrinks.

That's why the "old" cords are such a great value; since discounts on the Helix cords will be hard to find, one can conceivably get the same sound as the Helix cords at a better price.

IMO...

Any idea does Shunyata produce their own cable or they buy from some other cable manufacturer e.g. cardas, wireworld, vdh or transparent ?

Anyway, we will have to wait & see is there really a great difference in sound.

I read from their website claim that "The Helix Series cables utilizes a complex helix design that has been granted a patent for its ability to minimize the effects of electromagnetic interference and self-induced inductance".

Allow me to answer a few questions and clear up some misunderstandings...

There are obvious _differences_ in the new HELIX line, and they are not just "re-labeled". That would be unwise, given that a number of people will compare with previous versions. Were we to just re-badge, that would destroy the credibility we have worked hard to build.

The differences in the new HELIX series lie mainly in changes to the individual gauge of the strands of wire used in the HELIX geometry. Suffice it to say that the patented geometry used is now more complex than before and that there are more wires involved, which requires a more labor-intensive hand-braiding process. Also, there have been changes at the terminations, however these are minor changes, comparatively.

The most obvious change in the line is that the _Taipan Helix_ series now use the patented HELIX geometry, previously only available in the Pythons and Anacondas. The shielded Taipan is no longer available.

The new Python HELIX should clearly outperform the previous series Anaconda, and the Taipan HELIX series should exceed the performance of the previous series Python. We'll let those interested compare and judge for themselves.

All wire used in Shunyata Research products, even in the Hydras, is our own. We import the copper as solid ingots of CDA 101 certified copper, and then send them out to be drawn into all the various wire configurations-- before the wire is sent for braiding. All wire complements are ordered in three-year lots based on sales projections. Nearing the end of the projected cycle, we must determine whether to order another three-years of the same wire, or make changes if significant, to the existing products. Because _we_ felt the improvement was obvious, the decision was made to order the new wire made.

I hope this helps clear up any questions.

My apologies for the link mix up. You are correct, I rushed the link prior to leaving for CEDIA. We'll get it fixed asap.

Regards,

Grant
Shunyata Research