Any Experience with Denali X?

[PYP]

I received a call from the folks at Shunyata regarding upgrading my Denali v2. Obviously, they are directly reaching out (not through dealers) to current owners. Looking forward to hearing from those who upgrade.

 

[kennyb123]

I received a call from the folks at Shunyata regarding upgrading my Denali v2. Obviously, they are directly reaching out (not through dealers) to current owners. Looking forward to hearing from those who upgrade.

Earlier this week I spoke to Scott at Shunyata. He believes that the new technologies included with the upgrade will lead to the Denali-X outperforming the original Everest, despite the fact that the latter has a better QR/BB implementation. I wish my Denali v1 could be upgraded.

 

[PYP]

Earlier this week I spoke to Scott at Shunyata. He believes that the new technologies included with the upgrade will lead to the Denali-X outperforming the original Everest, despite the fact that the latter has a better QR/BB implementation. I wish my Denali v1 could be upgraded.

and here I was fighting the FOMO when you mention that comparison. Shame on you!

But sorry to hear about your Denali 1.

 

[PYP]

Earlier, someone from Shunyata left a voice message regarding the upgrade. Today, it was an email from the dealer. In between @kennyb123 posted about this miracle cure. FOMO set in with a high fever. UPS now has my Denali v2. The RMA email from Shunyata includes the following information: "The upgrade is a full internal conversion and will have an official Denali X badge applied." Not sure if that means new guts or just more (sophisticated guts added).

 

[DetroitVinylRob]

So I just checked by phone to see that my two v2’s arrived safely and that they are in line for update. Sounds like the upgrade from Denali v2 to X is taking approximately a week +5 days travel back to our listening room. Definitely excited, as the original Denali v2s brought an amazing variety of sonic gifts to our listening and the talk on the street makes X sound like a pretty big deal. More later

 

[PYP]

So I just checked by phone to see that my two v2’s arrived safely and that they are in line for update. Sounds like the upgrade from Denali v2 to X is taking approximately a week +5 days travel back to our listening room. Definitely excited

I wonder if they KPIP it for four days after the internal conversion is completed...

 

[DetroitVinylRob]

I wonder if they KPIP it for four days after the internal conversion is completed...

Hmmm, I didn’t think to ask. Earlier in the thread zkidd said they would get KPIP.

 

[kennyb123]

I wonder if they KPIP it for four days after the internal conversion is completed...

I wonder if the pieces can have KPIP applied in advance. I would think so. It’ll be interesting to hear what the turnaround times are.

 

[PYP]

I wonder if the pieces can have KPIP applied in advance. I would think so. It’ll be interesting to hear what the turnaround times are.

or perhaps they KPIP the entire unit after upgrade since it is KPIP v2. Not sure if KPIP v2 was around when the Denali v2 was introduced. Just curious... They are going to do whatever yields the best sound.

 

[PYP]

So I just checked by phone to see that my two v2’s arrived safely and that they are in line for update. Sounds like the upgrade from Denali v2 to X is taking approximately a week +5 days travel back to our listening room. Definitely excited, as the original Denali v2s brought an amazing variety of sonic gifts to our listening and the talk on the street makes X sound like a pretty big deal. More later

How does your setup sound without the two Denali?

I think they should have a Denali cam. You could watch your unit as it completes the upgrade process. Would be fun and help the wait - maybe. Once it is in the KPIP process, the cam would show total elapsed hours.

 

[kennyb123]

or perhaps they KPIP the entire unit after upgrade since it is KPIP v2. Not sure if KPIP v2 was around when the Denali v2 was introduced. Just curious... They are going to do whatever yields the best sound.

The v2 was given 4 days of KPIPv2 according to this.

 

[MarkusBarkus]

...I haven't been able to KPIP for four days since the late 1970s.

I look forward to reading your updates when you get your devices back and settled. Nice!

 

[PYP]

...I haven't been able to KPIP for four days since the late 1970s.

I look forward to reading your updates when you get your devices back and settled. Nice!

yeah, the days of 60 sit-ups in 60 seconds are long gone.

 

[DetroitVinylRob]

How does your setup sound without the two Denali?

I think they should have a Denali cam. You could watch your unit as it completes the upgrade process. Would be fun and help the wait - maybe. Once it is in the KPIP process, the cam would show total elapsed hours.

It sounds like it’s all phoning it in a bit. A bit diffuse, a bit emotionally detached. Less real.

What I find truly amazing in our hobby is, once you’ve heard it the way it sounds more appealing and perhaps more tangible or real to you, after that point, I just can’t unhear it and my senses demand that level of resolution going forward.

 

[PYP]

It sounds like it’s all phoning it in a bit. A bit diffuse, a bit emotionally detached. Less real.

What I find truly amazing in our hobby is, once you’ve heard it the way it sounds more appealing and perhaps more tangible or real to you, after that point, I just can’t unhear it and my senses demand that level of resolution going forward.

I got a bit of a surprise after plugging everything into a generic power strip. Sounded very, very good. Huh? That is why I posted the question.

I wondered if this was partially the result of pulling the plug on the Grimm MU2 since, unlike a power cycle, pulling the plug ensures the FPGA software gets reloaded (hadn't done that in a long, long time). Also, in general, detaching and re-attaching everything results in good sound after appropriate warm-up.

Day one, I didn't miss the Denali. Day two, the system didn't sound as good. But with music that I only listen to occasionally, the losses weren't too obvious. However, when I streamed a playlist of familiar music, I couldn't really connect with the music. Tone, timbre and timing sounded OK, but many meaningful nuances were absent. The musicians were telling a story, but I was struggling to follow it.

As you said, once you have a certain level that works for you, nothing less works well.

Just received UPS notice that the Denali is back to the place of its birth.

 

[DetroitVinylRob]

But with music that I only listen to occasionally, the losses weren't too obvious. However, when I streamed a playlist of familiar music, I couldn't really connect with the music. Tone, timbre and timing sounded OK, but many meaningful nuances were absent. The musicians were telling a story, but I was struggling to follow it.

Yes, this is all in nuances.

And yes, I agree, plugging and unplugging on occasion seems to offer a better reconnection. Though I might be flipping mad.

But yeah, much of the building blocks of the music remain fairly intact and pleasing. Like in the before Denali days. But what seems to have left with the FedEx truck were those added things that the music fairies brought to life and into the light when I first plugged that black box in between the mains and my soul.

I miss those little black boxes!

Cheers!

 

[kennyb123]

But sorry to hear about your Denali 1.

While it won’t make me an X-man, my original Denali 6000/S will soon be replaced by an original Everest. The introduction of the Everest-X had caused a few original Everest owners to jump to buy a new one instead of waiting to have their original Everest upgraded. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a Shunyata product depreciate so quickly but I imagine it’s only a short term thing. It is expected to land here next Monday. I really like that it will free up a shelf in my rack as the Network Acoustics tempus switch that landed a few weeks ago needed the spot.

Unlikely that I will pursue the X upgrade for the Everest. I will more likely continue my strategy of waiting to scoop up a really good deal when the next version drops.

 

[PYP]

The Denali X upgrade has been powering all gear for three days. I'm assuming it will take 30 days to fully settle in and don't usually like to post impressions before that point. But...(no impulse control!)

Burn-in typically cycles through good and bad. On the good cycle, the beauty of the music has returned and is even more effortless, flowing and richer sounding (I might have drooled a little listening to a masterful musician playing the viola da gamba). During these listening sessions, I'm very gratified that @kennyb123 insisted that I part with my hard-earned bread (and hope his Everest is lifting his setup to new heights).

 

[kennyb123]

During these listening sessions, I'm very gratified that @kennyb123 insisted that I part with my hard-earned bread (and hope his Everest is lifting his setup to new heights).

Not sure I deserve the credit as you would have ended up there anyway. Glad to hear it’s been drool-worthy.

I’ve been doing some drooling here myself as the Everest has been blowing my mind. Here’s what I mentioned in mail to friends last night:

I will never forget my reaction to first hearing the Denali v1 in my system. I had suddenly been made aware of the fact that a haze had been between the music in me for years. Everest isn’t leaving me with that same impression. The noise that it has removed had been saturated into the music itself and doing harm across the board. What a massive improvement.

I will post some more thoughts in an Everest thread later this week.

 

[DetroitVinylRob]

The Denali X upgrade has been powering all gear for three days. I'm assuming it will take 30 days to fully settle in and don't usually like to post impressions before that point. But...(no impulse control!)

Burn-in typically cycles through good and bad. On the good cycle, the beauty of the music has returned and is even more effortless, flowing and richer sounding (I might have drooled a little listening to a masterful musician playing the viola da gamba). During these listening sessions, I'm very gratified that @kennyb123 insisted that I part with my hard-earned bread (and hope his Everest is lifting his setup to new heights).

As you said, hesitant to speak to profoundly until the kit and two Denali Xs reach their Zen state. Though, is it because my listening room has been down for the slightly less than three quick weeks (including shipping) that the Shunyata Research team needed to rebirth these units to X incarnation? And I just forgot how damn cool my kit portrays a music performance? Or is it me? We’ve been spending this valuable down time in the forests of Michigan listening to nature and green bathing. Because, on first blush, the first record side, it appears I hear some magic, faster, spunkier, yet even more relaxed??? Is that possible? This is reminiscent of my first Denali V2 experience, yet perhaps further refined. Subtle and energetic, simply lovely. More later