Power Conditioner recommendations...
nooshinjohn
Posts: 25,845
I am beginning to address the most overlooked parts of my system, that being my power, and how it gets distributed to my gear. Everything in my rig gets fed power straight from the wall outlets and a couple power strips, and most of my cords are the factory cables, though the tube amps are on PS Audio AC5's.
Looking for advice on power conditioners at this point, with Shunyata being high on the list. What are you guys using?
Looking for advice on power conditioners at this point, with Shunyata being high on the list. What are you guys using?
The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2800 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
How many flies need to be buzzing a dead horse before you guys stop beating it?
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
How many flies need to be buzzing a dead horse before you guys stop beating it?
Comments
-
Snubway and Master Class A/C line conditioner (yes, even with a conditioner). Equi=Core1000 for supporting equipment (not amps and for additional outlets, look at the 1800MK3). These are what I use with outstanding results.
Another power conditioner to consider, and one I also have had noticeably positive experiences with, would be the Puritan. IMO/IME, Shunyata and AQ gear are way overpriced and overrated for what they actually offer. I am sure there are some here that would not agree but it is what it is. They have their experience and observations, I have mine. This is just my 2cents on the subject.
You know what PC's I would suggest, as they are shielded and will also drop the noise, noise floor and offer better dynamics.....but that is an investment. FWIW.
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
I use PS Audio power conditioners/surge protectors, but they don't make my models anymore. If I had to buy new today I'd look at SurgeX products as like the PS Audio models I have they are non-sacrificial.
Take a look at these.
https://www.ametekesp.com/surgex/branch-circuit/branch-circuit-120-208vPolitical Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
I love my Puritan Audio Labs PSM136. They make a larger PSM156. Gets great reviews and customers rave. They can be found used too. I did alot of reading and passed on both PS Audio and Shunyata.
I'm using their Classic cables as well
https://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2022/11/12/puritan-audio-psm-156-is-worth-its-weight-in-gold/
https://www.stereotimes.com/post/puritan-audio-laboratories-psm156-power-conditioner-2/
https://theaudiophileman.com/the-puritan/
https://the-ear.net/review-hardware/puritan-audio-labs-psm136-power-conditioner/
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/puritan-136-vs-156-for-simple-system
H9
P.s. I don't take spending $$$ like this lightly. I choose them because I think they are among the best."Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul! -
Don't overlook the AQ Niagara 7000. There is a reason why they all compare to it.2 Channel Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II, 2 REL Carbon Limited, Norma Revo IPA-140B, Norma Revo DAC-2, Lumin U2 Mini, VPI Prime w/SoundSmith Zephyr MIMC, Modwright PH 150, Denon DP-59l w/Denon DL-301MKII, WAY Silver 3 Ana+ Speaker Cables, WAY Interconnect Cables, AudioQuest Niagara 7000 w/Dragon, WAY power cables for all other sources.
-
Somehow, I knew Todd would offer his input. What's up man?
Here is one of those cases where I wished we all lived closer, as it would be great to do a head to head. Many folks love the AQ 5/7000 but at what cost? The 7 is currently somewhere's around 12K?
H9 had mentioned that he did not take to spending money lightly, and I will agree with him on that. There is a price to performance value/ratio here that I would argue must be put into place. I have heard systems with both the AQ 5 and 7K conditioners. While I have not heard them in my own system, I have heard both in many other systems. None of those systems gave me a walk away feeling of being outstanding. Granted, they did sound good to great, I'll give them that but at what cost?
I know we have spoken about these units in the past and we both have offered our observations and history, but my observations have not changed. In NO WAY am I trying to confront here....I'm just putting out in front a casual conversation for all to ponder over.
On one hand we have the AQ7000 at a cost of around 12K+- with current pricing. On the other, we have the Puritan. The Puritan big boys cost about half the AQ7K. Then add in the Equi=Core at a little bit more than 1/2 the cost of that..and add an additional Snubway and MC Power Conditioner....that will bring you up to about 4K. That last setup is about 1/3rd the total cost of the AQ7000.
Of the systems and setups I have heard throughout my travels, I prefer the two lesser of the three options. Whether the AQ takes something out, thwarts dynamics or for some reason takes the emotion out of the music (while still sounding really good), I can't quite put my finger on it. But it sounds clean and involving, to a point. The other examples seem to have more life, dynamics and a breath of fresh air to the reproductive effort.
While I will argue against myself that this may very well be because of the way the system(s) was/were set up, was/were configured or wired (the source could very well be a factor too), I just never felt the same way as when I listened to other systems with the other two options. The emotional attachment to the music just wasn't quite there....something was slightly amiss.
I don't like blowing money on things that don't offer a great ROI and while I know my experiences do not mimic yours? It sure would be great if we could actually have a head to head one day, with all three (or more).....and on one system for everyone there to compare.
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
Dedicated electrical line to the two channel room and an Audioquest power conditioner here. But, it works best with Audioquest power cords. PS Audio stopped making their own power cords some years ago and pairs Audioquest cables with their gear instead. I used to be all in on PS Audio AC regenerators and their top power cords. Audioquest works better.
-
I use 3 dedicated lines and one with a Furman ref20i which filters the sources and pre. Amps are plugged directly into their own lines. Just plugging the 20amp furman in showed a significant drop in emi on the entire 120 leg. An even further drop coming out of the back of the 87lb conditioner. Been like this for several years with (knock wood first) nary a hiccup.
I also have a 15 amp belkin conditioner piggy backed off the 20 amp furman. The belkin powers all the dirty but necessary wall wart power supplies with low draw to keep them from contaminating the lines by isolating them even further. My emi sniffer shows wall warts-power supplies to be the 2nd worst offenders with only variable led dimmers being dirtier which I've gotten rid of. -
Furman is a solid recommendation. I use their products for computer gear.
-
Add me to the Puritan Audio Labs list. I have a PSM156 'purifier', and upgraded to their Ultimate cable for connecting the purifier to the wall; they also included a 6ft Classic cable, which I cut into two 3ft cables for source components. I use a Snake River Audio Signature Series power cable for my power amp, which I plug directly into the Puritan purifier - I've not experienced any constraints with this setup.
I have both a Vera-Fi Audio SnubWay and Main Stream/Master Class inserted into outlets.
I also have an older model Chang Lightspeed 'filter' for less critical components, like the turntable motor, powered sub, wall warts, and for when I use a tape deck.
I tried a PS Audio regenerator for a while, but an EMI sniffer showed that the regenerator was merely regenerating the AC line noise, and not cleaning it up. From what I read about these, they regenerate a nice sine wave, but any inherent noise remains in-place."This may not matter to you, but it does to me for various reasons, many of them illogical or irrational, but the vinyl hobby is not really logical or rational..." - member on Vinyl Engine
"Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to." - Cicero, in Gladiator
Regarding collectibles: "It's not who gets it. It's who gets stuck with it." - Jimmy Fallon -
John, do yourself a favor and atleast read up on the Puritan Audio PSM's. The science behind them, what their goals are and how they are executed. What pitfalls they avoid that others fall into.
Like Tom touched on, you can throw a lot of $$$ and not get the best ROI. To me and all my anecdotal research, the Puritan Audio came out far ahead based on performing well beyond their price point.
I haven't done any extensive listening/comparison tests, it's really not all that realistic to think you could. Just went with my gut and knowledge and research being in and around this hobby for 40+ years. It paid off handsomely, IMO. I am so thrilled someone on here years ago mentioned them.
Just my .05c (inflation ya know!)
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul! -
Does Puritan have a dealer network in the USA?
-
They must. My dealer (in Champaign, IL) carries them.
Brian
One-owner Polk Audio RTA 15TL speakers refreshed w/ Sonicap, Vishay/Mills and Cardas components by "pitdogg2," "xschop" billet tweeter plates and BH5 | Stereo REL Acoustics T/5x subwoofers w/ Bassline Blue cables | Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III integrated tube amp | Technics SL-1210G turntable w/ Ortofon 2M Black LVB 250 MM cart | Teac VRDS-701T CD transport | LampizatOr Baltic 4 tube DAC | Nordost & DH Labs cables/interconnects | APC H15 Power Conditioner | GIK Acoustics room treatments | Degritter RCM -
They must. My dealer (in Champaign, IL) carries them.
I bought my (4) demo (like new) Puritan Audio power cables off Usaudiomart from Audio Archon in Libertyville IL. They are a dealer too
Glenpoors Audio is the dealer in Champaign, IL?
H9
"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul! -
Jaguar Audio also carries Puritan products. I bought mine from them."This may not matter to you, but it does to me for various reasons, many of them illogical or irrational, but the vinyl hobby is not really logical or rational..." - member on Vinyl Engine
"Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to." - Cicero, in Gladiator
Regarding collectibles: "It's not who gets it. It's who gets stuck with it." - Jimmy Fallon -
@heiney9, yes. Geoff Poor is great to deal with (if you can catch him when they are not busy).
A year (or maybe two?) ago Puritan had killer deals going on at their booth at AXPONA. I wish I would’ve taken advantage of that now, but it took the SnubWay for me to become enlightened about what these types of products can do for a system.
Brian
One-owner Polk Audio RTA 15TL speakers refreshed w/ Sonicap, Vishay/Mills and Cardas components by "pitdogg2," "xschop" billet tweeter plates and BH5 | Stereo REL Acoustics T/5x subwoofers w/ Bassline Blue cables | Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III integrated tube amp | Technics SL-1210G turntable w/ Ortofon 2M Black LVB 250 MM cart | Teac VRDS-701T CD transport | LampizatOr Baltic 4 tube DAC | Nordost & DH Labs cables/interconnects | APC H15 Power Conditioner | GIK Acoustics room treatments | Degritter RCM -
John,
Would you happen to live in Colorado?
If so, I have a PS Audio P1000 you could could take for a test drive. -
skipshot12 wrote: »John,
Would you happen to live in Colorado?
If so, I have a PS Audio P1000 you could could take for a test drive.
California...... -
MIT Z-Center AC Power Line Conditioner.... what about one of these?
The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2800 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
How many flies need to be buzzing a dead horse before you guys stop beating it? -
nooshinjohn wrote: »MIT Z-Center AC Power Line Conditioner.... what about one of these?
I contemplated one, but in the end I felt they didn't do what the Puritan does and they are getting kind of old these days. I was more concerned about the age of the units as those parts tend to have a finite life. I wanted something newer in the end.
I am a MIT guy, so those were the very first things I researched.
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul! -
Hey John, I know this is a sidestep and I get the fact it has mixed opinions...but have you tried a different mains fuse in your amp yet?
I have tried a few sources, preamp, couldn't really tell a difference, but with the amp it was easily discernible. I tried the Synergistic blue fuse and what stood out was the upper registry of the female vocals.
The added air and clarity gave the vocals more "realism" and I suspect this also branches into other higher frequencies.
If you consider all types of upgrades, cables, power cords, internal wiring, etc.. a fuse with a small, thin wire has to be a bottleneck.
If you still have the stock fuse and it's a cheap fuse, I would try a fuse before a conditioner for the sake of comparison for when you do get a conditioner.
There are better fuses than the blue now but that's what I'm using at the moment. Let me know what you have and I will mail you mine to try if it matches. I think Synergistic has a money back guarantee also.
-
nooshinjohn wrote: »MIT Z-Center AC Power Line Conditioner.... what about one of these?
In case you haven't seen the guts. Got a couple of large chokes in there, impressive.
Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
The Puritan 156. Lots of ferrite core filters. Clean layout. What's up with those weird socket covers?
Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
The transformer takes up most of the space inside my balanced Furman conditioner. It's probably the reason why it's so ridiculously heavy
-
motorstereo wrote: »The transformer takes up most of the space inside my balanced Furman conditioner. It's probably the reason why it's so ridiculously heavy
I wonder what kind of dreadnaught this would make...The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2800 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
How many flies need to be buzzing a dead horse before you guys stop beating it? -
skipshot12 wrote: »John,
Would you happen to live in Colorado?
If so, I have a PS Audio P1000 you could could take for a test drive.
California......
That's a little too far, thanks. -
The Puritan 156. Lots of ferrite core filters. Clean layout. What's up with those weird socket covers?
To keep the dust out of unused plugs. They are removable.
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul! -
nooshinjohn wrote: »motorstereo wrote: »The transformer takes up most of the space inside my balanced Furman conditioner. It's probably the reason why it's so ridiculously heavy
I wonder what kind of dreadnaught this would make...
Well, my dreadnought doesn't have the magic sand in the cylinder....
My Shunyata Hydra however...does😉😆 -
To keep the dust out of unused plugs.
Hilarious!Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
The Puritan 156. Lots of ferrite core filters. Clean layout. What's up with those weird socket covers?
Perhaps the scale of the photo distorts things, but I'm thinking those internal wires look a little smallish for 15A service... -
Following, I’m in the market for an upgrade. I just don’t want something that is huge, for one, I don’t have the space for it..
