The owner of Add-Powr was doing business previously as QRT making a very similar product until he sold it to Nordost. The Add -Powr products are unique in that they upgrade the power in your walls, not just what you plug into them. This review is for the $$ flaghship product but they have many others on their website.
I use two of his products (one from thge QRT line and one from Add-Powr) in my system and the benefits are cumulative, here is the review of the "Sorcr" in hifi+
It was obviously clear from the start the X4 allowed for more pleasing quality and tone. The session’s horns just didn’t seem to grate at my eardrums in the same way, they were all more polished, rounded, and the sound was less harsh. I already use valves in my Luxman LX-380 integrated, but the effect of adding the X4 was comparable from going solid state to tubes.- Buzz Hughes, HiFi+
If you wear headphones when you watch this you can hear the difference when the A/B compare, even through a low res youtube video:
I have enjoyed my Sorcer X4 for quite some time. The only thing I disagree with in the review is the statement that the unit can be placed anywhere within the house.
I believe placing the component on the same AC line and closer to the Audio System increases its effectiveness.
+1, I have one Add Powr component (not the Sorcer ) in the front of my media room where my front end components are and one in the back of the room where my PJ and surround speakers are.
Wow this Sorcer power unit seems very dubious to me the designer said he added more to power more harmonics by clocking. Ouch maybe he was using that vocabulary because he was speaking to un technical people but what he said is silly you don’t add harmonics to power lines you want your power to be a beautiful sign wave.
You should call and discuss with him, great guy and I have been using his stuff for years (decades)? Always a 30 day audition so no risk. Start with an entry level item for proof before you move up. I have never seen a professional review that panned or was lukewarm.
This is a recent review of a different product for your ethernet/USB connection. Often on sale for less than the MSRP:
@ozzy I also have a JL Audio CR-1 what do you think of it, it seemed to me that I heard it in the chain but I’d love to hear your thoughts. I also have a couple 113 subs are yours noisy did the Sorcer take the hum away. Thanks
@kota1thanks maybe he is the person to talk to about my confounding hum in my JL Audio subs I’ve spent about $30k on power and still can’t figure out what’s going on.
in the picture you posted he uses P20 power units also I bought 2 of them and it didn’t help my noisy subs.
Recent Sorcer x4 owner here. Posted my thoughts earlier on a discussion that has been since deleted since a few decided to tear the product down even so they never exoerienced it. To recap, very helpful for all my digital sources, adding a certain light, airy feel to the music, more engaging, happier sound. But for analog sources I turn it off, not necessary, can over do the brighter end of things. Of course that's all room dependant, my experience being in my house of stereo.
I like PS Audio but believe this is different.
I would encourage anyone who is curious to call Bill for specifics about applications to your system. He also takes all of the risk by offering a 30 day moneyback.
This is NOT a power strip, when you plug it in it will impact all of the gear on that circuit, not just that individual receptacle.
Here is another thread from @bradmorris1 0n a different Add-Powr product, The Wizard:
BTW, Nordost bought out Bill’s prior company QRT (which I was a customer of prior to acquisition and still use) and still sells that brand today. The brands are different but Bill can explain the details of his improvements better than I can. I can say that the Add-Powr line is less expensive:
Well, nothing in that review helps understand very much how the system works. Having said that, it sounds kind of like it might be (had to tell) like Richard Gray’s Power Company products, which, while effective, didn’t make quite such grandiose claims.
Also interesting to note the power consumption / limit of that box is 6W if I read the tag correctly. I don’t even see a breaker or fuse exposed.
So, a box with 50 mA of maximum current capability running on a single leg is claiming to fix all power in a home? Amazing.
Well, nothing in that review helps understand very much how the system works
See the website and call Bill to discuss.
I think you’ll hate it though, after you took 30 years and spent $$$$ ($150K?) to find out it could have taken less time and been MUCH less expensive if you had bought a unit first.
😥😥😥😥😥😥😥
The good news is if you get a unit now you might not need to spend another $100K to finally get decent SQ.
The ADD-Powr Sorcer and Wizard are unlike traditional power conditioners.
They are not filters, nor isolation transformers, nor power re-generation devices, nor inductive energy storage devices. They are harmonic resonators that "condition" AC power in a unique manner.
The layman's explanation is at the web site.
Pulsing the AC line at a very low frequency (and with fast rise/fall times) will result in the superposition of a square wave upon itself. The idea of a harmonic content derives from the fact that a square wave is comprised of a mathematical series of multiple sine and co-sine wave from the fundamental out to infinity., as discovered by Fourier.
If this low frequency square wave signal finds its way past the power supply rectification stage and onto the DC line, then this altered reference will unleash the harmonics into the amplifier.
The idea of resonance takes over. The audio will be completely affected by harmonics from the minute (millivolt) square wave riding on the DC line.'
The actual power supply uses about 500mA at 9 volts, or 4.5 watts.
Traditional power conditioners do what they do well, but none of them offer the harmonic benefits to recorded music like the ADD-Powr products. And they will improve the audio signal energy (signal-to-noise ratio) by as much as 10 - 15% throughout the audio spectrum.
And they will improve the audio signal energy (signal-to-noise ratio) by as much as 10 - 15% throughout the audio spectrum.
+1, I find it was very impactful on my network too, my router, modem, NAS, etc are all benefitting. I plugged the most recent add power unit I purchased into the power strip that my PJ and back surround amps are plugged into in the back of the room. The picture from my PJ popped as expected but the nice surprise was the my entire system got a benefit, side surrounds, height channels, etc. The units synergize, even when plugged into different receptacles.
Great to see you and thanks for joining this thread! I am using an immersive audio system (9.2.7) and the soundstage improvement when I added my most recent Add Powr component was very noticeable. I might get an enhanced benefit because I am using around 12 active speakers with two internal monoblock amps each, one driving the woofer, and one driving the tweeter.
You know how a screen looks with a projected image on it when you go from living room (good) light to pitch black (crystal clear)? That is an analogy of what happened to the sound when I plugged in my most recent add powr upgrade. The sound went from being good (like a screen in the living room light) to crystal (like a nice Dolby Vision image in a pitch black room.) I wasn’t expecting that level of improvement and it made me smile, thank you! I will be looking forward to adding the Symphony I/O soon.
The ADD-Powr Sorcer and Wizard are unlike traditional power conditioners.
They are not filters, nor isolation transformers, nor power re-generation devices, nor inductive energy storage devices. They are harmonic resonators that "condition" AC power in a unique manner.
The layman's explanation is at the web site.
Harmonic resonators... where haven't I heard that a lot before in a hundred different ways...
You can't resonate if you have nearly zero input/output.
You have 0 idea on how to answer that until you plug it in yourself. I don't recommend it for you, I think you will blow a gasket on how much other stuff you bought that didn't deliver the goods. It surprises me that for a member with high standards like yourself you just kind of dismiss it when it is in its own category, one you have 0 knowledge about or experience with.
I have never needed to change the power tubes in the several years of use. They barely glow so very little strain on them. The claim is they will last 10+ years. Probably will.
Anyway, back to the Sorcer X4 thread. All I can add is that until the naysayers actually try it, then perhaps they can describe the technical or power effects of the product.
I have the Symphony IO. All I have to do is turn in on and sit down. It takes a few linutes, then you will hear the music sound richer and more open. Turn it off and music will just sound less engaging and open. This test is repeatable. I have basically the same system over 2 years and can tell changes good or bad. Very nice improvment whatever it is or does.
Yes, I had a unit many moons ago. I couldn’t tell if it did anything. The Richard Gray unit is not even remotely in the same league in terms of performance and usefulness.
Erik, why don’t you try it, you can give it a review? I would be interested in your opinion.
I tried the Sorcer unit last year. I read a positive review and called the owner (he is local here in Southern California) . He was very generous with his time explaining how he thought the unit works but I really didn’t understand anything he was telling me. I kept the unit for a couple of weeks trying different configurations. Unfortunately I couldn’t hear any difference in my 2 channel setup or my home theater system . I discussed with Bill and he was surprised I couldn’t hear any improvement. I returned the unit for full refund. I do have a Torus RM20 Bal isolation transformer and have dedicated Powr lines to the equipment. The system is particularly quiet so should have heard any changes. I’m sure the units have worked well in other’s systems as described in previous posts but it doesn’t work in all systems.
@erik_squiresObjective measurements have been made by Coherence Systems.
Just ask them. Do yourself a favor. The spectral analyses definitely reveal consistent signal boost across the board. I can say that acoustical sound level measurement reveal significant differences. The increased dB reading is minimum .25dB.
This is not "gobbledygook masquerading as technobabble". It is a real phenomenon backed by laws of physics. Perhaps the problem is you - and your inability to comprehend a concept or idea? Or is it ignorance?
"Harmonic resonators... where haven't I heard that a lot before in a hundred different ways... You can't resonate if you have nearly zero input/output. "
That is where you are wrong. This is not an input / output black box device.
It is a parallel device. A signal is impressed upon the AC line. From Fourier comes the harmonic series. This is what provides the driving force to resonate with signals.
"At best it sounds like Richard Gray's devices." So very, very different. There is no comparison sonically.
Like the Coherence Systems says, ADD-Powr are harmonic resonators - a new reference. A new reference for signal and dare I say, power conditioning! Whoa!
@lxgreen Your experience is uncommon. The unit does work...it does effect a change to audio systems. If not, then either the unit was faulty, the installation was an issue, or there is an issue with the subject doing the listening and auditioning.
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