Did anyone return a PSAudio Powerplant? Why?


Anyone return a Powerplant after a home evaluation?

If so why?

jfrmusic

I’ve not used Power Plants before but from Paul McGowan of PS Audio’s videos, the Power Plants do not reduce AC Noise. In fact, he even corroborated Audio Science Review’s finding that Power Plants actually increase noise!

Paul describes the benefit of Power Plants being that the sine wave of the AC power remains stable despite the transient current demand from an amplifier connected to it - in short, it lowers impedance of the power supply, which he argues is more important than dealing with noise. The AC sine wave remains perfect even if the amplifier is demanding a lot of current.

In this manner, Power Plants do something entirely different than conditioners or isolation transformers (Torus etc). Paul argues that such devices succeed at removing noise, but at the expense of increasing impedance rather than decreasing it.

Paul’s explanation does make me wonder if Power Plants make any difference for connected source components, given that they won’t be drawing dynamic and transient current like the amplifier. Maybe someone that knows more than me can explain. I’m simply summarizing Paul’s explanation.

 

 

 

Thought I lucked out finding one on auction.  Turned out to be a very expensive doorstop.

I tried a PS20 in my system for 3 weeks ( brand new) from a friend who was moving her system so I “broke in “ for her. I didn’t  feel any “darker” nor “quieter” background as anticipated, but  I felt the sound stage (left/right) was slightly compressed and less airy.  
 I eventually tried an Audience aR6 T4 with my same set up ( from a friend who had the unit broken in for over 1000 hours) and I found no such compression but also no audible improvement. I think my electricity from mains is clean and stable so it’s not much of benefits in my case  

However I do hear significant difference if I swop my power cables (from stock to a $300 cable , and from a $300 to a $1500 Siltech or Transparent Ref) so I would recommend to invest in power cables before buying a conditioner / regen 

 

 

Alpha Labs just did a video on them and yes they do a lot of good things.

Whether they help in any particular situation of course is up to the owner to decide.

I have several of them and like what they bring to the experience. For me they are much better used on source components than large amplifiers but all of the PS audio gear runs good on the Power Plants as you would expect.

 

I have my source components on an older Powerplant and it effectively lowers the noise floor and it’s great for power management / system protection. On the other hand, NOT good, for amps & subs. It will restrict dynamics and shrink soundstage. I run those directly into the wall.