2. amps-preamps
  3. 1329817212

Do tube amps benefit from using APS?

After a period with blown output tubes and resistors, I got an APS to protect my tube gear against the unreliable AC current to my house. I got a Pure Power 2000 APS to deliver clean and protected current to my tube gear (ARC VT100 mkII, LS17 and PH5).

What I didn’t expect was a great change in sound. I could not believe that a change outside the signal path could make such an impact. The clarity from the highest to the lowest is much better. The music flows with greater ease and I’m able to play louder because the sound is cleaner. The soundstage is more open and voices are much more lifelike.

In music only trust what you hear by your own ears. Do not trust what you read or what you see or what you are told. In music your own ears are your one and only friend. And remember they are 100% reliable to you. And do not despair, if you can’t put words on what you hear, because the truth of the sound is lodged in your heart and soul. Just trust what you hear.

I don’t care what I’ve read about APS. For me this is the best thing I’ve done for my tube gear and the sound of my playback system.

I was wondering if this is a general experience for using APS with tube gear?
farobari

Showing 2 responses by bifwynne

bifwynne
2,206 posts
 
Got a question. An audio buddy suggested that I run between 4 and 6 dedicated power lines for my gear. As you can see from my System description, my electronics are all ARC tube. The amp puts out 130 wpc and "idles" at about 400 watts. When "fired up," it may draw between 800 and 900 watts. Another big power "consumer" is my sub woofer. It's pulls up to 1500 watts when working, and up to 4500 watts in a surge. Right now, all of my gear is sucking juice from one 20 Amp circuit, ergo the suggestion for more dedictaed lines. What's amazing is I rarely trip the circuit breaker.

Here's the question: if I was to go down the path of a PP 2000 AC regenerator, would I need one for each dedicated line? That would require dropping some very serious bucks. Any suggestions or alternatives?
bifwynne
2,206 posts
 
Cool!! The audio buddy who recommended the power distribution upgrade has told me a "bizillion" times that I would be stunned by the differnce in sound quality. Sounds like you have a similar view, but going the PP route. Don't know if it makes a difference, but I live in the Philly area. I wonder if PECO/Exelon push higher "quality electrons" as compared to other regions of the country???

BTW, Farobari, have you ever given any thought to upgrading your VT 100 Mk II to the Mk III version. I don't know if ARC still does the upgrade or the cost, but I've heard that the Mk III version is pretty close in performance to the VS 115, which "ain't" that far behind the Ref 110.
More to discover