As the OP I wanted to let you know that I have been using a Shunyata Gemini 8 Passive Power Conditioner with a Gamma Power Cable since last year. I also compared it to the Denali but preferred the Gemini. I think this is because the Denali was an older design and the Gemini is newer and has some of the latest Shunyata technology. In fact Shunyata just introduced a new Denali.
The Shunyata Gemini 8 immediately improved the overall sound by lowering the noise floor, calming the sound and opening up the soundstage. Every aspect of the presentation improved. However I did not like the amp plugged into the Gemini. It gave a smooth and clean sound but at the expense of tonal weight so the amp is in the wall. Also I tried a Theta power cable with the Gemini but preferred the less expensive Gamma. Found the Theta added some brightness I did not like. Another advantage is that since this is a passive device it is very light weight compared to the active units and is more compact. Also no heat. Stays cool always. Great product. Very well built with quality components. The price unfortunately increased. I paid $2500 and it’s now $2995.
One other feature it has is the Shunyata grounding capability with 4 grounding connections allowing you to run grounding cables to your other components. Haven’t tried that yet.
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My notes on experimenting with power cables on the Niagara 1200:
Shunyata Venom: Sound seems more muted than with the AQ NRG-Z3 or maybe even the Tripp-Lite Heavy Duty cable
AQ Blizzard vs AQ NRG-Z3:
- There is at least no more listening fatigue than with the NRG-Z3 power cable. Unfortunately, that meant that I did more listening to music than doing work yesterday afternoon. Perhaps a good problem to have. :D
- Bass sounds more solid with more presence
- More of a spotlight effect on Jennifer Warnes' voice in the 'Ballad of the Runaway Horse' track from her Famous Blue Raincoat album. Perhaps with imaging becoming more solid, it is increasing the perceived separation between voices and the background.
- Low level details are more evident and easier to follow
- Leading edge of notes are better defined
- Voices seem to float even more, but also sound more substantial on the 'Love Song' track from Melody Gardot's 'Sunset in the Blue' album.
- I'm hearing more detail in music. In the 'Pay It no Mind' track from Sarah Jarosz' World on the Ground album, I didn't previously realize there was an electric guitar playing in the background from about 0:48 seconds in.
- Better separation of instruments in the intro of 'Smells like Teen Spirit' from Nirvana's Nevermind album. I know this part of that track sounds like a big mess of instruments playing over one another on a lower resolution system. I was able to follow individual instruments.
So something kind of humorous about my listening session with the Niagara 1200 plugged in with the AQ Blizzard power cable. I was listening at home with everyone else gone. While listening to the 'Come as you are' track from Nirvana's MTV Unplugged in New York album, I turned off the music several times because I wasn't sure if what I was hearing was from the music or from someone in my family coming home downstairs.
My impressions of the AQ Blizzard power cable vs the NRG-Z3 are:
1. There is at least no more listening fatigue than with the NRG-Z3 power cable. Unfortunately, that meant that I did more listening to music than doing work yesterday afternoon. Perhaps a good problem to have.
2. Bass sounds more solid with more presence
3. More of a spotlight effect on Jennifer Warnes' voice in the 'Ballad of the Runaway Horse' track from her Famous Blue Raincoat album. Perhaps with imaging becoming more solid, it is increasing the perceived separation between voices and the background.
4. Leading edge of notes are better defined
5. Voices seem to float even more, but also sound more substantial on the 'Love Song' track from Melody Gardot's 'Sunset in the Blue' album.
6. Low level details are more evident and easier to follow. In the 'Pay It no Mind' track from Sarah Jarosz' World on the Ground album, I didn't previously realize there was an electric guitar playing in the background from about 0:48 seconds in.
7. Better separation of instruments in the intro of 'Smells like Teen Spirit' from Nirvana's Nevermind album. I know this part of that track sounds like a big mess of instruments playing over one another on a lower resolution system. I was able to follow individual instruments.
Looks like the AQ Blizzard power cable is staying. I think this is the end of trying more expensive power cables. Trying out power conditioners has been an interesting and useful exercise. Total cost has been around $850 ($550 for the AQ Niagara 1200 and $300 for the AQ Blizzard power cable) so about 1/2 of the new retail street price of about $1000 for the AQ Niagara and $695 for the AQ Blizzard power cable. The addition of the power conditioner didn't change the nature of the sound from my system, but lifted at least several levels of veiling from the music and improved resolution from my digital source much more than I expected.
This is my perception of the degree of improvement generated by each component in my power conditioning setup (if Audioquest Niagara 1200 and AQ Blizzard power cable represents 100% of the improvement)
AQ Niagara 1200 with Tripp-Lite Heavy Duty power cable: 60% of total improvement
+ AQ NRG-Z3 power cable (in place of the Tripp-Lite power cable): 20% of total improvement
+ AQ Blizzard power cable (in place of the AQ NRG-Z3 power cable): 20% of total improvement
In summary, the AQ Blizzard produced a more significant benefit in reducing the noise floor and improving resolution than I expected. Using the percentages above, I expected perhaps that the AQ Blizzard would have contributed perhaps 10% of the total improvement over the NRG-Z3, but it actually contributed a perceived 20%
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My experience with a Furman PST-8D and an Audioquest Niagara 1200 is that one had a negative effect on sound quality and one had a positive effect:
Furman PST-8D Power Conditioner
My initial impression was that plugging my system into the Furman made music sound calmer. After several more minutes of listening, it seemed like the Furman was taking some life out of the music in comparison to both the cheap computer surge protector and the AQ Niagara. The muted dynamics and overall flatness of the sound wasn’t nearly as dramatic as with the Topaz Ultra-Isolator in place, but it was noticeable especially in comparison to when my system was plugged into both the cheap computer surge protector and the AQ Niagara.
Furman PST-8D Power Conditioner with amplifier plugged into the wall
Plugging my amplifier into the wall with remaining components into the Furman MIGHT have resulted in a slight improvement in dynamics, but any difference was so slight that I don’t think I could tell the difference in an A/B test.
Audioquest Niagara 1200
I have to say that I’m impressed with the effect that the AQ Niagara 1200 has had on sound quality of my system. My immediate reaction was that the quality of the sound seemed calmer, but without any loss of pace or tonal richness. The overall character of the sound remains the same. Upbeat music still remains upbeat, but calmer music feels even more calm.
There is slightly less edginess to the quality of the sound but to a perceptible degree. My system was already pretty good in terms of not sounding harsh or edgy, but the AQ Niagara tones it down a bit more. With the AQ Niagara 1200 in place, listening fatigue seems to have gone away altogether for me.
I’m better able to follow individual instruments and voices when they are layered together in music. In complex music passages in some tracks, I’m used to voices and instruments sounding mixed together. The AQ Niagara 1200 seems to provide better separation and more defined placement of individual voices and instruments.
More "air" around instruments & voices. Better able to hear the acoustics of the recording space: On the Cowboy Junkies, The Trinity Session
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@jetter I got a Topaz Ultra-Isolator transformer for $200 based on another poster’s suggestion before I started trying out power conditioners. The idea that a transformer could improve sound quality by blocking EMI/RFI coming in through the power lines sounded reasonable. Before putting the Topaz transformer in my system, my guesses were that either it would do nothing audible or maybe make the background sound quieter. Neither of those guesses turned out to be true.
I listened to four tracks of music. I listened to one track at a time and switched between having the Topaz in or not in my system while listening to that one track. The tracks were:
Tchaikovsky (2016). Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35 [Lisa Batiashvilli]. - 1st Movement
Elgar (2012). Concerto For Cello And Orchestra In E Minor, Op. 85 [Alisa Weilerstein] - 1st Movement
Norah Jones (2021) Sunrise track on the ’Til We Meet Again album
Jennifer Warnes ( 2007) Ballad of the Runaway Horse track on the Famous Blue Raincoat album
My impressions in the first minute or so while going back and forth with the Topaz unit in and out of my system was that the sonic differences between having the unit in and out of my system were slight if there were any. It wasn’t the immediately obvious difference that I’ve heard in the past from switching to a different power cord. After listening for a while though, what I found to be interesting though was that sonic differences with the unit in and out of my system became quite apparent on the Ballad of the Runaway Horse track by Jennifer Warnes. In that track, tonal qualities of the string bass and of Jennifer Warnes’ voice are what create pace and drive. A system that doesn’t reproduce variations in tonal quality well will make that track sound exceedingly dull.
The effect of having the Topaz in my system was that it muted dynamics in the music and reduced the amount of tonal color that was being conveyed. I first noticed this as I was listening to the Ballad of the Runaway Horse track with the Topaz in my system and realized that it was sounding a bit boring and lifeless. I pulled the Topaz out of my system and the life came back into how the Ballad of the Runaway Horse track sounded. I had heard this in the other tracks, but couldn’t put my finger on what the Topaz was taking out of how the music was being reproduced. I even checked with a sound level meter to make sure the volume was the same with the Topaz in and out of my system.
The system with the sources plugged into the transformer and the amp plugged into the wall sounds just like it does with both sources and amp plugged into the transformer. It’s possible that there is a potential effect of the transformer on the sound of the amp, but I’m thinking it’s more likely that the effect of the transformer is on the streamer and DAC.
Here’s my WAG about why music might seem to sound less dynamic and with less tonal color with the Topaz in my system. Feel free to provide any educated commentary on this.
I’m not claiming that EMI/RFI can turn the 1s in a digital signal into a 0, but what I have read is that EMI/RFI can affect the time domain aspect of a digital signal. Meaning affecting the precision of being able to read when exactly does that 0 in a digital signal turn into a 1 (or vice versa). I know the ’bits are bits’ crowd think that a digital signal is just a stream of 1s and 0s traveling down an interconnect. But those logic gates flip from 0 to 1 or vice-versa based on voltage that reads near a reference value (ground volts) or, on the other end, at a value near the supply voltage. Voltage reading near the reference value represents a boolean ’zero’ while a voltage reading near the supply voltage above a certain threshold represents a boolean ’one’. But there is a transition zone where the voltage is right between the reference value and the supply voltage. I’ve read that stray voltage from common mode noise can either flip the ’0’ to a ’1’ prematurely or delay that switch. When sending computer data, there is no time limitation on how fast error correction needs to happen, but there is a time element of music that hinders the ability to do real-time error checking. My understanding is removing common mode noise from the system makes those transition from ’0’ to ’1’ closer to what was originally intended in the music data.
This is the real WAG guess part of my thoughts. I’m wondering if having my system plugged into the Topaz transformer might have had the effect of hindering common mode noise (in the form of EMI/RFI) from being shunted to ground (at the same time that it was blocking analog noise coming out of my wall outlet) The muted dynamics and less tonal color might have to do with the leading edge of notes not being reproduced with as sharp or as distinct of a change. The increased presence of common mode noise in my system due to the Topaz transformer blocking that noise from being shunted to ground might be having the effect of muddying up transitions in volume, start/stop of notes, and generally reducing clarity and resolution of how music is being reproduced. My experience is that equipment I’ve heard that tends to have better perceived "pace" creates this perception by more clearly defining when notes in the music start and stop.
I tried the Topaz tranformer connected to the wall and the AQ Niagara connected to the Topaz. That sounded better than using the Topaz alone, but using the AQ Niagara alone still sounds better than connected in series with the Topaz. The sound is crisper and more open with the AQ Niagara alone. One thought I have is that even though the Topaz blocks EMI/RFI coming from the outlet, maybe it also hinders draining any EMI/RFI generated or picked up in the system to ground at the outlet.
In any case, the Topaz was a dud for me in terms of sonic improvement.
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Because @jfrmusic system responded significantly to a PC, seems likely that further exploration into other PCs can yield significant positive results.
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I have tried the special port for amps, and separate power conditioners made just for amps... so they don't restrict the power. All have interfered with the amp. The amp would sound better plugged directly into the wall. I've had a couple dedicated ones in my home for demo... it was obvious within seconds.
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Try to geta home audition of a Torus RM20.
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@ghdprentice good point. Some Power Conditioners contain dedicated ports for variable current devices - such as amps - this is an important feature to consider.
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@ghdprentice good point. Some Power Conditioners contain dedicated ports for variable current devices - such as amps - this is an important feature to consider.
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@jfrmusic
Power conditioners (certainly the ones I have used) add to the sense of "air, atmosphere and openness out of the system". They should never take it out., that is horrible.
Make sure you plug the amp directly into the wall... and the rest into the power conditioner. Shunyata and IsoTek are great brands.
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I have a Niagara 3000 and I’m very happy with it, as many others on this thread agree.
its such a polarizing topic, as some other forums are outright against the benefit of power conditioners (snake oil et all. However I’ve noticed the people with experience tend to appreciate their value.
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@v-fi
In a way I’m not looking forward to evaluating power conditioners. After trying the PS Audio regenerator and AudioQuest 707 I know it takes time to try out the units and may depend on the quality of your power at the time of the test. I just can’t stand anything that takes air, atmosphere and openness out of the system via the filtering which is what my two previous test units did as well as move the soundstage forward. That’s a big no- no for me. I think I’ll probably try some of the Shunyata units as they always seem very popular with owners.
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It's tough to say whether a power conditioner will make an impact in a different system, and if so how big that impact might be. Over the years I've lived in several homes and each one reacted differently to power conditioners - in some cases it made a drastic improvement, in other cases little or no difference.
Beyond that, I've even had different houses which reacted better to different types of power conditioning. One home did best with regenerated power (I used PurePower but PS Audio made conceptually similar models at the time), another liked the more straight forward filtering types (Audience, Puritan Labs), and my current home favors balanced power (Bryston, Furman, Equitech).
Unfortunately that means the answer likely involves trying things for yourself and seeing what works in your home.
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@jfrmusic
Thank you for the update. I willl check out the cable thread and look forward to your findings on Stack Audio. Among other things, their isolation footers caught my attention. It’s ok to wait on PC but know this, clean power is fundamental to your audio system optimal performance.
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@lalitk
Since the weather is no longer stuck in the 90s my system has sound wonderful. Plus I believe all my new components are now settling in. So I decided to turn my focus to upgrading my XLR Interconnects and Speaker cables. Check my thread on my audition of DH Labs vs Shunyata. I love what the DH Labs have done to my system
Also trying the several Stack Audio products. I plan to report on a my experiences on a future thread. So for now I’ve put power conditioning on the back burner.
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@jfrmusic
Any further update on your experience with Power Conditioners?
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I had a PS Audio- MEH
Love my Core Power 1800 - their newest is quite reasonably priced
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@pmiller115
”The funny/frustrating thing about this hobby is that one day we can interpret a change in the sound of our system as an improvement and by the next day we may change our mind and determine the opposite”, you sure hit it on the nail head. Hearing things differently does not necessarily mean better. What matters the most is if that difference = a perceived benefit to sound for the individual.
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I have used an Audience power conditioner for years. I have had the unit updated when updates were available, etc. I recently went through some equipment changes and ended up partially by-passing the conditioner. To my complete surprise I now prefer bypassing the conditioner since I believe what I may have originally thought improved the sound may in fact have restricted it in some way. Since I don't want to go without surge protection I am now in the process of seeking to have a "whole house" surge protector installed. The funny/frustrating thing about this hobby is that one day we can interpret a change in the sound of our system as an improvement and by the next day we may change our mind and determine the opposite. That in part is what keeps this hobby good for the economy.
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Years ago all I used was a $120 APC and thought that this would clean up the sound but I was dead wrong. Bought a couple of Isoteks that were recommended by others and these were a wise choice for the buck. The Aquarius for my #1 system and the Polaris for my second system have made the light passages and overall sound pristine. Yes, they do make a difference in my opinion. There are more expensive line conditioners but Isotek is a good value .
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I have the iFi Power Station (actually I have two) that @lalitk mentioned earlier in the thread. My power amp is still plugged directly into the wall, but everything else runs through these. I have been very impressed. In my home, these obviously helped with some power noise issues and presented a much quieter background and helped to open up the entire soundstage quite a bit. They didn’t subtract from the sound at all. Of course power issues will vary considerably by environment, but I have really enjoyed these in my system.
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@mbmi What do you use for surge protection with your Ansuz Mains 8? Thanks
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Best piece I ever added to my system to upgrade the SQ quite noticeably was the ANSUZ Mains 8. Took my system to a whole new level. Highly recommended!
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No, but a dedicated power line from main panel with its own true earth ground and upgraded AC socket sure did!
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I tried a Running Springs Hayley 15 years ago and was shocked at the noise floor and separation of instruments. It was one of the best purchases I had ever made. Few years later bought the Running Springs Dmitri and have had it ever since. I wouldn’t be without it. I thought of trying new stuff but never have. Still have the Hayley in another system. The RS is passive and has no protection.
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For anyone who thinks the Denali V2 might veil the top end, I can assure you, in my three systems, the effect was exactly the opposite. It made things sparkle. And as to price of power conditioner to price of system, in my experience, the Denali makes MORE of a difference in less expensive systems. I think super nice equipment does a better job of dealing with noise in the power line. Just my thoughts, from my experience.
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@jfrmusic
Go to Audiogon sales website and click message icon next to 🔔 icon.
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@jfrmusic
I sent you a PM about GTO. I have been using e-TP80 and e-TP60 with my other audio systems in the house for over 15 plus years. My main audio room has GTX-D (R) receptacles and pair of NCF Clear Line Filters.
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@lalitk
Considering the Furtech
GTO-D2 or D3 as I only need 4 receptacles
or the
e-TP609 NCF which has 8 receptacles and very similar to the above except the enclosure.
Do you have any experience with these?
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Over the past 40 years or so, some have and some haven't improved the sound quality.
The most obvious difference has always been in my recording and production studio vs my consumer stereo systems.
I'm currently using Puritan Audio products across the board with excellent results.
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“I returned the 707”
@jfrmusic
I may sound like a broken record, your high resolution system deserves a power conditioner that further lowers the AC noise without stripping away the dynamics and other virtues. Between Shunyata and Furutech, my money is on one of the passive Furutech power distributor, install it and get back to enjoying music.
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@ghdprentice
Thanks but I don’t want a heavy PC. And I’m not sure I want an active one. Both Shunyata and Furutech offer a smaller and lighter passive PC. So I may try one of those next.
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@audioquest4life
Tbe 707 will be fine for Home Theater. In fact its characteristics are more suitable to that application. A vivid, warmer up front presentation is excellent for movies. Remember it does provide surge protection, excessive voltage protection and lowers the noise floor.
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@jfrmusic
Interesting turn of events. I am sure you were able to discern these traits of the conditioner by carefully listening.
Now, I am wondering if the 707 will be a good fit for my home theater. It’s going to be the power conditioner for the AV rack. These will be connected to it:
1. McIntosh 7 channel theater amp
2. McIntosh 4 channel theater amp
3. McIntosh 2 channel theater amp
4. Marantz AV10 AV PRE/pro
5. Oppo 205 Blu-ray
6. Amazon TV
7. Apple TV
8. Luxul Media switch
9. maybe: Kaleidoscape
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Thank you for the update. Such is high end audio. It is really easy to like something at first only to realize something other aspect is amiss. I will admit that the 707 was a very budget oriented power conditioner. I looked at it and thought if the one I have in the bedroom with TV and good quality sound bar goes out I might get one,
I would look much farther up at Isotech or Shunyata. I’ve got a good quality 75 pound power conditioner I have had for over twenty years and each time I swap it out or compare it still is doing a great job.
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Update
Sorry to say I returned the 707. After a week of concentrated listening I realized that what first appealed to me was actually an increase in midrange energy. It is a vivid presentation that in a way is more tube like. Everything is warmer, fuller and somewhat closer in perspective. This is a valid and euphonic sound. However in the end it's not a perspective that over time I found to my liking. It's most noticeable with Classical recordings. With the 707 I'm sitting in the first 5 rows. Without the 707 and plugged into the wall I'm siting in rows 10 to 15. I prefer that more set back perspective. You may like what the 707 does and it does do its job. The overall sound was slightly quieter but with the effect of a warmer midrange. Bass is slightly fuller and Strings more forward although still refined. So basically less air or atmosphere in the sound.
I'm not sure what I will do next. I've re-read a number of Power Conditioner reviews and it seems that the reviewers often mention that the lower treble can be more vivid or forward etc. So this may be a common trait of active conditioners. I haven't noticed this mentioned on the few passive conditioner reviews I've read. This included Shunyata and Furutech. In fact a review of one of the Shunyata PCs said the perspective was more distant. So maybe I will try one of those. But again I do not notice any apparent noise issues with my system but as I mentioned you don't notice it until it's removed.
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Plixir Power products are quite fantastic. There are the Linear DC Power Supplies and the AC power conditioners in the lineup. James Soh in Singapore has just revamped and improved almost all products that he produces. Plixir products are available in Canada and the US market from the Canadian Distributor.
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Proof? What do you offer other than empty assertion?
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The only thing a power conditioner might do is introduce noise. They do not improve sound. Put down the snake oil someone is trying to feed you.
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I've got three dedicated lines coming into my audio room on a rock-solid power grid (we share the grid with the county's emergency services). I thought power solutions never offered much improvement in my system (Fleetwood DeVille, Backert Labs Preamp, McGary amp, Merason DAC). That is until I demoed the Puritan PSM1512 (12-outlet version of the PSM156).
I was stunned at the difference. Everything was clearer and better delineated. The pace seemed to pick up and the sound seemed more "alive". The sound stage was wider and deeper. Honestly, I was stunned.
In my other system (Volti, AGD, Technics, HiFi Rose) I swapped the Puritan in for my IsoTek EVO3 Aquarius (both using a Transparent Premium PC), and again, the difference was pretty staggering (and really obvious). I would attempt to demo a Puritan before you commit to anything else. It's by far the best that I've ever heard in any of my systems over the years, (but, to be fair, I'm not auditioning $10K power line solutions).
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@terry9
From your quote…”It took the ‘ sparkle ‘ out of the sound .”
Yes, it can be. I went through a period about thirty years ago when upgrading some modest components and adding / evaluating high quality interconnects and power conditioning that each step I took reduced the “treble”… sizzle… until I was freaked out that my whole system had gone over to the too warm side. I was confused since in most respects it sounded much better.
I started going out and listening to unamplified cymbals and pianos… and was shocked to find that what I had thought was great treble was in fact high frequency hash and distortion. Cymbles when struck sound like brass not tsssssss. I realized all those loud amplified concerts and cheap loud stereos in the 70’s had trained me to believe that is how music sounded. Surveying real music it was easy to stop craving the tsssss. I realized how beautiful undistorted instruments / music sounds. You know, once you hear you cannot unhear it. My systems then got better more quickly and my partner (a female) no longer minded listening to my system any more… since the high frequency hash and distortion hurt her ears.
Often after that I would go into a showroom and go running out with my hands over my ears. The piercing distortion is often completely missed by folks so focused on detail and slam they just don’t seem to hear it.
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I live in British Columbia, Canada and our electricity is generated entirely by hydroelectric dams. BC Hydro produces electricity that is 98% clean.
I also live in a large city, so we don't get power outages, power spikes, lightening strikes or brown outs.
Despite this, I still use power conditioners because I need 14 outlets and I've just always used a power conditioner.
Am I an idiot?
( That's a rhetorical question. )
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@thelonious527 When installed in my system it seem to roll off the top end. It took the ‘ sparkle ‘ out of the sound .
I wonder if that's not the same effect which I have been observing these last 20 years - every time I make a major upgrade, some 'sparkle' goes out of the top end. I've come to realize that this is high frequency distortion. This has lead me to value 'smoothness' over sparkle or other tinsel. YMMV
This may be what @ghdprentice is referring to.
By 'major upgrade' I mean air bearing turntable, air gap phono stage, etc.
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@jfrmusic
Perhaps you misunderstood my last post. It’s not about spending 4 to 5 times. It’s about finding the right component that offers no compromises given so much riding on it. In my experience, a passive power conditioner like iFi or Furutech would have yielded better performance with everything plugged into it. Check out the link for iFi with return privileges. If I were in your shoes, I would have ordered this combination to compare against 707. In my opinion, AQ707 is not the best choice for your system. I am using a $2800 PC that’s powering a system well north of $100K.
https://a.co/d/6nop3JQ
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Lalitk, you are so correct. Getting foundational stuff correct makes everything in the system perform its best, but it is very unglamorous. It's like getting underwear and socks for your birthday instead of a new bike! I am learning that power, isolation, room accoustics, cables, tube rolling, very non-sexy stuff is transforming my system into a much more engaging and rewarding sound. Buying expensive large components is way more fun, but without integrating each component with the rest you don't get the full benefit of your investment. A couple of years ago I bought a used Vivaldi Stack. This was the most expensive investment I had made in this hobby. After I wired the money the broker suggested that the previous owner would sell me his Nordost loom for a super low price of 47K. I'm sure they would have sounded great, but I was out of my lane. I could afford to buy the component, but I didn't have the money to integrate it. I sold the stack and went with a much simpler approach that I could afford to optimize.
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Power conditioner helps, but you have to wait until it’s burn in and acclimate with your system. Find the right power cable to match your system.
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@lalitk
I understand your comment about not going all in on a PC. However the audio quest 707 has been a great improvement to my sound at a reasonable price. Spending 4 or 5 times more may offer additional performance but the law of diminishing returns had me skeptical on how much. I believe I have clean power into my newer home and while I don't have a true direct line there is nothing else connected to the line other than my system. So right now I'm good and enjoying the music.
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Good posts by @wokeuptobose and @fastfreight and thank you for sharing your experiences. I can’t help wondering @jfrmusic decision to go with a entry level power conditioner given rest of his system.
IMHO, a component such as power conditioner which serves as a foundation of your system, should be uncompromising in every conceivable way.
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