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I should add to my previous post that in addition to the Hammond power strip I referred to, which is basically an outlet multiplier, I use this BrickWall surge suppressor/line filter. The eight outlets on the BrickWall are not sufficient for my system, so I use the power strip in series with one of those outlets. Regards, -- Al |
My big concern is not to purchase something that will choke off/ bottleneck the overall sound quality. Well - Furutech is one of the few companies that has a line of unfiltered distribution bars Pricey - but extremely good Take a look at http://www.furutech.com/products/power-distributors-filters/ I made my own for much less, but I would not recommend this unless you are a serious hobbyist or in the electrical field. |
The BrickWall surge suppressor/line filter I mentioned earlier is used by a number of A'gon members, and I don't recall ever seeing any complaints about it choking off dynamics, if that is your main concern. It certainly doesn't seem to do that in my system. Although my amplifier is class A and therefore draws essentially constant current regardless of the dynamics of the music, so results with class AB or class D amplifiers could conceivably differ. It costs $259. If you want a power strip that is purely a power strip, though, and does nothing to the AC beyond routing it to multiple outlets and providing a switch, why not try the $38 Hammond model I linked to earlier? It doesn't have the Furutech's fancy contact platings, cryogenic and demagnetized conductors, emi absorbent coating, etc., but who knows what if any benefit those features would provide in a specific system anyway. Regards, -- Al |
I just got a Blue Circle 2x PLC Thingee that doesn't seem to stifle the AC at all. Comparisons to my BrickWall surge protector reveals a slight compression on the soundstage along with some diminishment as well with the Brickwall. The Thingee just seems to clean up what I didn't know was there until it was gone. I can't detect any differnce running my SACD player through it or when directly connected to the wall, save for the cleaner presentation. Everyones system is different so YMMV. I've used the Thingee only on my SACD player and will connect everything else to it this weekend. I'm told it runs parallel to the AC and won't affect the sound at all and just cleans it and that it can handle all my equipment as well (this model has 6 outlets). I didn't think it would sound this good but I was wrong. I'll report back this weekend with some more observations. All the best, Nonoise |
Interesting, Nonoise. But at this early point in your experiments I don't think that the differences you heard should necessarily be attributed to inherent differences between the two line filters themselves. Keep in mind that what you've done changes up to FIVE variables at once. In addition to changing the AC line filtering that is being provided for the SACD player, you've probably changed four other things: 1)Digital (or other) noise fed back into its power cord by the SACD player was previously subjected to no filtering before reaching whatever other component may have been plugged into the other of the two outlets in the same duplex pair on the BrickWAll (assuming there was another component plugged into the same duplex pair on the BrickWall as the SACD player). Now, instead of no filtering between the SACD player and that other component there is filtering between them being provided by BOTH the BrickWall and the Thingee. 2)Previously digital (or other) noise fed back into its power cord by the SACD player was filtered just by the BrickWall before reaching the power cords of components plugged into other duplex outlet pairs on the BrickWall. Now noise coupling via those paths is filtered by BOTH the BrickWall and the Thingee. And the filtering of this noise that is being contributed by the BrickWall is probably more stringent in the new arrangement than previously (since the relevant pathway now includes the path between duplex outlets on the BrickWall and the AC outlet on the wall, rather than just between duplex outlets on the BrickWall). 3)Same as number 1, except in the reverse direction, i.e., you've added filtering of noise coupled from that other component TO the SACD player. 4)Same as number 2, except in the reverse direction, i.e., you've increased filtering of noise coupled from other components TO the SACD player. So pending further experimentation I don't think a conclusion can be drawn as to whether the differences you've perceived should be attributed to inherent differences between the two line filters, or to one or more of those other four variables. As I've said in a number of past threads dealing with other matters, in audio it can often be very difficult to assure that a perceived sonic difference is being attributed to the correct variable. Best regards, -- Al |
Just as an update and not my final say on the Blue Circle PLC Thingee I'd like to state that I really, really like what I'm hearing. Everything I have ( Marantz PM-15S2b and 15S2b SACD player, OPPO blu ray player, NAD tuner, Samsung Plasma TV and TWC cable box) are plugged into it and it all sounds rather fine, even better than before. I know it's considered verbotten to put everything on just one outlet but so far there are no downsides I can hear. However the capacitors in the Thingee cleans things up is beyond me but the results are a cleaner presentation, deeper soundstage (due to the notes having that super clean aspect), and overall more revealing presentation. There's a track on Quadro Nuevo's Mocca Flor titled Sultana where a small metal drum marks time for most of the piece (left of center, towards the back). What I never heard was how much earlier it starts to mark time, how softly it begins. :-)---big time. The most interesting thing is that I now have to attenuate the volume a full 3db as my previous setting is now much too loud for my tastes. I don't need the extra volume as I'm hearing so much more along with the greater dynamics that are coming through. This is making me wonder if I shouldn't have ordered that 10 AWG Cullen Red Copper PC as the TTG 14AWG PC seems to be doing the trick. I can't draw any conclusions on the TV picture until I plop in "Mud" tonight and will post again with what I see. That, and after what Al mentioned, I have more permutations to go through. After a few days of leaving it at is, I'll have the new PC to try and then piggyback the BrickWall as well. Nothing like having to pick and choose which better setup to use. :-) All the best, Nonoise |
One thing I neglected to mention was that after posting the above, I sat back down for some more serious listening and realized the AC was running. Before now, I could never really listen with it on as it's just 6' to my right and drowns out everything needed to seriously enjoy the music. Even on its lowest setting, it interferes enough with the sound so as to be a distraction. If anyone were to observe me turning it off and on, in the heat, just to hear some good music, they'd think me mad. It's not on the same breaker as my rig yet I'm getting such better sound that I simply overlooked it. There's something special going on here with this Thingee. All the best, Nonoise |
I just received the Red Copper series shortly after my last post. If the power strip is made to the same standards as this cord, I'd look into it. Patrick Cullen has been around long enough to know his way around cables and for what he charges, it's a no brainer. I'm still loving my Blue Circle Thingee but if all you want is a power strip that is nothing more than an extension of your wall outlet, I'd look into it. All the best, Nonoise |
Now that I've had it in my system for a few days (!) the Blue Circle 2x PLC Thingee is thingeeing along just fine. The blu-ray transfer of "Mud" is top notch to begin with but the picture just seems to pop a bit more. Even regular cable TV with all its different hues of standards seems better so I'll leave it as is for a week or so and then bypass the Thingee and plug it back into the BrickWall to see if there's any noticeable degradation. I've only had a few days to get used to the Thingee on its own when the Cullen Cable Red Cooper PC arrived. It's an extremely well made 10AWG PC that I used instead of the supplied, generic PC that came with the Thingee. What I hear on my favorite CDs is more bloom, depth and detail on the bottom end, an overall easier to hear presentation and some really beautiful highs that can shimmer, tingle and decay nicely. Piano now has that glass like quality with the upper registers and that slight, initital metallic effect of the notes hitting the strings blending with the notes themselves and the soundboard. I heard it with just the Thingee and can't really attribute it to the Cullen PC but the combo is like a blessing: they were made for each other. I know, I'm just imagining all of this so just humor me and get a PLC Thingee and when you need a good PC, check out Cullen Cables offerings. All the best, Nonoise |
