Right now my mains input has 1.8 - 1.9 THD and the PPP improves that to 0.6- 0.7 THD. Occasionally I've had THD main input around 2.3, but the output THD is always the same.
PS Audio Power Plant Premier THD Output Results
I recently purchased a used PS Audio Power Plant Premier.
After installing the unit and plugging in my LED TV, Oppo Blu-Ray Player, and Marantz Pre-Amp I checked the PPP's THD output results and I am getting a 1% THD on the output.
I sent an email to PS Audio and was told that the PPP should be providing me with an THD output of .4 to .5% in order to be working properly. The tech at PS Audio suggested that my PPP may need to have the regenerator rebuilt at a cost of $250 plus I have to pay for shipping both ways so I am looking at a $300 repair bill.
Basically, I would like to hear from any PPP owners to find out what your THD output readings are when you have your connected gear powered on and running through the PPP.
I am a bit skeptical that there is a problem with my PPP as I am getting a THD output of 1% which is only .5% higher than what PS Audio claims my PPP should be delivering.
After installing the unit and plugging in my LED TV, Oppo Blu-Ray Player, and Marantz Pre-Amp I checked the PPP's THD output results and I am getting a 1% THD on the output.
I sent an email to PS Audio and was told that the PPP should be providing me with an THD output of .4 to .5% in order to be working properly. The tech at PS Audio suggested that my PPP may need to have the regenerator rebuilt at a cost of $250 plus I have to pay for shipping both ways so I am looking at a $300 repair bill.
Basically, I would like to hear from any PPP owners to find out what your THD output readings are when you have your connected gear powered on and running through the PPP.
I am a bit skeptical that there is a problem with my PPP as I am getting a THD output of 1% which is only .5% higher than what PS Audio claims my PPP should be delivering.
20 responses Add your response
| Post removed |
A few more thoughts... The design of the PPP is such that the THD coming out in most cases will not be higher than what is going in. The exception is if you had extremely low THD on your mains. The regenerator converts the AC to DC and then uses a DSP to generate new AC from that DC. The THD on it's output is more a function of that generator and it's AC amplifier. In my experience, the PPP is a subtle improvement on all my components except my power amp. The power amp sounds less constricted when plugged directly into the wall outlet. If you get similar or better results in your situation, I'd also be hesitant in sending it in for repairs. You don't say what the THD is going into the unit, so there's no way to infer/extrapolate what benefit a repair may make. Relax, have a Central Waters Bourbon Barrel Barley Wine and listen to some Chet Baker... |
Thanks for all of the responses, I appreciate it. I am currently getting 2.5% THD on the Input reading on my PPP and about 1% THD on the Output side. I had sent a question about this directly to PS Audio a few days ago and they replied and said that because my incoming THD was so low that the best I could expect was about 1% THD on the output which is a contradiction to what another employee at PS Audio had told me last week. Nothing like having two different answers from two different employees from the same company. I now believe that one of the employees was simply trying to get me to send in my unit just to make an easy $250 despite nothing being wrong with my unit. |
Addendum: I sent PS Audio a reply asking them why I was told one thing by one employee and the opposite from another and they just responded. Apparently, the other employee thought that I had said that I was getting .1% THD on the output when in fact I said 1% THD. He went on to say that I should be seeing aboutr .4% THD on the output side with a 2.5% THD on the input side which is what I was originally told by the other PS Audio employee.... I give up.... My new name for PS Audio is BS Audio..... Anyone want to buy a PPP..... |
I think you would need an THD meter and from what I understand those are very expensive so your best bet is to buy a PPP or find someone who will let you use theirs to check your THD. I am currently getting about 2.5% THD input which from what I have been told is very low. It will depend on a number of factors including your A/C coming from your wall outlet in addition to the gear that you plug into the PPP. Each time you add a piece of gear to the PPP the THD input values will increase. When I first hooked up my PPP I had my power amp hooked up to it and it increased the THD by over 0.5% on the input so I removed my power amp from the PPP. It also raised my THD output by that amount as well. It is better to not plug your power amp into the PPP. |
I was considering picking one of these up, used, but it was sold before I could get to it. The guy I was trying to get it from says he's helping ps audio sell b stock and gear that is traded in on newer components. What are these going for on the used market, and is this going to be a substantial improvement for me over a quintet or brickwall? I have s classe ca-150 which I could, or could not plug into the power conditioner, a z dac, a wadia 170i, a cd player, a ps3 and a t.v. Don't mean to hi jack the thread, figured I'd ask since we're talking ppp's |
| Post removed |
Resurrecting an older thread here... @southernphoenix, you mentioned 2.5% THD incoming is very low. Do you know what average and very high THD incoming measurements are? I put a Power Plant Premier into my system this weekend. Very nice and well made unit and measured the following on sine wave mode: Inputs: 115v, 6.8% THD Outputs: 120v, .8% THD |
| Post removed |
The Power Plants will display both incoming and outgoing AC distortion on the front panel. Otherwise, a separate AC Quality Meter is required. There are a number of examples here: (http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=thd+meter&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570...) Of course, the meter has to have a range extending to(at least) 125 Volts, to test your listening room’s incoming AC supply. ie: (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Keithley2015-THD-Digital-Multi-Meter-6-1-2-Digit-Harmonic-Distortion-/121629...) and (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bench-Power-Factor-Power-Meter-Total-Harmonic-Distortion-Analyzer-PF9810-/25...) then there’s this type: (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Amprobe-ACD-53NAV-1000A-AC-Power-Quality-Clamp-Meter-/252722968541?hash=item...) You might be able to configure something like this, to mount/use in an audio rack: (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Siemens-4720-3-Phase-Power-Quality-Watt-Meter-Analyzer-and-Controller-DRMC-1...) |