I recently watched a video from CES on the S.R Powercell conditioner and wondered how it would compare to other brands(PS audio power plant premier, Monster, Shunyata, Furman.) How is it different in quality, noisefloor, protection??? I had a PS Audio Quintescence and noticed it limmited sound quality, as noted by fellow users with same experience. I do have a full S.R Tesla set-up with a Quattro(12BNC) and have recently ordered an S.R QLS 9 in place of the PS Audio. Would the Powercell be needed in conjunction with the QLS9??? Is the PowercelI a larger version of the QLS??? Any suggestions will be helpfull....THX....
Dradjazz, I have the PowerCell 10 SE upstream and the Bybee Stealth downstream. They really work well synergistically -- the sonic results being incomparably better than running only one of the units.
Rilbr, I run the SR PowerCell 10 SE in series with the Bybee Stealth. Both are good separately in my system but the Bybee Stealth outshines my SR version. Together they are head and shoulders above using either separately in my system.
First, in addition to providing noise rejection, I should also have mentioned rejection of harmonic distortion, dc offset, and other low frequency anomalies that are usually present to some degree on ac power.
One way to explain why all of those things get rejected, or at least substantially reduced, would be to say that if we consider the ac power being put out by the regenerator as a signal, the ac power coming in from the wall outlet is not in the signal path, it is only in the path of the regenerator's internal dc power supply.
Basically the 60Hz sine wave put out by the oscillator is generated by the oscillator, and is a different signal than the incoming ac. And the oscillator circuit is not powered by the ac, it is powered by dc created in the regenerator's power supply from the incoming ac, and the rectification and filtering in that power supply result in the dc being a lot cleaner than the incoming ac. And, finally, the oscillator circuit will have additional filtering of its dc power at its specific location, in the form of capacitors.
Visualize a piece of electronic test equipment that generates a 60Hz sine wave, while being powered by ac from the wall. In fact, a cd player playing a cd on which a 60Hz tone is recorded can be considered to be a 60Hz oscillator. Clearly the 60Hz sine wave that it supplies on its output connectors will be a whole lot cleaner than the 60Hz ac that goes into the cdp.
Isn't the PS Audio device simply an amplifier with a narrow frequency range?
Hi Bob,
Actually, it's a 60Hz oscillator plus a power amplifier. So what gets amplified is the output of an oscillator powered by a power supply powered by the incoming ac. So in between the ac from the wall and the dc that is supplied to the audio circuits within the audio power amplifier, there are two power supplies/rectifiers/filters instead of one, plus further rejection of incoming noise etc. by the oscillator circuit.
A good idea in principle, but in practice opinions seem to vary. I have no experience with it myself.
I compared the Powercell to a Runing Springs Haley and to a Modified PS Audio P-300. The Powercell is more dimensional than the Haley and has better instrument separation. Tonal quality is about the same. I use the Haley with a Purist Limited Edition powercord to the wall, which really takes out high frequency glare, but overall, I prefer the Powercell because of the more realistic dimensionality. I have not used the Purist LE to the Powercell because of the Neutric connector, but would sure like to try it. The power to the sheilding on the cord, I can do without. Power to the internal shield inside the Powercell is preferrable; a little more weight and dimension. I did not like the P-300 plugged into the Powercell. Weight and dynamics were lessened, and the tone was slightly uptilted. No other power conditioner aside from an earlier P-600, has improved the P-300, and that includes the Primere from PS Audio. For the CD player, I preferred my P-300 over the Powercell, but only by a small amount. My P-300 is quite modified, and I use a Purist Dominus Fluid to the wall. It is clearer and more defined, but a tad "steelier" than the Powercell. The steeliness could be the P-300 or something else in the chain, most likely the CD player. The Powercell also improves the entire range with tubed equipment, based on my headphone amp and preamp, both with vacuum tubes.
Both are "power conditioners". The PS Audio PPP actually regenerates power and here is a link- http://www.psaudio.com/products/moreinfo.asp
The Powercell uses a electromagnetic cell and here is some info- The Tesla Power Cell was inspired by Ted Denney's dissatisfaction with the current state of AC power conditioning. His listening tests confirmed to him, that most line conditioners to date have been subtractive in nature offering only to smooth out undesirable aspects of AC contamination and at best offering a somewhat more pleasant overall sound at the expense of detail, air, and low frequency impact and control. At worst, they tend to compress spatial information and can even degrade high frequency air and transparency.
Ted began work on a completely new concept in line conditioning by passing AC through an electromagnetic cell. This new patent pending technology works out side the signal path to condition alternating current with differential EM fields. Most line conditioners condition your electricity with components like transformers or chokes placed in the signal path.
This approach often creates an many problems as it attempts to solve as in-line and parallel components act to slow transient response as they saturate and desiderate in response to fluctuating current demand and can be heard as a muddying of low frequencies and a shrinking of the sound stage. This is why it is not usually a good idea to plug power amplifiers directly into a line conditioner.
By contrast, the Synergistic Research Power Cell actually improves a power amplifiers low frequency impact, control, and extension when compared to the direct wall connection. It also significantly increases overall soundstage width, height, and dramatically improves the front to back layering and air. Midrange texture is improved with rich natural texture and highs are more extended and transparent, while sounding sweeter and crystal clear.
Video monitors and projectors present images with greater color saturation, less noise, with less motion artifacts, and appear almost three-dimensional. In fact, the more components you plug into a Synergistic Research Power Cell the more efficient its internal power cell becomes and the clearer your system will sound and look.
I have not done a demo of the Powercell "yet" to compare the two. Still think a phone call to Synergistic Research will help you out with answers.
Am using a QLS9 connected to a PS Audio Premier power plant. Have not noticed any limiting of sound quality, actually the system sounds better to me with the PS Audio PPP. The QLS9 is a line strip for MPC's. Not sure why you would need one when you already have a Quattro.
Could use something like a PS Audio Ultimate Outlet and plug the QLS9 into it, then all of your gear into the QLS9.
You could call Synergistic and speak with Ted or Eliot. Both of them are a pleasure to deal with and very helpful answering specific system questions. Since you have a full Tesla system now, you know you will wind up with a Powercell and most likely the A.R.T. as well. Best of luck!
You must have a verified phone number and physical address in order to post in the Audiogon Forums. Please return to Audiogon.com and complete this step. If you have any questions please contact Support.
