Sell your $$$ cables and conditioners... affordable LITHIUM is here!


I wanted to give you a frame of reference as to where I'm coming from and most importantly a first impression after 24hrs!
I've been an addict since my first system of KEF Concord speakers, Crimson Electric amps and an Ariston turntable back in college in '81. Since then I've been down the entire Linn system with Active Kabers, Full Meridian active system with DSP5200's as well as some burly NZ Perraux mono blocks with Sonus Faber when I lived in NZ. Since moving to the US in 2001 I've been through years of altercations between solid state camps from Bel Canto, Levinson stereo 336 to mono 436's, 532H and Mac 452 to speakers from B&W 802N and D2 to Wilson Sophia 2's, Sonus Faber Amati Homage and Revel Studio 2's. I've tried conditioners from Transparent, AQ Niagra, Isotek and others and every time come back to a decent cable straight from the wall.
Three years ago I took the plunge and went down the Devialet rabbit hole, streaming direct from a MacBook Air with ROON my Devialet D200 (soon to become a D400) drives my Focal Utopia Diablos via Analysis Plus Solo Crystal 8 speaker cables (and that's another whole can of worms with enormous cable differences), a JL Audio Fathom F110 (also about to be doubled up) rounds it out. My livening room is about 22x25 with 10ft ceilings and partially treated as best I can accommodate. 
Suffice to say, I've been around the block with hifi, listened to way more than my fair share at dealers and friends with diverse systems and currently run one of the most reveling systems I've ever heard. Sure, there's not that thick syrupy warmth the tube guys will clammer for, but then I'm hearing so much further into not just tonality but intent within the playing. 

If you read the review in Enjoy the Music from Tom Lyle, you'd see he equates the GZ Yeti to the $30k Stromtank. His review was the $400 Yeti 400. The Yeti 1000 was $1099, the 3kW Yeti 3000 is $2999 and will power almost anything. So, like Tom I took the plunge and bought a Yeti 1000 figuring it'd have plenty of 'headroom' for my meagre 600w consumption. (Though I have since plugged my JL Audio Fathom in too)

After playing the "FedEx f'ed up" again game, I finally went to their depot and picked up my new toy myself. After a handful of songs to establish a baseline for the evening, I simply plugged the Yeti 1000 in, reconnected the Devialet and sat back... My girlfriend was first to break the silence and then immediately regretted it as I couldn't help myself interrupting her for the next half hour of gushing over what a profound difference it was making.
H-U-G-E. Truly component level and an absolute game changer. 

I was immediately texting my good friend with his PS Audio Directstream, Gryphon Diablo, Audio Physic Avantera III all powered by the latest Synergistic Research Powercell 12SE and Gallileo power cord with AQ Hurricane to each component - SELL- SELL- SELL it all, get a Goal Zero! 

We stayed up until 2am listening, flipped it back for a handful of now unlistenable tracks and then back again to Yeti 1000 happiness. In over six hours of powering my Devialet and Fathom at 90+db levels it'd dropped to a laughable 98%. I'm guessing that means it'd run off the grid for 300hrs or more? That's probably a several months of listening for most people. Who even cares, it simply sounds spectacular and the single biggest improvement I've ever heard from anything less than a major amp or speaker upgrade. 

I know my system is fairly frugal and green running, my buddy Matts, Gryphon would probably need the 3000W Yeti as his amp pulls 1900W at full song and his full stack of components albeit front end certainly add a few hundred more.   He's headed down to me in a couple of week with a stack of exotic power cables and conditioners  to try and I can't wait to share my results - I'm guessing he'll want to steal it away for his own demo right after. I would imagine he'd even get away with the Yeti 1000, so long as he doesn't run it too hard?
leeagc
One last quick update before my Yeti 400 goes back (because of the lithium battery GZ has to send a special return box). 
I tried the 400 powering just my ZOTL Ultralinear amp--all front end components back to the SR power conditioner.  I noticed a slight loss of dynamics and softening of transients (that aryefan also alluded to).  The amp drew 120 watts at rest and 140-145 during peaks.  We'll see what happens with the 1400.
Unfortunately the Yeti 400 will not work for me. I got about 50 minutes before the fan came on when powering an Aurender A10. The fan  stayed on about ten minutes and then came back on 30 or so minutes later. It did sound pretty good but I had to remove the Aurender from the Audience conditioner so I lost that advantage. The big Yeti is probably the right one but I think I can spend that money more wisely in my system.
Hi stephendunn,

Did you receive your Yeti 1400 yet? Curious how it worked out for you. 

Thanks
gme109

Unfortunately I am temporarily buried by the avalanche of moving.  I should surface around the end of the month and then plan on installing the 1400 in the new digs.

I can say that having sent the 400 back, I totally miss what it was doing for my SQ.  (Yes, I'm listening while I pack all my LPs.  Help!)

Steve
BTW, I am somewhat surprised by the mixed response to hearing SQ enhancement using the GS battery as a power source.  I would not think the improvements to be that system dependent--everyone should benefit from cleaner power--but the difference is likely attributable to two factors: 1)  everyone's home power is different 2) the effectiveness of your power conditioner.   

We have no consensus (if there is such a thing in audio) if the battery pack is best with or without a conditioner--again probably system dependent--but those who are hearing little or no upgrade using the GS probably have very clean power and/or a good conditioner/regenerator.  Mine is a SR Powercell 10 SE which brought an remarkable improvement to my system.  And I've never thought of my house power as particularly bad--I prefer my amp plugged directly to the upgraded wall socket.  But just to be on the safe side, I'm not purchasing the 1400 until my system is installed in the new house and I'm familiar enough with the new SQ to be sure the battery pack sounds as good there as it does here.