Best value power condtioners....Used is ok

Brf, Tmoore did say "Used is OK." Therefore, if you believe that the Foundation Research in-line conditioners are as good as you say, then how much better are they at a used price?

I could see that as a "best value" which is what Tmoore is looking for.

Brf, Glad to hear you know the Foundation Research products so well. Not too many have heard of them. What is your experience? Do you own any?

-John

I agree with the API. The Power Pack II is great for so cheap. The Chang Lightspeed are very good also.

John, I have never seen a used Foundation Research LC-1 or LC-2 on the used market, therefore, making their procurement at a discounted price very difficult. I have 2 LC-1's feeding my DAC and Genesis Digital Lens, and a LC-2 feeding my tube amp. The designer of Foundation Research, Ed Wolkow, lives in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada which is 45 minutes outside Toronto, and his products are very well known in higher end audio circles in the Greater Toronto area. For those interested in learning more about Foundation Research products can email Ed directly at ewolkow@foundationresearch.on.ca.

Brf, yes, you won't hear much about Foundation Research. I bought one LC-1 and the LC-2 new. But I did buy one LC-1 used here on audiogon about 5 months ago. The guy had 2 used LC-2's and 2 used LC-1's and the prices were quite good.

Yes, I am aware of Ed Wolkow. Did you know last year he has come out with a tube pre-amp that is suppose to sound absolutely fantastic? It's called 'V6'. Apparently it's made it's way around a few shows in the Toronto area and some to many of these higher-enders are blown away by it's sonic capabilities.

Brf, did you happen to notice anything special or different when you added your last LC into the system? I was told that if I had LC's on all my components, that there would be an extra umph or extra low noise floor, etc.. It turned out to be true for me.

John, I have an excellent relationship with an audio store that sells Foundation Research products. I managed to borrow 4 LC-1s and a LC-2 for my system. LC-1's for my Transport, DAC, Genesis Digital Lens and tube pre-amp, and a LC-2 for my tube amp. All of the in-line FR LC remained in the system for 2 weeks and then I started removing then one by one. It turned out that the FR LC-1s on my tube pre-amp and the CD transport did little to improve the sound. The most dramatic effect in order of magnitude was DAC, AMP, and Digital Lens. I mentioned to my audio dealer that I experience very little improvement by adding a LC-1 to my pre-amp, but since my tube pre-amp is very current hungry, he suggested that I try an LC-2, but he would consult with Ed Wolkow first. Please find listed Ed's response...

"The LC1 is most likely the best choice for your preamp. Even high-powered preamps tend to draw well under half of the LC1s capacity. However, you will probably get the most dramatic musical improvement by filtering the line to your power amplifier(s) first with the LC2. Most power amplifiers suffer from line noise much more than preamplifiers. Good preamplifiers (like yours) have well regulated supplies rendering greater noise immunity. I have often experienced that preamplifiers are usually the last step in the noise reduction process. It's a "weakest link in the chain" approach. The highest source of noise is usually the digital source and then the power amplifier. I would recommend that you prove my opinion with listening."

My listening tests concurred with Ed's recommendation. I have owned Tice, API (pre-Ultra) and PS 300 (pre-multiwave) and the FR products are the most musical. If you like a low noise floor with a dark silent back ground to allow the music a clean canvas to paint its sonic picture, then FR products are for you.