Protection and clean power

iaxel

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Oct 25, 2016
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I’m revisiting an old thought of adding a regenerator/conditioner to my system.
Power is somewhat unstable here and power glitches occur from time to time, especially during rough weather conditions.

My main concern is that such devices may “kill” my system’s sound.
Dry sound, compressed dynamics, soft sound leading edges - I’ve stumbled upon these descriptions while browsing for such solutions.

I have on offer the PS Audio P15/20 and the Gigawatt PC4 evo.
Both differ in overall functionality and feature list, but should provide a solution for crappy power and surge protection.
I plan to connect all my devices to it (view my signature).

Love to hear your opinions/suggestions for such a solution.
 

Addicted to hifi

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I’m revisiting an old thought of adding a regenerator/conditioner to my system.
Power is somewhat unstable here and power glitches occur from time to time, especially during rough weather conditions.

My main concern is that such devices may “kill” my system’s sound.
Dry sound, compressed dynamics, soft sound leading edges - I’ve stumbled upon these descriptions while browsing for such solutions.

I have on offer the PS Audio P15/20 and the Gigawatt PC4 evo.
Both differ in overall functionality and feature list, but should provide a solution for crappy power and surge protection.
I plan to connect all my devices to it (view my signature).

Love to hear your opinions/suggestions for such a solut
power conditioning can do more harm than good.i like my hifi plugged directly in the wall socket.
 
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Sampajanna

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Apr 1, 2021
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Everest FTW!
 

Cellcbern

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Power purity/stability varies with geographic region. In the Washington, DC area where I live, every power conditioning device I’ve tried has been an improvement over the wall socket. Even now, with a dedicated 20A line and Environmental Potentials filter on the main breaker box, power/sound quality is much better with a power conditioner. I only use passive conditioners because every isolation transformer or regenerator based conditioner I’ve listened to has negatively impacted dynamics or other aspects of the sound. The (Jack Bybee and John Curl designed) Bybee Stealth Power Purifier is what I settled on. It dramatically reduces noise, subtracts nothing from the music, and actually improves dynamics. There are a couple of additional devices that I find indispensable. I use a Quantum Physics Noise Disruptor on top of the Bybee Stealth, and a Lessloss CMARC 640X Entropic Firewall between the wall and the power conditioner, and a 2nd one on the sacd player.
 
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iaxel

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Oct 25, 2016
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power conditioning can do more harm than good.i like my hifi plugged directly in the wall socket.
That’s my main concern, but I have experience only with isolation transformers and had mixed results with those.
 

iaxel

Well-Known Member
Oct 25, 2016
390
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Power purity/stability varies with geographic region. In the Washington, DC area where I live, every power conditioning device I’ve tried has been an improvement over the wall socket. Even now, with a dedicated 20A line and Environmental Potentials filter on the main breaker box, power/sound quality is much better with a power conditioner. I only use passive conditioners because every active conditioner/regenerator I’ve listened to has negatively impacted dynamics. The Bybee Stealth Power Purifier is what I settled on. It dramatically reduces noise, subtracts nothing from the music, and actually improves dynamics. There are a couple of additional devices that I find indispensable. I use a Quantum Physics Noise Disruptor on top of the Bybee Stealth, and a Lessloss CMARC 640X Entropic Firewall between the wall and the power conditioner, and a 2nd one on the sacd player.
Thanks! I have never heard of the Bybee purifier. Where can you purchase it? Do they provide a trial period and warranty?
 

MTB Vince

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May 11, 2019
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That’s my main concern, but I have experience only with isolation transformers and had mixed results with those.
Which Isolation transformer product were you unhappy with @iaxel ? My experiments with balanced +/-60 V isolation conditioners in the past year led to my adopting a 15A B-P-T conditioner for my front end gear and four more 20A B-P-T conditioners to feed all the amplification for speakers and subs in my dual duty big rig.
 
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iaxel

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Oct 25, 2016
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Which Isolation transformer product were you unhappy with @iaxel ? My experiments with balanced +/-60 V isolation conditioners in the past year led to my adopting a 15A B-P-T conditioner for my front end gear and four more 20A B-P-T conditioners to feed all the amplification for speakers and subs in my dual duty big rig.
EquiTech. Compressed dynamics and dry system sound.

I see that Torus Power is also available locally.
Not sure how good they are…
 

Cellcbern

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Thanks! I have never heard of the Bybee purifier. Where can you purchase it? Do they provide a trial period and warranty?
See links to reviews below:


Sold at https://www.tweekgeek.com/darkmatter-power-conditioner/

You may be able to find a used one at someplace like Audiogon. I have the 2014 pre "Dark Matter" version. As far as I can tell the difference is the addition of the Bybee V2 Quantum Signal Enhancer inside of the latest version (which I plan to add to mine) and the "Dark Matter" blocks which are EMI/RF absorbers. You'll have to ask them about the trial period. I've always had good service from Tweek Geek. I bought the original version of the Bybee Stealth back in 2010 and was able to trade up on favorable terms when the upgraded version came out in 2014. You have to pick your outlets. I ordered all Furutech GTX-D, two rhodium (pre NCF)and two gold plated. I've ended up using only the gold outlets to plug components into because I found the rhodium plated ones to be too cool and clinical sounding (as I do all rhodium plated connectors). I Have Nordost QV2's in the rhodium outlets.
 
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MTB Vince

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May 11, 2019
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EquiTech. Compressed dynamics and dry system sound.

I see that Torus Power is also available locally.
Not sure how good they are…
Which Equi=Tech model @iaxel ? On big peaks the system listed in your signature would have been right at the edge of even a 2Q's rated 2kVA capacity. Not to mention that while Equi=tech's premium Q conditioners are very solidly built and engineered, all parts used are standard hospital grade fare. Not really in keeping with rest of your gear.

To ensure that peak current throttling would not be an issue, I employ multiple 2.4kVA capacity B-P-T BP-3.5 Ultra units along with the 1.8kVA BP-2 for the front-end gear. When I'm listening to two channel, there is one BP-3.5 dedicated to my ATC active monitors and then two more BP-3.5s, each of these dedicated to pairs of Seaton subwoofers located at the front and back of my room. A surplus of current capacity ensures that my conditioned AC supply is not compressing my music's dynamics.
 

LenWhite

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Feb 11, 2011
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systems.audiogon.com
The best I've found is the Ansuz Mains8 DTC Power Distributor connected to a good surge arrestor (SurgeX, Cyberpower). Michael Borresen has a stellar reputation designing speaker and cable products (Nordost, Raidho, Ansuz). The Mains8 DTC version is expensive but there are models bearing the same principle at lower prices. The Ansuz Mains8 paired with Ansuz PCs noticeably improved the clarity and definition in my audio system.
 

MTB Vince

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May 11, 2019
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Sampajanna

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Sampajanna

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It doesn’t suppress current even in high power amps. I hv 1,000 watt SS amps and they are MORE dynamic in the Everest than the wall…


From their site:
DTCD™ Analysis is a technique that measures instantaneous current through low impedance electrical conductors and contacts. Shunyata Research uses it to optimize the design, specification, and construction of parts, conductors, noise circuits, and materials to ensure maximum current delivery performance. Shunyata Research’s skill at reducing impedance to improve dynamic instantaneous current is unparalleled. More than any other design parameter, DTCD™ allows listeners to experience life-like low-frequency performance from even the highest-current amplifiers as well as the immediacy and dynamic contrasts of a live musical performance.
 
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iaxel

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Oct 25, 2016
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Which Equi=Tech model @iaxel ? On big peaks the system listed in your signature would have been right at the edge of even a 2Q's rated 2kVA capacity. Not to mention that while Equi=tech's premium Q conditioners are very solidly built and engineered, all parts used are standard hospital grade fare. Not really in keeping with rest of your gear.
I think it was a 3kVA version. And it was on a older setup (~10 years ago). Actually my power amp back then was much less power demanding and it still seemed to kill dynamics.
 
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iaxel

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Alrainbow

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The one posted is a very well made product it works period . Dinali does too. a Regen is not a typical power conditioner it's actually a personnel power plant .
The others mentioned line equitec are real balanced conditioners but they don't iso late cause of nec code restrictions. while the Regen does not isolate it does remove most any noise .
The size of the amps determines the size of the iso power needed . Few have one big enough for larger amps .
 

Alrainbow

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Dec 11, 2013
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One last thought an equitec or any conditioners do not make voltage stable period if they claim to ask how lol. A Regen is truly a very stable power source . One might consider what's needed then try .
 

Phillyb

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May 31, 2012
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Like always each unit adds something to the reproduction. Base testing everything has to be everything plugged into the wall as a starting point you will then hear the sound el-natural as the designers of the gear intended. In fact, once using the system for days like that it does sound quite good.

I live with it and use key songs and make notes of what really stands out nicely, say a standup bass, piano, and vocals. I then hook up my conditioner and listen after the system is back on for a few hours, only then will the changes be self-evident for better or worse.

In my experience, the PS Audio Regenerators take all and just makes it even better, from top to bottom across the board, unlike others I've used that may increase the bass, bring out the highs more, push vocals more forward, the regenerator does not spotlight any one thing. The noise floor is nonexistent.

I have owned the top 5 conditioners over the years and the PS stayed. Having said that, I just heard an Equi-Core 1800Mkiii from a friend's system, and it had the same positive impact as the PS Audio in many ways at a much cheaper price and sounds more dynamic in some ways. Overall the P15 might be better, but for the money grab the 1800Mkiii. It does a whole lot, for a lot less, and is an improvement over the wall across the board.
 
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