Hello everyone,
Felix from Burmester Audiosysteme here, dropping into the AV Power Product Forum! I've been following some of the great discussions here, and I wanted to share some insights on a product that's been a cornerstone of Burmesters philosophy for over 30 years - one that we believe is truly essential yet sometimes overlooked in the pursuit of sonic perfection:
the Burmester 948 Power Conditioner.
We often focus on our amplifiers, integrated amps, DACs and speakers, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in sound reproduction. But what about the very foundation they build upon - not the music - but the power coming from your wall outlet? The quality of the power supply has become one of the most important components of a high-end music system. Modern power grids are increasingly "noisy" environments, riddled with high-frequency interference and, crucially, DC components (direct current) superimposed on the AC mains supply.
Who hasn't experienced that frustrating phenomenon where your music system doesn't sound as good between six and ten in the evening as it does at midnight? This often stems from these minute DC components - even a mere few millivolts in the AC voltage can drive amp transformers of any brand to saturation, causing audible hum. More importantly, this subtle DC contamination degrades the sound, making it colorless and weaker.
This is precisely where the Burmester 948 Power Conditioner enters the picture, offering a solution unlike any other. It functions fundamentally differently from conventional line filters on the market. 6 At its core, the 948 isn't just a filter; it's a 500W power amplifier that works in parallel with your AC power supply. Its patented active DC suppression circuitry dynamically compensates for any DC components in the 120 volts AC from your wall outlet. This parallel operation is key: unlike common passive filters that can limit current supply and deteriorate sound, the 948 ensures absolutely no power limitation for your connected components. Your system receives unhindered power for maximum dynamics and impact.
Beyond its groundbreaking DC compensation, the 948 integrates two top-quality high-frequency (HF) mains filters. These filters are exceptionally effective at very low frequencies, exhibiting a steep slope characteristic: -6dB at 2000 Hz, -20dB at 20kHz, and already -60dB at 100 kHz. This meticulous filtering ensures that your digital components and tuners are protected from parasitic HF noise.
So, what does this mean for your sound?
A power supply corrected by the 948 provides your audio components with clean and even voltage. The result is a truly open sound with more air around voices and instruments. Large orchestras and choirs sound natural and unstrained, even at high volumes, and the tonal balance becomes sweeter. Crucially, this improvement is independent of the time of day - your system will sound as good all day as it normally sounds only way past midnight. The 948 improves the sound of any brand of audio equipment.
Since its introduction in 1994, the Burmester 948 has been an integral part of countless high-end systems, delivering the purest possible foundation for musical enjoyment. It features eight star-grounded power outlets and can even be remotely switched on and off via Burmester preamplifiers and D/A converters.
We believe the 948 isn't just an accessory - it's a fundamental upgrade that unlocks the full, uncompromised potential of your entire audio setup.
I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences on power conditioning. What kind of solutions have you tried? Have you noticed similar issues with your power supply affecting your system's performance?
Looking forward to the discussion!
Musical regards from Berlin,
Felix from Burmester Audiosysteme here, dropping into the AV Power Product Forum! I've been following some of the great discussions here, and I wanted to share some insights on a product that's been a cornerstone of Burmesters philosophy for over 30 years - one that we believe is truly essential yet sometimes overlooked in the pursuit of sonic perfection:
the Burmester 948 Power Conditioner.
We often focus on our amplifiers, integrated amps, DACs and speakers, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in sound reproduction. But what about the very foundation they build upon - not the music - but the power coming from your wall outlet? The quality of the power supply has become one of the most important components of a high-end music system. Modern power grids are increasingly "noisy" environments, riddled with high-frequency interference and, crucially, DC components (direct current) superimposed on the AC mains supply.
Who hasn't experienced that frustrating phenomenon where your music system doesn't sound as good between six and ten in the evening as it does at midnight? This often stems from these minute DC components - even a mere few millivolts in the AC voltage can drive amp transformers of any brand to saturation, causing audible hum. More importantly, this subtle DC contamination degrades the sound, making it colorless and weaker.
This is precisely where the Burmester 948 Power Conditioner enters the picture, offering a solution unlike any other. It functions fundamentally differently from conventional line filters on the market. 6 At its core, the 948 isn't just a filter; it's a 500W power amplifier that works in parallel with your AC power supply. Its patented active DC suppression circuitry dynamically compensates for any DC components in the 120 volts AC from your wall outlet. This parallel operation is key: unlike common passive filters that can limit current supply and deteriorate sound, the 948 ensures absolutely no power limitation for your connected components. Your system receives unhindered power for maximum dynamics and impact.
Beyond its groundbreaking DC compensation, the 948 integrates two top-quality high-frequency (HF) mains filters. These filters are exceptionally effective at very low frequencies, exhibiting a steep slope characteristic: -6dB at 2000 Hz, -20dB at 20kHz, and already -60dB at 100 kHz. This meticulous filtering ensures that your digital components and tuners are protected from parasitic HF noise.
So, what does this mean for your sound?
A power supply corrected by the 948 provides your audio components with clean and even voltage. The result is a truly open sound with more air around voices and instruments. Large orchestras and choirs sound natural and unstrained, even at high volumes, and the tonal balance becomes sweeter. Crucially, this improvement is independent of the time of day - your system will sound as good all day as it normally sounds only way past midnight. The 948 improves the sound of any brand of audio equipment.
Since its introduction in 1994, the Burmester 948 has been an integral part of countless high-end systems, delivering the purest possible foundation for musical enjoyment. It features eight star-grounded power outlets and can even be remotely switched on and off via Burmester preamplifiers and D/A converters.
We believe the 948 isn't just an accessory - it's a fundamental upgrade that unlocks the full, uncompromised potential of your entire audio setup.
I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences on power conditioning. What kind of solutions have you tried? Have you noticed similar issues with your power supply affecting your system's performance?
Looking forward to the discussion!
Musical regards from Berlin,
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