The best plug in filter ever!

[Hificlips]

Quick review….

I tried the Puron. It’s a very good plug in filter indeed. The effect is pretty strong (surprisingly so actually) and it’s very effective. Compared to the Puritan plug in filter, for example, it’s obviously a much stronger device.

So what’s the effect? Clearly the noise floor reduces, there’s better separation, clarity, detail. Everything is more focused and tighter. In terms of the tonal balance, it’s neutral. Not bright, not warm, neutral with detail. It basically increases resolution and decreases noise noticeably.

A very good product all in all especially for the price. Do you need it? Depends what your system needs but if you want lower noise floor and more resolution and separation, the Puron is definitely effective. The reviews on this thread are accurate.

 

[highstream]

Quick review….

I tried the Puron. It’s a very good plug in filter indeed. The effect is pretty strong (surprisingly so actually) and it’s very effective. Compared to the Puritan plug in filter, for example, it’s obviously a much stronger device.

So what’s the effect? Clearly the noise floor reduces, there’s better separation, clarity, detail. Everything is more focused and tighter. In terms of the tonal balance, it’s neutral. Not bright, not warm, neutral with detail. It basically increases resolution and decreases noise noticeably.

A very good product all in all especially for the price. Do you need it? Depends what your system needs but if you want lower noise floor and more resolution and separation, the Puron is definitely effective. The reviews on this thread are accurate.

Good results. Be aware that the Puron is no longer available and has been superseded by other items. In my system, while I have one Puron, I found the Nordost equivalents, Qvibe and Qkore, had a greater effect, with their Qsine having the greatest effect of all. I didn’t get anything out of the Vera-Fi’s Snubway — seem to be the only one with that result — but I’m about to try the Mainstream, once it has some time in another outlet.

 

[Hificlips]

How would you describe the sound of the Nordost ones? I tried only Puritan and Puron. You can buy the Puron in the UK.

Definitely interested in the feedback on the Mainstream.

 

[highstream]

Similar along the lines you tried. There’s also the Add-Powr plug-ins, the owner being the developer who created the Nordost ones, before selling the rights and eventually returning with even better ones, so he claims.

I wasn’t aware of the Puritan plug-in, but did try its plug-in ground system. However, I found the Russ Andrews version and their ground cables to be more pleasing sonically, at least in a mostly system ground configuration (4 system grounds, one chassis). It’s something I recommend highly auditioning.

 

[Tuckers]

As someone who used to write early use reviews, sometimes one after another, experience with a variety of types of components led me to the conclusion that I should hold back judgment, as well as writing, until at least 300 hours have passed

Yeah, I gave them at least 400 hours.

 

[Huang]

I have not tried the Puron filter, but I ordered and received an Eau4 ElectraClear filter the other day. I think it made a very perceptible positive difference in my system. The bass is clearer and the, best way to describe it is I feel the bass, where I did not prior to the addition of the Eau4. The sound stage is deeper, I would not say wider though. Instruments own their space, and decay more realistically.

It is plugged into a Nordost Qbase Mk II fed by a Pranawire Tightend

 

[pacodrum]

Has anyone had a chance to try Apotema Audio's filters, for example the Black Hole, which is very similar to the Puron?
It is very well built, here in Italy it has a very good reputation, then there are the superior models that require a connecting cable.

Black Hole plug-in filter

Parallel-type plug-in mains filter that eliminates most of power grid noise and improves listening quality

apotema-audio.it

 

[MacF]

Has anyone had a chance to try Apotema Audio's filters, for example the Black Hole, which is very similar to the Puron?
It is very well built, here in Italy it has a very good reputation, then there are the superior models that require a connecting cable.

Black Hole plug-in filter

Parallel-type plug-in mains filter that eliminates most of power grid noise and improves listening quality

apotema-audio.it

I asked Paolo at Apotema what is his optimal combination of filters is & he said Black Hole + Materik 1. Both are on their way. For orders outside of Italy, you will have to contact Apotema directly.

 

[Cellcbern]

Good results. Be aware that the Puron is no longer available and has been superseded by other items. In my system, while I have one Puron, I found the Nordost equivalents, Qvibe and Qkore, had a greater effect, with their Qsine having the greatest effect of all. I didn’t get anything out of the Vera-Fi’s Snubway — seem to be the only one with that result — but I’m about to try the Mainstream, once it has some time in another outlet.

My experience has been similar to yours. Been using two Purons and a four QV2/two QK1 combo to good effect for several years. I hear a clear improvement from substituting a single Qsine for two QK1's, and a single Qwave for two of the four QV2's. Testing the Snubway - not clear yet whether it provides enough of a benefit to warrant keeping it.

 

[facten]

I asked Paolo at Apotema what is his optimal combination of filters is & he said Black Hole + Materik 1. Both are on their way. For orders outside of Italy, you will have to contact Apotema directly.

Will you be comparing the Black Hole independent of the Materik to a Puron , a Snubway or other like filter? If so, I'd be interested in your impressions. Txs

 

[MacF]

Will you be comparing the Black Hole independent of the Materik to a Puron , a Snubway or other like filter? If so, I'd be interested in your impressions. Txs

No longer do I have any Purons, Snubway & Mainstream in my system, but my memory of them is still pretty fresh. I'll provide my impressions of the Apotema filters in a week or two. They're in transit.

 

[Republicoftexas69]

I asked Paolo at Apotema what is his optimal combination of filters is & he said Black Hole + Materik 1. Both are on their way. For orders outside of Italy, you will have to contact Apotema directly.

Mac you truly are a tweak geek

 

[Magnuska]

Buy Line Noise Black Hole | Sink the Noise, Not the Dynamics

The Line Noise BlackHole (LNBH) is a compact, plug-and-play EMI/RFI sink filter designed to passively clean up noisy AC lines. No current limitation, no sonic compression—just quieter backgrounds and more revealing sound. The Power Noise Problem Power lines today carry more than voltage—they...

verafiaudiollc.com

Black hole from vera-fi. I bought the mainstream+ Snubway. He included also a new Infinity fusebox. Have not heard the sdfb but thought why not give this new product a try. Look forward to hear all 3 in my system.

Buy Infinity Fuse Online | Overcurrent Protection Reinvented

The Infinity Fuse by Vera-Fi Audio is a modern, resettable fuse alternative designed to safeguard high-end audio systems from overcurrent events—without sacrificing performance. It replaces traditional slow- or fast-blow fuses and features user-selectable settings to match your gear’s specific...

verafiaudiollc.com

 

[highstream]

Is the Infinity Fuse simply a user controllable SDFB alternative? That would be a practical advancement, not requiring a return to reset when equipment changes or if there’s a repeated failure. In addition to eliminating the sonic weakness of fuses, that seems a good justification for the product. However, the product write up goes a lot further in claims about fuse failures: “For audiophiles using premium components, this means repeated replacements and inconsistent sonic performance.” That seems very far overblown, except maybe for those living in heavy lightning country who don’t take adequate precautions.

 

[treitz3]

Definitely interested in the feedback on the Mainstream.

Hello @Hificlips. Since you haven't gotten an answer, I thought I would follow up on this for you. The Mainstream pairs very well with the Snubway, and both pair well with the Purons. The thing I like most about these passive devices, is one can (very quickly) take them out one by one, or all at one time to see if the direction the system performance is headed - is actually headed in the right direction.

All systems and A/C lines vary with the amount of noise they have, so the performance also varies with each product.

Just an FYI. The Veri-Fi Main Stream - Master Class Dynamic Parallel AC Line Conditioner is focused on and targets the frequency range from 10kHz to 20kHz, but it's particularly potent in and around the critical 20kHz region, where hum, hiss, and hash tend to be most prominent. The SnubWay's greatest range of effectiveness is targeting the problematic 400kHz-600kHz range, where most of the noise it's designed to eliminate resides.

Now, in full disclosure, it's a little strange for me to have experience with all of these devices, seeing as how (15 pages ago, starting on post #9), if you recall, I was very skeptical of these types of devices. Starting with the Puron. Now, I use 5 Puron's, 2 MC's and a Snubway. None of them are going anywhere and this is due to the elevated performance they have offered to the sonic end result of what my system now offers.

Tom

 

[Magnuska]

Is the Infinity Fuse simply a user controllable SDFB alternative? That would be a practical advancement, not requiring a return to reset when equipment changes or if there’s a repeated failure. The product write up about fuse failures, “For audiophiles using premium components, this means repeated replacements and inconsistent sonic performance,” seems way overblown, except maybe for those in heavy lightning country.

I don´t know if the user controllable aspect of it is the only difference? Hopefully I will enjoy the product but can`t compare to the original SDFB. Will find out if the size will be a problem for me. There are 3 new products with similar cases in their lineup. Some have been reviewed as well.

 

[highstream]

Be interesting for someone with both to report. And for Mark to clarify from his viewpoint.

 

[treitz3]

If you will please allow me. To whom are you speaking to and what would you like to clarify?

Tom

 

[highstream]

Not sure what's not clear. I was bouncing off Magnuska's comment, who is not in a position to compare the IF and SDFB. Since the IF seems like an alternative to the SDFB, I'm interested Mark's perspective about them.