Good stuff! I just happened to get me a PSM156 and was very surprised how much it improved the sound of my system (stage width, depth, spacial cues, etc.) However, in the first day it sort of tamed the transients a little, which I was not too happy about. By day 3 it “opened up” so no transient masking, huge dynamics and just wonderful sound. So yeah, it definitely needs burn-in time.
Not watched the whole video just yet (1:01:22 in so far) so not sure if you covered this later on, but the Puritan PSM136 and more expensive PSM156 you were using both have very effective DC blocking already built in to them (as well as their various levels of filtering for common and differential mode noise). Thought I’d mention this in case it’s of use for anyone 👍. [EDIT - I see you did pick up on the built in DC blocking - but query if the unit you have has been burnt in, as they particularly warn customers to burn in for min of 100 hours before it realises its full potential. Maybe it opens up and is less “rounded” after? Also everyone who’s tried says their upgraded Puritan power cable to the unit, instead of their standard one makes a huge improvement. Just thought I’d add this]
Another great video guys. Too bad that it didn't happen last year when I purchased a Furman power distributor... The Supra would have been a better choice or the Isotek Gemini, which I was looking into by the way. What was the Furman model that you Jaap tried and didn't like? On the outlet polarity, i have a question, correct me if I am wrong because I am just learning about this, but if the polarity was reversed, to bring it back to normal, the wiring between the hot and neutral lines needed to be switched in the outlet, but you did it very fast there in the video, so how was it corrected? Thanks again and keep up the good work. just editing my comment here. The polarity issue is more of a problem in Europe compared to the US/Canada/Latam region, as our outlets have three prongs, one for grounding. So you only have to rotate the plug 180 degrees to solve the problem. Although the problem of having wrong wiring connections on the outlet affects everybody. Actually, in Europe the problem can be solved a lot easier.
I've had a lot of questions about these things, and these models in particular. Thanks for finally bringing clarity to the subject. Very good video, indeed!
A huge thanks to the team for this super fun and illuminating test! I appreciate the work and time commitment involved and I hope these will continue - I for one look forward to these sessions, and the way they are presented makes us feel a part of the the group. I have the PSM156 feeding my power and pre and it was journey of burn-in; beginning slightly harsh, quickly settling to become warm but rolled-off, and then (after about 2-3 weeks) becoming more detailed, spacious and balanced (did it change or did I? 😅). I think your conclusions and guidance are 100% - try before you buy, and check to see if the manufacturers also offer the option of 30 day return.
We had severe connection problems at the start, so up until time mark 29:10 you will experience a few strange cuts in the video and sound. That is where the stream dropped. Sorry about that, but we don't know why this happened. Furthermore: When we test a filter, we had the plug of the Rega Planet CD player, the plug of the Weiss DAC and the plug of the Earmen power supply, which feeds the Earmen preamp, in the device we test. The plug of the power amplifier is always in the Supra power block and is not filtered. 05:18 - introduction of the set. 13:42 - the order of the test explained. 17:51 - the music used in this test (from cd). 21:33 - everything in a Supra power block (first try). 23:15 - livestream interuption, due to bad connection. We had to restart. 29:10 - restart of the livestream. 30:35 - everything in a Supra power block (retry). 42:48 - Jaap is checking the polarity of all plugs. 48:22 - everything in the Supra power block, but now with polarity of the plugs checked. 55:21 - Jaap explains a parallel filter plug (and zap's himself). 58:05 - The function of the Isotek Syncro explained, to block DC. 01:01:20 - Rega planet and Weiss Dac in the Isotek Gemini, which is fed from the Isotek Syncro. 01:11:35 - Puritan PSM156 power conditioner explained. 01:20:00 - Listening with the Puritan PSM156. 01:29:00 - Isotek Aquarius Evo3 explained. 01:30:45 - Listening with the Aquarius Evo3. 01:34:53 - Isotek Aquarius V5 explained. 01:36:38 - Listening with the Aquarius V5. 01:43:20 - Audioquest Powerquest 707 explained. 01:46:04 - Listening with the Powerquest 707, plugs in low current outputs. 01:48:05 - Listening with the Powerquest 707, plugs in high current outputs 01:56:33 - Listening to the Powerquest 707, fed from the Isotek Syncro, plugs in high current output. 02:01:47 - Listening without any filtering, back to the Supra power block only. 02:04:15 - Conclusion. 02:11:14 - The next live stream. Music used: They say it’s wonderful, Johnny Hartman & John Coltrane, album Coltrane & Hartman, 1963 Spiral Stairs, Mammal Hands, album Captured Spirits, 2020 Speakers and amplification: Tannoy Super Gold Monitor (SGM) 15 Yamaha B2 power amplifier EarMen CH-amp preamplifier EarMen PSU-3 power supply Source: Rega Planet CD transport Weiss DAC2 Studio D2, Nieuwplaatz, Leiden
I'd love to hear all those against Professional 19" Studio Racked Power Conditionners. I own myself a Black Lion Audio PG-2 (F Type), and it literally improved a lot my system (88' Accuphase E-305 + ATC SCM40 MkI's)
I find the tests you do very interesting and your efforts are much appreciated! I must confess I am studying the results of your videos and it is not like work for me. .
For a ridiculous $200, some of these power conditioner companies also sell the exact same hospital grade wall receptacles which you can buy at a home repair store for $15. That makes me lose faith in these company's integrity and honesty. You should try this listening test with a few different brands of cheap $30 surge strips. Each of those would probably sound different too.
Would be interesting your opinion on the Stromtank, I'd several years Audioquest Niagara and since owning S1000 Stromtank it is quite shocking how good battery-pack can be. Thanks a lot for your heavy-duty work, keep going!! 😊😊
yes great and entertaining review! by the way is it normal that you can shock yourself with a SNS plug like Jaap experienced? seems not okay. I believe SNP plugs have a CE certification so wondering...
Great! I moved from the city (apartment complexes) to villa area with lots of wall box chargers and solar panels around, including some on my own roof. DC was MUCH worse in the city, to the point where I could not block it properly with any of the Supra DC blockers. Out here the blocker works well.
DC Blocker, star earth, common mode, RF/EMI.. very good componentes and MEASUREMENTS 👈 ATL Audio (Aleksandar) * Google: Combined module DC Blocker (trap, filter) & EMI/RFI/Common Mode Filter - Assembled in Case - 165€ + shipping from Bulgary (EU) * Google: AC Mains Line Power Filter LPF-6000 - 830€ + shipping from Bulgary (EU) and more
...and I have been listening to the AudioQuest Niagra 1200 and it certainly *seems* the better sound is from the low power plugs. Much better. Your livestream gave me the idea to try it out.
hey guys.. thanks for the work .. fun to watch, entertaining, ..(although maybe next time test it with streamers/DACs/amps of the 2020s.. ;-)) I am thinking of upgrading my power supplies.. so one question, one comment: which power filtering system/ conditioner or whatever to use for devices with switch mode power supplies?? ( I own a decent Linn streamer/DAC ) ... how about power regenerators i.e. ps audio.. that ok for switch mode device + torroidal in one system ?? .. you know, its hard for normal customers to test this amount of devices at home and only keep the best one for your system...
Good thing about Aussie mains plugs is they can only fit one direction so polarity is always correct. They have two flat prongs for the active and neutral angled inwards 45º at the top.
One maybe silly question did you check the voltage anytime you did the test because maybe this can make changes in the sound if the voltage is not consistent equal or vsriable . I think you did test after midnight thanks
What about voltage ? Thanks for your incredible work Talking about your cables test when will be done?. I believe in cables i have up to six pairs of different pro speaker cables mogami and canare for bi amp 4 wires simple 2wires and coaxial speaker cables all of them have different sound . I have 4 different rca interlinks I love experimenting but without measurements . My gear is a Sansui vintage AU 719 90 w/ch dual mono integrated amplifier, source NAD cd player 2006 top of the line with toroidal transformer very analog sound, B&W dm603 speakers and power conditioner furman m8dx only for the cd player and a dedicated power line from main electrical box for all the audio gear. Even with the dedicated power line audio using the power conditioner only with the cd player connected I could hear differences to me better sound with the power conditioner pluged to the cd player. I would like to have a pair of Tannoy very good monitors Thanks i appreciate your hard work
We don't have this phase issue in the UK I think, as our plug architecture stops this. I have a separate dedicated fuse box feeding just the hifi equipment and this helps lower noise interference from household items.
Not necessarily. If the electrician wired the socket not according to code or if the power strip reverses phase or the audio equipment is wired differently, then it can still be wrong. And more difficult to resolve as you can't just reverse the plug.
They needed to use a ultimate cable with the puritan to be honest. They said it was too smooth.... that's absolutely the stock power cord that came with it...
@@TheAlphaAudio I have 2 psm156's, and 5 ultimate cables going into various equipment... Do you not believe that power cables can make a difference? Didn't know if your "OK" was sarcasm or not, sorry.
@@johenkay1129I definately believe that a good cable makes a difference. The OK was not sarcastic in that sense. The thing is: we set-up a test to show the difference in power conditioners. We do the best we can. Is it perfect? No... But it is impossible to do so. Every test there are comments on our set-ups, cables we use, speaker placement, etc... I think people forget there are 1001 variables. And honestly: the type of power cord is not really on the list when we set things up. We just use the cord that's in the box, because that's what people get. Also: if we use a certain power cord, we will get comments on that too... you get the point now. Also: I don't think people know how much work a live stream is. Apart from the time it takes to get the gear, set-up 5 camera's, sound and what not... we have to think all the variables in the test. It looks like it's just a bunch of guys sitting on chairs having fun with audio gear... and in a way it is... It's definately not heavily scripted. But a lot of time, thought an effort go in to our live streams and tests.
@@TheAlphaAudio I see. I would be curious to know how you feel about the puritan ultimate cable when you get the chance, especially paired with the psm156. Appreciate the in-depth testing that you guys do over there.
Would be helpful to have the overall conclusions posted, as many of us can't be away from other responsibilities in order to watch 2 hours of a YT video. Or at least, place time stamps so that we can navigate to those units individually.
Am just happy I learn more and more what my taste is in sound. If you have time to explain why you like about Mammal Hands -- Captured Spirits - Spiral Stair and at what point in the track you listen specifically too.
Two things: 1. You either like a certain piece of music or not. That's irrespective of the audio quality in recording or playback, it is music. I like this music. 2. Some recordings are better suited for auditioning equipment than others. From those recordings, a few really work to get the differences we hear across to the listeners at home. We do not listen for something specifically, it is about the tonal balance, the colour of the instruments, the rhythm, if things fall out of place in terms of rhythm, harshness of sounds. We listen how the soundstage is placed, how clearly instruments are positioned in the soundstage. We listen how easy it is to follow what the different musicians are doing. So, it is not a particular thing. And all of us are zooming in on different aspects by default, because our ears are all sensitive to other areas. That's true for every human being.
@@Burphy42 For the written reviews we do we have different recordings. My tests lists are published on Qobuz and I refer to them in reviews I write. Live-streaming is a different ball game.
Hello from California. What’s the name of the second band, the British band that’s not really jazz. The song is “Spiral Staircases”? Thank you for another informative video.
@@TheAlphaAudio Thanks for confirming. I recalled some discussion in the Puritan segment about whether or not the transport should be plugged into the conditioner.
You mentioned an article of yours, if I remember correctly. I’d need the link to that article explicitly because the Kemp tool is not available anymore. Thank you for the quick reply 😊
Speakers and amplification: Tannoy Super Gold Monitor (SGM) 15 Yamaha B2 power amplifier EarMen CH-amp preamplifier EarMen PSU-3 power supply Source: Rega Planet CD transport Weiss DAC2 Music played: They say it’s wonderful, Johnny Hartman & John Coltrane, album Coltrane & Hartman, 1963 Spiral Stairs, Mammal Hands, album Captured Spirits, 2020
amazing video you should do a separated short video with the highlights and conclusions, 2 hours is too long and interesting information is lost in the sea of time 😅
@@Coneman3 Reverse them in the chain and listen to the result. Most of the time, audio enthusiast go way too far by stacking tweak upon tweak upon tweak. The end result is invariably the same: music starts to sound sterile and the enthousiast listening still feels that vague notion of dissatisfaction -- and invariably starts to add more. How to know when enough is enough? I do the following: take everything out of the chain and start with a sources-amplifiers set directly connected. Maybe a standard power block. Listen to it for two weeks. Then add whatever you have gathered over the years one by one and listen critically: is the music _really_ sounding better? I can tell you I have removed a lot over the years.