2. misc-audio
  3. 123492-2693

To Power Condition or Not to Power Condition?

OK, I’ve looked into this and the few posts I find on every forum seem to be at least 4-5 yrs old. I’m pretty sure new and probably better products have come out since then. Then there’s the issue as to whether to even use a power conditioner at all. Seems like some love it while others hate it. Whatever, the info and discussion seems quite limited.

So here’s where I am. I have a dedicated AC line with Oyaide R1 outlet. I’m running my amp into the wall and the digital into an old Monster cable AVS 2000 strip that received good reviews 12-15 yrs ago. I just installed hardwood flooring and my system sounds better than ever. But I had promised myself a toy since I did the floor installation. and was expecting the system to need help since it was voiced for carpet.
Anyway, I need a new toy. Since I don’t have a power conditioner, I keep thinking about one. My 1st thought was a couple of Oneac units from Ebay...one for analog, the other for digital. Then I considered the PS Audio Dectet. . It fits my budget and something which will fit behind my system rack. I don’t have shelf space for a P3, P5 etc though I keep thinking about the supposed benefits of regeneration. I’ve looked at other brands IE Furman. Then I stumbled across the Shunyata VENOM PS8 POWER CONDITIONER BUNDLE at Music Direct. But again, I can find very little in way of review on this item or its bigger brother the VENOM MPC-12A (which may be beyond my budget anyway)

So, I’m looking for people with experience with the Shunyata VENOM PS8 bundle with Venom Defender and PC and/ or the PS Audio Dectet and especially if you have heard them a/b’d against one another. Thoughts/experiences with regeneration and power conditioning will also be appreciated.

Thanks for your help. System is listed. The pictures have not been updated to reflect the equipment. But the list of equipment is correct
arte
128x128artemus_5
ivan_nosnibor's avatar
ivan_nosnibor
1,052 posts
 
This much has been covered before, but power conditioning does have its ups and downs...you can go too far with it and mess things up tonally and there is usually a wattage limitation and so on. But, I wound up going the "quantum" route (as originally started by Jack Bybee) and went with a company called Alan Maher Designs. They are not yet officially launched, but I fell into their facebook group in 2010 of about 300 or so members that are like early adopters...except a lot of what we buy from AMD amount to prototypes at not much over cost. Alan gets to develop new products and real-world test his gear with feedback folks from all over the globe and we get reduced prices...even if some of those products may be dropped from his lineup in favor of better/cheaper ones before he opens to the public. We are his 'guinea pigs'. Going quantum in this case means bypassing all the associated pitfalls with conditioning. I've been steadily buying his stuff since 2010 and have yet to encounter my first sonic negative or limitation. You can contact Alan directly with a fb message and he will respond quickly. He may or may not offer you a membership into the group. If not, then I'd say that it would be worth it to you to hold off on your decision until you can get access to some of his gear when he opens, whenever that is (you can ask him that, too). But, I suggest you start small..."fuse wraps" @ $15 each, "outlet pads" @ $20 each (fb pricing) (at your AV system duplex)...both of those things are dynamite and if they don't get you started for what can be done for that amount of money, nothing ever will...everything improves. 

Cheers, John
artemus_5's avatar
artemus_5 OP
1,992 posts
 
Pete, I suppose surge protection is at least preferable since we get thunder/lightning storms here in the summer. I haven't heard of the products you mention but I will check them out. Thanks

John, I'd actually forgotten about Alan Mahers products. I communicated with him several yrs ago. Then life got busy. Then I took a hifi vacation for a while. So the new floor has rekindled my desires again. I see that his website is up and I know he's been around for quite a while. Thanks for the reminder
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
The problem that I see regarding the Shunyata VENOM bundle is that it includes a high-current PC. Power cords are specific to components, IOW, this PC may be great for your amp, but not for a preamp. Plus, it comes with the Defender, which you may or may not need. It just doesn't seem like a great deal.

IMO, it’s better to choose a PC gauge and brand based on the component; preamps and CDP’s are low-current draw devices and would not need a high-current PC. Also, power cords have a sonic signature, so auditioning the cable in your system is advised.

You may already know this, but amps often have unpredictable sonic results when plugged into a conditioner. Typically the amp sounds best when plugged directly into the wall, then there is no current-limiting happening or artifacts from the Pwr Conditioner. Then use a good low-noise power cord.
Components benefit from power conditioning due to the lowering of the noise floor, plus they don’t draw much current.

You’ve been looking at passive power conditioners, and maybe that’s all you need unless you have unstable, dirty power coming into your home. Then you would need to recondition that AC.
I highly recommend the Blue Circle PLC Thingee FX-2 which is in your price range (but doesn’t have surge protection). I use it combined with a Furman power strip.

http://www.goodsound.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/575-blue-circle-audio=-plc-thingee-fx-2-six-out...

http://www.tlp-audio.com/powerConditioners.php
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
I have no first hand experience with the PS Audio Dectet, but I like that it provides isolated filtering for both analogue and digital.
jwmazur
191 posts
 
I have had power conditioning in some form or another from the Chang Lightspeed, PS Audio AC regenerators, even tried one of Bybee's AC conditioners. I just didn't seem to hear that much of a difference to be confident I wasn't trying to fool myself into thinking I did. 

I did have my latest system lashed up with Shunyata cabling and power conditioning, in particular the Hydra Alpha 4, using different Shunyata AC cables for each of the components. 

While I found better signal cables for my system and sold the Shunyata cables, I left the Shunyata AC gear alone. It was only when talking with my delear that he told me about Core Power Technologies Equi-Core balanced AC transformer. This was appealing from the standpoint of freeing up shelf space in my rack. When I installed the Equi-Core there was an improvement - not so much of hearing crystal clear highs, or " a veil being lifted from the music", but rather a relaxation factor that allowed me to more connect on an emotional level with the music. It was just flat out more involving and drew me in.

I sold the Shunyata gear, pocketing the change and no longer have to look at the power conditioning equipment trying to reaffirm faith and belief that it is doing something. While everyone's AC power quality is corrupted to a greater or lesser degree, I may just be one of the lucky ones where it is not that noticeable. But, with the Equi-Core it may just be the power conditioning gear was placing a limitation that I had not considered.

Having affiliation with neither dealer nor manufacturer, this is just a perspective from one person's experience and point of view. There are so many variables in this hobby that my medicine may be another's poison. All I can say is, once you connect with your system in a profound way you know it.

More to discover