Amp ac cable connection

"Power conditioners restrict power flow. That is just the nature of the beast. I don’t care who makes it they all work basically the same way. Get rid of it."

Simply wrong. Synergistic Research Powercell 10/12 does not restrict current and works completely differently than other "power conditioners".

It also does not perform surge protection. Nor will any claimed surge protector/conditioner prevent damage from lightning strikes. The place for a surge protector is on your TV cable line (only, unless you like choking the current flow to your audio system).

psinyc, which Powercell model do you have?

Based on my knowledge, there are two power conditioner brand which are "NON-CURRENT LIMITED". Tara Labs (PM2, Ad6, IDAT) and Synergistic Research powercell. The rest of PCs whatever the brand is, they are not suitable for Power amps.

Tara labs Power C. has this Surge protection feature. I tried both in my amps and even in cascade mode, the result is wonderful. I am still using Tara labs Ad6 with my amps.

cheers ...

Hi michelzay,

Tara Labs makes fine products and their "conditioners" are some of the best. This quality of power products is what I call "AC Enhancers" vs "power conditioners" to differential them from the "choke type" conditioners described accurately by benjie above.

Best to you,
Dave

Dave, I agree with you ...

SR powercell is very good for power amps. I regret to have sold my Powercell. My personal impression was that it brought more brightness and a little bit of softening bass to my system. But overall, it was pretty good with modified MPCs!

Tara labs Ad6, is excellent on distinguishing different instrument and offer better edge transition on notes.
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue24/tara_labs.htm
 
Tara labs stopped making those PCs because people thought those PM2 or Ad6 are just Power strips!! Other competitor created less efficient big & almost empty and visually attractive boxes with much less circuitry named Power conditioner to impress customers. One would say marketing effects ...
http://www.10audio.com/diy_power_conditioner.htm

Once a while one could find those Tara labs PM2 or Ad6 on ebay or here @AQ, highly recommended... especially for power amps!

cheers...

Good to know, michelzay.

I notice you mention modified MPCs. Are you referring to Michael Spallone’s mods? All of my MPCs have been modded by Michael and the improvement over the stock MPC or even the Galileo is phenomenal.

I agree that power products need to be matched to the system, just like power cords. I had a prior version, Powercell 10 Mk II, several years ago and would agree with your assessment of the sound it imparted, but yet it still delivered a huge drop in the noise floor and enhanced soundstaging.

Most manufacturers improve their products over time and this is true with the Powercell. With my system, Thiel CS5i’s with SS pre and SS amp, the more recent Powercell 10 UEF gives me what I feel to be a "just right" sound characteristic. Adding the FEQ module (normally included with the Powercell 10 UEF along with the Element Tungsten Copper active power cord and Teslaflex AC receptable) adds a good bit of transient snap, further lowers the noise floor, and adds several degrees more air and soundstage dimensionality.

I am told by friends whose systems and ears I trust that the new Powercell 12 delivers a good bit more improvement in the aforementioned areas by using Graphene in the power cord, the EM cells, and the power rails.

I will be on the lookout for a used PM2 or Ad6 to try. Your recommendation is meaningful as you have experienced what the best AC enhancement products can do.

Best to you michelzay,
Dave