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Perfect Path Tecnologies ‘The Gate’

Having been a music lover and audio enthusiast for more decades than I care to admit to I’ve had the privilege of owning some tremendous components over those years and thought I had attained a level of musical enjoyment that would be difficult to improve upon without spending more money than I could afford. Then along came The Gate to turn my audio conceptions on end. 

While I was quite skeptical of all of the positive proclamations regarding the Perfect Path mats, cards and contact enhancer ( how could they possibly bring about such sonic improvements?) I took the plunge and purchased a nano bundle to see what the hubbub was all about. Much to my surprise they not only brought about improvements to my systems’ ability to recreate a more musical sound but did so in spades. 

When Tim of Perfect Path Technologies asked if I wanted to try his new product, The Gate, I jumped at the chance thinking it would be a nice addition to what the other products provided. I wasn’t prepared for the quantum leap The Gate brought to my music listening pleasure. As much as the other products brought about a much lower noise floor, greater detail and delicacy, improved dynamics, richer tone and more realism The Gate does so in magnitudes difficult to describe. The best way I can describe its affect is unreal purity leading the most realistic musical sound I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing.....outside of a live performance obviously. It has me listening to all of my CD’s as if for the first time again.

I have no idea how The Gate actually works or what it does I just know it’s the most dramatic tweak to my system I’ve ever experienced and I wouldn’t think of being without it. As to how it’s implemented, it’s installed in the electrical panel with one lead connected to the common buss and the other to a breaker ( preferably 220). Hope I got the terminology correct.....I’m far from being an electrician!

At $4,999.00 it’s not cheap but worth every penny to me as I’ve spent more on components with less sonic improvement. 

Lastly, I realize some will scoff at something they can’t understand and I get not understanding it as I don’t, but I would hope people could keep their skepticism healthy and civil. I am not here to promote or sell, nor do I have any affiliation with PPT. I am only sharing something that I’ve found to be transforming in my system. Sorry for the lengthy introduction.
128x128mac48025
mac48025's avatar
mac48025 OP
672 posts
 
Good question Lou and congrats on your PPT success. 

While I don’t have any experience with the newer PS Audio regenerators I prefer the sound of my system without any power conditioning since installing the Gate. I tried my old PS Audio P300 and a brand new Equitech Son of Q before and after installing the Gate and noticed an uptick in dynamics and overall fluidity with the Gate alone. Now I have two heavy power conditioners collecting dust!

My guess is that you’d be better served with adding the Gate. I’m sure the re-generator would bring about a nice sound improvement but I believe the Gate will bring about an even greater improvement......without any current limitations. Another advantage of the Gate is that all of your electronics in the house will benefit, my TV and computer screens have never looked better.
walterslw's avatar
walterslw
10 posts
 
Thanks Mac,   That is what I figured.   Hoping some others to chime in here as well ;-)


fleschler
2,028 posts
 
My experience with the Bryston BIT 20 isolation transformer (no Gate) is that it smeared the sound and was slow sounding until I replaced the stock power cord with a high end cord.  Bryston engineers informed me that their cord was specially designed for the unit-not!  Does anyone have experience with isolation transformers and the Gate as opposed to power conditioners?

oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa
4,867 posts
 
waltersl ...

My recommendation is to go with The Gate.

I've gotten reports from some Gate users that their sound has improved by removing their power conditioner after installing The Gate. My approach was a bit different.

Months prior to receiving and installing The Gate, I took my Sound Application power conditioner apart and used the TC paste to paste the entire interior of the power conditioner, including the inside of the lid. It took an entire tube of TC paste to accomplish the job. The result (after a few days of breaking in) was a very significantly improved overall SQ. 

After installing The Gate, I left the power conditioner in the system because I don't have enough outlets for the entire system. The power conditioner is plugged into a two-outlet wall receptacle. The turntable is plugged into the second outlet. The outlets have also been treated with TC. 

As good as the "modified" power conditioner was, The combination of the treated power conditioner and The Gate has provided clarity, musicality and a three-dimensional presentation that is absolutely stunning. 

Here's the power conditioner I use:

http://www.soundstagenetwork.com/revequip/soundapplication_xe12s.htm

Hope this helps ...

Frank
folkfreak's avatar
folkfreak
1,349 posts
 
Corroborating @oregonpapa experience I also get great results from the combination of Gate and transformers (in my case both a Torus WM75BAL and Synergistic 12UEF) -- the former is an undefeatable part of my system upstream of the room and the latter acts as a distributor to my front and back end components (I actually have two 12UEFs and am in the process of upgrading them to the latest SR conditioners)

As what the Gate does is entirely different from what transformer based or other conditioners do I have no difficulty seeing these as complementary rather than mutually exclusive -- the sonic results certainly bear this out.

Obviously this does not really answer your question as to which gives the best return for your money but at least you can have some confidence that you may like the results from having both. 

My personal bias if in your situation wold be to start upstream (i.e. with the Gate, or with other typical power moves such as a dedicated line(s)) and work down from there, testing the effect of adding each piece as you go.
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