2. digital
  3. 190336-188464

Power Regenerator or Conditioner for Digital Sources

Ok I'm having a difficult time deciding. I want to clean up the power going into my Aurender N20 and my MSB Discrete DAC. Those components seem to me to be the most sensitive to power issues. When I plug them into an inexpensive APC Power strip I get a slightly harsh upper frequency range. When I plug them into my Cullen Power Box that has no surge protection just straight from the wall power they sound much better especially the DAC which is the more sensitive of the two. However summer time power issues do have their effect

So I am considering either a quality power conditioner such as the Isotek Aquarius V5 or a PS Audio Stellar Power Plant 3 for just these two components. I need three receptacles as my DAC has two power supplies. My Amp will stay plugged into the wall where it sounds the best.

Anyone own either of these power units? Experiences with them?

Alternatively there is the Puritan 156 Conditioner at a lower price however recent reviews on Alpha-Audio where they did extensive power conditioner tests strongly favored the Isotek Aquarius V5.

 

 

 

jfrmusic
carlsbad2's avatar
carlsbad2
1,602 posts
 

Realize that the harshness you experinced with the upper frequency range is actually a degraded bass signal.  

kennymacc
399 posts
 

Try them both and see which one you like the best.  That's the only way.

jmeyers's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jmeyers
163 posts
 

@kennymacc Would you mind further explaining that to laymen like me?

jfrmusic OP
266 posts
 

Ok got a PS Audio PowerPlant 3 today to use with my source components. After listening for several hours I returned it. It didn’t do anything better than without it. In fact I found the soundstage to have less clarity. That was the main difference. It was a darker soundstage not as wide but of equal depth. If it had been a neutral replacement with maybe a slight improvement to the soundstage I would have kept it at least for the clean regulated power. However since it was not as good as direct wall connection it was returned. The return process was very easy and PS Audio was very accommodating. It just didn’t work in my system. Others have had very good experiences with their regenerators. So it’s easy to try. I guess I have decent power from the wall and my equipment which is of high quality may handle any issues effectively.

vinylcat
33 posts
 

FWIW, I recently home demo'd a Torus Tot MAX Isolation Transformer with great results.  The gent who had the demo unit before me ended up ordering one to replace his PS Audio PP 12.

Both my digital side (DAC/Streamer and Master Clock) and analog side (Phono Pre) benefitted with a blacker background, more detailed, deeper 3D soundstage, and a deeper, clearer low end.  Also had my Preamp on the Torus.

I ended up ordering and inserted the Torus RM 15 (color, dimensions, more outlets, built-in SMSS).

l also have a dedicated 20A line for the audio system and keep my amplifiers plugged into the wall; haven't yet tried them into the Torus RM 15.

Anyway, you may try a Torus if you can demo one...

More to discover