My Snubway and Main Stream Master Class Combo Review


I must admit I am a sucker for tweaks.

I have owned and tried so many. I have always admired those who think outside the “box”. Some of these items were great, some maybe? And then some were just a “swing and a miss”.

I have communicated with Mark through the years and have used several of his products. So, I ventured into the Vera-fi Audio filters that many of you have expressed that you have liked. That is specifically; the Snubway and the Main Stream filters. I’m not sure if that is the appropriate category but I think that is what they do.

When I first received them, I tried them on my Audio dedicated AC line. First listen, the music sounded louder and more in my face. I was concerned that perhaps they were too much for my already “clean” audio system.

I then moved them to my dedicated Video AC line. On this line, I have an AudioQuest 1200 conditioner, an 85” Samsung TV/LED, Oppo 205, Satellite Dish, Apple TV and a 7 channel Outlaw amp. And I also had a Puron filter. When I first viewed this Video system with the filter combo now in use, boy, was I impressed! I watched a few pre-season NFL live games and the image was fantastic! So clean, immersive, with deep contrast, and deep colors. I knew these units would be a permanent part of this system.

So today, again, I tried that combo on my Audio Dedicated line. On this line is my AudioQuest 7000, Lumin X1, and 2 Michi 8 power amps. But now this time I did not get the image overload, perhaps these take some time to burn/break in. I will let these units percolate for a few days before I pass additional comments. But… I did order another set of them.

ozzy

ozzy

I’ve had a mainstream, two of them actually, for a while and was using them on my tv with great success and now have moved them to the audio rig and just received a snubway last week. While still playing around with placement I’ve noticed the snubway does not light up when plugged in like the puron and mainstream. Just wondering if this is how the snubway is compared to the others. 

So, I have a question for all you Snubway- Main Stream users.

Are you using these devices at the wall outlet or at the power conditioner?

I just tried the combo into my AQ Niagara 1200 PC which powers my subs instead of directly into the wall (dedicated line). And I think... its sounds better. Perhaps because it is closer to the action?

I ask this question because my main system is plugged into a Niagara AQ 7000 (another dedicated line) and plugging into that unit will require some contorting and swearing on my part to try it.

So, what is the preference?

ozzy

Well, I was hoping for other users to reply to my question, but...

I went ahead and tried the Snubway/Main Stream combo directly into my Niagara 7000 in the same first outlets that my amps are plugged into instead of the at the wall outlet(s).

The result:

Much more of the open, deep soundstage, charming results of these units. I can only conclude that placement of these units does matter. And I now believe that the closer to the "action" contributes more.

ozzy