gsferrari
Member of the Trade: Veda Audio Contributor
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2003
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DISCLAIMER
The following observations are purely from my listening perspective. I arrived at these conclusions using my equipment and my ears. I leave you to infer what you want from this thread. Please be civil in whatever discussions/debates you feel inclined to indulge in. Thank you.
Power conditioner used : Monster HTS-3500 Reference
Amplifier : Rudistor RP5 Reference
Headphones : Sennheiser HD-650
Source : Sony DVP-NS500V
Cables : Glassman Cable for HD-650/Bogdan Princess IC's
OBSERVATION
WITH the power conditioner in the power supply picture the sound was cleaner. NOTE that BOTH the amp and source were connected to the power conditioner in this case. The slight grainyness (Sony source related) was alleviated to an extent. The bottom end was a little subdued but tighter. This is something I was not sure I liked or not. The midrange retained its presence. Highs seemed a bit more "Clean" BUT this was my first impression...changed with some extended listening. Soundstage definitely suffered. the free sound/euphoria feeling was gone and replaced with a sort of dry claustrophobia. The power conditioner seemed to sap all dynamism out of the amplifier making it sound very very clean but lifeless.
WITHOUT the power conditioner and the amplifier connected to the wall (source still connected to the power conditioner) the system came to life. Bottom end deepened and retained most of the tightness (with stereophile test CD tracks) while bloating out with the bass guitar and low frequency trumpets - not something I found offensive...seemed more natural. However mids and highs were clearly opened up...more "free" sounding. No more congested and dry sound...just an open, wide and to an extent "unrefined" (with a bit of noticeable graininess in the mids and highs...nothing to worry about and certainly not something you will hate considering the gains made in other sonic areas). Another issue with using a crappy wall outlet (unless you have a dedicated line) in a crowded apartment complex is that you may find the image shifting between L and R slightly...altering perception and balance of the sonic image. This happens more in the early morning and throught the night. It is almost absent during the day...
This is fixed by the Power Conditioner.
In short - I think a high current, class-A amplifier should be given a dedicated line and should not be restricted with a power conditioner unless absolutely necessary. I dont know if this applies to all power conditioners but the Monster HTS series certainly does the job with sources and DACs etc...not necessarily the same effect with amps.
CONCLUSION
Wall Outlet -> Tube/Class-A Amplifier
Power Conditioner -> Source / DAC / Solid State / Non-class-A amplifier
I will still need a conditioner but my amp will not use its "clean" power output
(But if this mild channel/balance shifting continues during the night I may have to revert to the power conditioner at the cost of certain little sonic niggles that I really shouldnt be worrying about
)
Now you guys can have at it
I would like an explanation why balance shifting occurs with bad power. Is it because if inequal + and - swings of the AC waveform?
The following observations are purely from my listening perspective. I arrived at these conclusions using my equipment and my ears. I leave you to infer what you want from this thread. Please be civil in whatever discussions/debates you feel inclined to indulge in. Thank you.
Power conditioner used : Monster HTS-3500 Reference
Amplifier : Rudistor RP5 Reference
Headphones : Sennheiser HD-650
Source : Sony DVP-NS500V
Cables : Glassman Cable for HD-650/Bogdan Princess IC's
OBSERVATION
WITH the power conditioner in the power supply picture the sound was cleaner. NOTE that BOTH the amp and source were connected to the power conditioner in this case. The slight grainyness (Sony source related) was alleviated to an extent. The bottom end was a little subdued but tighter. This is something I was not sure I liked or not. The midrange retained its presence. Highs seemed a bit more "Clean" BUT this was my first impression...changed with some extended listening. Soundstage definitely suffered. the free sound/euphoria feeling was gone and replaced with a sort of dry claustrophobia. The power conditioner seemed to sap all dynamism out of the amplifier making it sound very very clean but lifeless.
WITHOUT the power conditioner and the amplifier connected to the wall (source still connected to the power conditioner) the system came to life. Bottom end deepened and retained most of the tightness (with stereophile test CD tracks) while bloating out with the bass guitar and low frequency trumpets - not something I found offensive...seemed more natural. However mids and highs were clearly opened up...more "free" sounding. No more congested and dry sound...just an open, wide and to an extent "unrefined" (with a bit of noticeable graininess in the mids and highs...nothing to worry about and certainly not something you will hate considering the gains made in other sonic areas). Another issue with using a crappy wall outlet (unless you have a dedicated line) in a crowded apartment complex is that you may find the image shifting between L and R slightly...altering perception and balance of the sonic image. This happens more in the early morning and throught the night. It is almost absent during the day...
In short - I think a high current, class-A amplifier should be given a dedicated line and should not be restricted with a power conditioner unless absolutely necessary. I dont know if this applies to all power conditioners but the Monster HTS series certainly does the job with sources and DACs etc...not necessarily the same effect with amps.
CONCLUSION
Wall Outlet -> Tube/Class-A Amplifier
Power Conditioner -> Source / DAC / Solid State / Non-class-A amplifier
I will still need a conditioner but my amp will not use its "clean" power output
Now you guys can have at it