mikeg
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- May 4, 2002
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I read several reviews of the PS Audio Ultimate Outlet while making a decision to buy one. What follows is a listing of benefits that I found in, and extracted from these reviews. In my own brief tests, I confirmed some of these reviewers' observations, and since I don't plan to do further testing, I'll just accept their other observations. I'm providing this list for the benefit of others, and also as a list of useful descriptors regarding our audiophile hobby. My summary of the reviewers' observations is as follows:
Benefits From Using the Ultimate Outlet
Increased sense of reverberation, and seemingly longer decay.
Improved definition and separation between instruments.
Piano sounds are richer and less veiled.
Voices are more open and natural sounding, and it's easy to hear them trail off on
different vocal notes.
Music sounded sweeter, and had better depth.
One can almost feel the texture of the sound, and dynamics are better.
Vocals sounded livelier, the soundstage seemed taller, and instruments had more room to
breathe and spread out.
There is a lowering of the noise floor.
The best improvement is heard in the background vocals. The detail is increased, and
there is more air around all the vocals and instruments.
There is the effect of cleaning up the midrange and top end just a bit. Excessively
piercing, and too-hot sounds are reduced just a bit, and made more listenable.
There is a change in the tonal balance of a system; i.e., the sound becomes considerably
brighter. There is a considerable decrease in grain, with a corresponding increase in
coherence.
The clear reduction in grain allows one to hear much more clearly what each musician is
doing, and the increased leading edge clarity gives each note its correct placement within
the piece.
There is more clarity in the sound, the soundstage is a bit deeper, and the instruments are
placed tighter in the sound field. Also, the shape and size of the instruments are more
defined.
Upper frequencies are clearer; the sound is not so edgy in some recordings that used to
sound a bit edgy. The whole soundstage is more relaxed. Additional details are apparent
in the upper frequencies, but they are just there, without making a statement. The sound
is also more polite, showing upper frequency details without underlining them every time.
The lower region sound deeper, but more controlled.
The space increases and voices are mellower and more distinct
The bass is tight and full.
There is a definite improvement in vocals and soundstage.
Snare drums sound better, especially when there was a sharp hit to it. With piano, the
hard attacks of the high tones are more natural and clear. The shape of a singer is in
many cases more defined, and the singer is placed more in the spot, without moving a bit
in the sound field. The same observation apply to instrument placement.
Everything sounds quieter, clearer, and more transparent.
When paying attention to truth of timbre, soundstage width, micordynamics, bass
extension, clarity of highs, transparency, and overall musicality, in every case the
listening experience deepened.
Results When Connecting Directly to Wall Outlets (i.e., w/o an Ultimate Outlet)
There are adverse effects to the sound of horns, i.e., they came across as less defined.
Voices are more sibilant, and soundstage width is smaller.
The soundstage seems to shrink. There is also a slight edginess to the sound - a rough
quality that detracts from the presentation.
Hiss is more noticeable on top of the music.
The sound is slightly harsher and more grainy.
Benefits From Using the Ultimate Outlet
Increased sense of reverberation, and seemingly longer decay.
Improved definition and separation between instruments.
Piano sounds are richer and less veiled.
Voices are more open and natural sounding, and it's easy to hear them trail off on
different vocal notes.
Music sounded sweeter, and had better depth.
One can almost feel the texture of the sound, and dynamics are better.
Vocals sounded livelier, the soundstage seemed taller, and instruments had more room to
breathe and spread out.
There is a lowering of the noise floor.
The best improvement is heard in the background vocals. The detail is increased, and
there is more air around all the vocals and instruments.
There is the effect of cleaning up the midrange and top end just a bit. Excessively
piercing, and too-hot sounds are reduced just a bit, and made more listenable.
There is a change in the tonal balance of a system; i.e., the sound becomes considerably
brighter. There is a considerable decrease in grain, with a corresponding increase in
coherence.
The clear reduction in grain allows one to hear much more clearly what each musician is
doing, and the increased leading edge clarity gives each note its correct placement within
the piece.
There is more clarity in the sound, the soundstage is a bit deeper, and the instruments are
placed tighter in the sound field. Also, the shape and size of the instruments are more
defined.
Upper frequencies are clearer; the sound is not so edgy in some recordings that used to
sound a bit edgy. The whole soundstage is more relaxed. Additional details are apparent
in the upper frequencies, but they are just there, without making a statement. The sound
is also more polite, showing upper frequency details without underlining them every time.
The lower region sound deeper, but more controlled.
The space increases and voices are mellower and more distinct
The bass is tight and full.
There is a definite improvement in vocals and soundstage.
Snare drums sound better, especially when there was a sharp hit to it. With piano, the
hard attacks of the high tones are more natural and clear. The shape of a singer is in
many cases more defined, and the singer is placed more in the spot, without moving a bit
in the sound field. The same observation apply to instrument placement.
Everything sounds quieter, clearer, and more transparent.
When paying attention to truth of timbre, soundstage width, micordynamics, bass
extension, clarity of highs, transparency, and overall musicality, in every case the
listening experience deepened.
Results When Connecting Directly to Wall Outlets (i.e., w/o an Ultimate Outlet)
There are adverse effects to the sound of horns, i.e., they came across as less defined.
Voices are more sibilant, and soundstage width is smaller.
The soundstage seems to shrink. There is also a slight edginess to the sound - a rough
quality that detracts from the presentation.
Hiss is more noticeable on top of the music.
The sound is slightly harsher and more grainy.
