Thoughts on UPC-200 ?

[philodox]

Quote:

Originally Posted by akwok Power should be the last thing you do to your system. If you expect a difference, you'll hear a difference. I didn't, so I didn't hear a difference.

You can't make that sort of generalization. I could say that you did not expect a difference which is why you didn't hear one... it goes both ways. Just because you did not hear a difference does not mean that everyone who does experience one is doing so because of the placebo effect.

Anyways, power conditioning is the kind of upgrade that will be very different depending on where you live and what gear you are using. It is quite possible that your gear already has good power handling or that your power is quite clean.

 

[PhilS]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeW Hmm to much negative press here, I was hoping at least one person would chime in and say "wow when I added it to my system I noticed a signifigantly lower noise floor, blacker background and better soundstage!" like most of the ******** review claim.

Is the UPC-200 basically two Ultimate Outlets? Anyway, I added the high current Ultimate Outlet to my system and experienced a signifiantly lower noise floor and blacker background. It was definitely not placebo, as on a number of songs I could hear the last few notes of one song almost run into the next song. In other words, the gaps between songs became noticably shorter. In any event, I really like the Ultimate Outlet, but perhaps my power is noisy.

 

[philodox]

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhilS Is the UPC-200 basically two Ultimate Outlets?

From what I understand, the UPS-200 offers a significant upgrade over the High Current Ultimate Outlets... though I havent heard the UO's myself, so who knows. The product page is linked in my signature if you want to have a look.

 

[omedon]

"Balanced Power Technologies utilizes the Z-Sleeve in their flagship power conditioner"

That is something you may find interesting. You can read more about it here.

I wonder how well other power conditioners by BPT, PS AUdio, and others would perform withe one of those added. If they are marking up the part price you could save some dough by adding it yourself to any power conditioner.

 

[sacd lover]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeW Hmm to much negative press here, I was hoping at least one person would chime in and say "wow when I added it to my system I noticed a signifigantly lower noise floor, blacker background and better soundstage!" like most of the ******** review claim. I guess I can scratch this one off the very short list. The BP-1 and CPC from BPT looking interesting though. Should be able to get them wired with 2 duplex on the transformer and 3 off the transformer for 100% digital/analog isolation. When you waive the return ability (15% discount) and consider the fact that these ship with a pretty nice power cord it puts things intoer perspective, especially considering the UPC has a crap stock cord.

I just saw this post and I am one of those who likes the PS Audio power products. I have used Ultimate outlets for years. The marked positive effect on the power amp's noise floor and treble refinement in my speaker system is what I notice most ..... and this is with dedicated outlets. I have since upgraded to a UPC-200 and I notice the same positive improvements ..... but I cant say I find the 200 to perform any better than the UO's. The UPC -200 is just much more flexible with four outlets instead of two. The UPC-200is two UO's in one chassis. But you do have the option/ advantage of being able to parallel the UO's in the UPC-200's design for equipment with large current draws. I expect for power conditioning to protect my equipment, lower the noise floor and remove grunge without screwing up the sound. The UPC-200 meets my requirements better than the alternatives I have tried .... including a couple balanced power conditioners.

 

[philodox]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sacd lover The UPC-200 is two UO's in one chassis.

I don't think this is technically correct as the Ultimate Outlets use one balun while the UPC-200 uses two Ultimate Power Cells. While they may offer similar advantages and improvements there is a different technology at work.

 

[TheSloth]

As far as I understand, the Ultimate Power Cell is simply their latest incarnation of the technology that they introduced with the Ultimate Outlet. It uses the same principle, however is updated over the original version.

Note that the UO's are now discontinued in favour of the UPC.

 

[MikeW]

This is exactly what im looking for too, hmm the most attractive thing about the UPC-200 is it's small size, simplicity and relatively low price. I guess opinions will vary greatly from place to place as our power and gear is vastly different. I recently found out that my Desktop Power Supply has a built in fuse for surge protection so it should be safe to plug it straight into the wall. I've spent way to much time lately reading reviews, forums and just staring blankly at pictures of stuff lol. Im ready to just buy somthing.

Sloth did you try runing your UPC in the Parallel mode for your speaker setup? Is it possible that yours is somehow deffective? I don't think your making it up, just havent seen views quite that negative, mostly it's people claiming it works and those who say it does nothing.

People keep telling me power conditioning should be the last thing I do to my system, is there some glaring flaw in my current setup that needs to be adressed? I was thinking it's pretty well balanced at this point

Quote:

Originally Posted by sacd lover I expect for power conditioning to protect my equipment, lower the noise floor and remove grunge without screwing up the sound. The UPC-200 meets my requirements better than the alternatives I have tried .... including a couple balanced power conditioners.

 

[eyeteeth]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeW small size, simplicity and relatively low price. I've spent way to much time lately reading reviews, forums and just staring blankly at pictures of stuff lol. Im ready to just buy somthing.

I was wondering how long it was going to be before you got around to that last part.

Buy used, don't like it, sell.

I still like mine. It still hasn't annoyed me yet....so far so good. That's my final test. I haven't done the scientist thing making strict comparisons with, without this and that. I had a balanced, built like a battleship, power conditioner before and it bugged me with it's transformer's low level hum. My recent improvements I've credited more to new power cords. The UPC-200 is simple, I like simple, beit short signal paths or surge protection.

 

[MikeW]

I emailed a guy on audigon about a used like new unit for 370$. A little high but that's what they've been going for lately. Now i'll still need a good power cord for the damn thing, but that will have to wait awhile yet. I'll probably get another Magicpower as im happy with these so far. The Magicpower that powers my amp so far impressions have been Very transparent, but im currently being limited by my source, my source is alot more sensitive to power cord changes, which makes sense since it's not powered by a big ol power supply like my amp. Only thing about stock magicpower is it's an unshielded cord, which works well for my amp but a shielded design might be better for power conditioner.

 

[akwok]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeW I emailed a guy on audigon about a used like new unit for 370$. A little high but that's what they've been going for lately. Now i'll still need a good power cord for the damn thing, but that will have to wait awhile yet. I'll probably get another Magicpower as im happy with these so far. The Magicpower that powers my amp so far impressions have been Very transparent, but im currently being limited by my source, my source is alot more sensitive to power cord changes, which makes sense since it's not powered by a big ol power supply like my amp. Only thing about stock magicpower is it's an unshielded cord, which works well for my amp but a shielded design might be better for power conditioner.

Keep an eye out for mine. I might be tossing it on FS/FT for around ~$300 USD + shipping.

 

[MikeW]

Doh, i shoulda checked here first, damn. Already paid the other guy. Ah well still a decent deal was 380 shipped. Your selling yours eh?

 

[akwok]

Yeah.. I need it to finance another purchase, hehe!

I also need to get my hands on a VDA-2.. hard to decide between Omega II, VDA-2, or Lavry.

 

[MikeW]

Im looking at a PS Audio 2M Power Punch for the conditioner off Audigon for 52$ shipped, and a Power Port for 40$. That seems like a steal for the Super Punch cord, anyone use these cords with sucess? I know Mark dosent like them, but i've seen a few headfiers with positive comments. At that price it would be easy enough to resale for minimal loss.

 

[omedon]

$40 for the powerport is the retail price. Though they usually go for that, I may have seen them for $35 sometimes though.

I like the coating method behind the powerport but at that price you may also want to consider the Acme Audio Labs Cryo Silver which the late Bob Crump considered a worthwhile improvement over P&S 5266.

Also IIRC MarkL was reviewing the XStream Plus not the power punch.