Power conditioners/regenerators advice

I figure there's conversion at each end. Actually, yes, I am somewhat '90s! I gather there's conversion at each end. One thing I just read suggests that the power comes from the hdmi source, and is carried on copper wire to the converter at the receiver end.

Sorry, I guess this thread isn't called HDMI in the 21st Century For Dummies!

 

I pointed out that my buzz sound coming from right monitor came from pre are too close to noise source, not power related but anything is possible.

I wish to see your systems someday, mr gatekeeper.

 

Forgive the “resurrection here”, but couldn’t find any existing thread on the route I’ve gone for years:

Tice PowerBlock/Titan. I remember when these first became available (it was around 1989 or so IIRC), and at the time I was using my Oracle TT, with SME arm into an ARC SP3A (tube) preamp, into my (then) Adcom 555 Amp to my Vandersteen 2C’s… I heard it at my then local High End Dealer, where it was making various combo’s of CJ, ARC, ML and Apogees sound just, amazingly clear. (Seems folks here might say “plankton rich”). Anyways… my friend got a set (his system then was an AR SP6, driving Krell KSA250’s feeding Martin Logan Electrostats, front end: VPI with a Southern TriQuartz linear tracking arm. We both thought the improvements were much like the changes were heard when we subbed in Kimber KCAG (pure silver) interconnects between his Pre and Power ap… added clarity, deeper black ground, etc.
Keep in mind we were 100% analog then.

So, the “bit was set”. But, it was a TON of money, and, frankly when I shortly thereafter got my “life system” (see sig, still have), didn’t really consider I needed it.

Fast forward over 30 years, and several moves since. I saw a use pair in a western Mass HiEnd stereo store in Northampton. They were asking $300. I said, f-yeah! And snagged em.

Been using them ever since (about 8 years now).

Observations:
1. If you need any kind of isolation; these are amazing
2. If you suffer from improper line voltage, these’ll fix it
3. They DO hum, but not ridiculously so; frankly I don’t hear it unless I get within 2-3 feet AND have nothing playing and house is silent.
4. I like the 6 outlets they provide on the back

Other general observation on this topic/learnings over the years:
1. Try to never have Analog and Digital circuitry on the same circuit; the more you can isolate them from one another, the better
2. Always try to get who where your entire playback chain is star-grounded (to prevent ground loops). Cheaters can be your friends here
3. I’ve tried the PS regenerators, and several other “advanced” (glorified outlet strips). I thought none didn’t have disadvantages that outweighed the advantages, and especially so given the PRICING.

I’ve no desire to try out today’s expensive (4 digit upwards) fancy-schmancy power conditioning gear. Rather spend the money and time on more LP’s, or CD’s, etc.

 

this seemed like the only thread about power stuff, so I guess I'll necro this to provide some feedback on some stuff I've tried lately.

First I borrowed a Puritan PSM156 from a friend. I wanted to try this cause out of many of the conditioners on the market, this one people say doesn't diminish dynamics. I liked what this did to the sound. It was subtle, but at this level what isn't? The main things I heard were slightly cleaner treble, there was a bit of noise or hash I hadn't noticed before that was gone with the Puritan in the rig. Not a huge difference, but I was thinking I would end up getting one eventually.


Then at AXPONA Galen of Iconoclast was telling me I should get a PS Audio power regenerator instead, saying they dont increase the impedance of the line, they actually lower them. I hadn't looked much into these, so after that I did. Read some reviews and all the videos Paul at PS Audio has posted about them. Paul's hypothesis is that noise on the line isn't the issue, cause the PS Audio regenerators actually increase noise, at least out of band, in band I think its roughly the same or slightly better than the wall, but that line voltage regulation is the problem, and that lowering the output impedance of the line and regulating the voltage because of it was what really matters.


Well, then a month or so back PS Audio put the P15 on closeout for half off, so I snagged one. It got delivered while I was out of town, when I got back I threw it in and started listening, and I got to say, the difference it makes is like a order of magnitude more apparent than what the Puritan did. Even without listening to rig before putting it in after getting home, my first impression was of quite a bit more holography to the sound I was hearing, instruments and signers had more volume, 3d-ness, to them. After further comparison later on to with and without the P15, this beared out. More vivid images in the stage as well as noticeably increased depth and depth delineation to the stage.


I can only hypothesize about why this could be. But most speaker amps don't use regulated output rails, so I could see variable voltage droop with signal leading to signal correlated distortions of some kind, whereas having a more regulated wall supply greatly reduces any of those distortions. Anyways, thats just my guess.

I can't say whether the P15 is worth the 4k I paid for it for you, but to me, in my rig, where gains are getting harder and harder to come by, this brought a very worthwhile improvement to staging and realism to the images within that stage.