Your experience with power conditioners / regenerators

It Cost How Much!?!

Twisted
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Having had other mains source devices in the past (and still using a DC filter on one system), I took a punt on an second user PS Audio Power Plant Premier AC mains regenerator, on the grounds of good reviews and it doesn't have a fan!

Well, what an improvement, I was sceptical after my last regenerator actually made things worse and sold it on. The only downside I can see is that my system is now a little brighter, very odd. Dynamics, clarity, imaging, micro detail all better.
 

Beobloke

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I'm sure I've told this story before but when I first joined Hi-Fi World, a power regenerator had been sitting awaiting review for months, and Noel told me to give it a go.

I duly plugged it in, in the listening room (Central London - right near the power station, mains high most of the time) and it made sod all difference. Absolutely no change.

I told him this so he suggested I try it at home (Hampshire countryside, old overheard power lines, regular power cuts) and the results couldn't have been more different. On a power amp or my turntable at the time (Garrard 301 - direct AC mains motor) it made a noticeable difference. No change with CD player/preamp but, then, that's not unexpected.

I do still have it and it's still great but it's getting a bit of a mechanical hum in its old age, so I don't use it so much these days.
 
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It Cost How Much!?!

Twisted
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Bob
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I'm sure I've told this story before but when I first joined Hi-Fi World, a power regenerator had been sitting awaiting review for months, and Noel told me to give it a go.

I duly plugged it in, in the listening room (Central London - right near the power station, mains high most of the time) and it made sod all difference. Absolutely no change.

I told him this so he suggested I try it at home (Hampshire countryside, old overheard power lines, regular power cuts) and the results couldn't have been more different. On a power amp or my turntable at the time (Garrard 301 - direct AC mains motor) it made a noticeable difference. No change with CD player/preamp but, then, that's not unexpected.

I do still have it and it's still great but it's getting a bit of a mechanical hum in its old age, so I don't use it so much these days.
In my last house, regenerators were useless in the basement, but were much better in one of the bedroom systems. Same mains coming into the house, but different mains spurs.
 

Fourlegs

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Having had other mains source devices in the past (and still using a DC filter on one system), I took a punt on an second user PS Audio Power Plant Premier AC mains regenerator, on the grounds of good reviews and it doesn't have a fan!

Well, what an improvement, I was sceptical after my last regenerator actually made things worse and sold it on. The only downside I can see is that my system is now a little brighter, very odd. Dynamics, clarity, imaging, micro detail all better.
Yeah, I had a PS Audio P10 and it made my system a bit brighter/ harder in the treble and ultimately fatiguing. You say your dynamics, clarity, imaging and micro detail were better but I suggest that they are all being artifiucially emphasised rather than being better. I sold it and all was well. I did buy a mains regenerator from a UK company and that had the same effect. I sent that back to the manufacturer and got a refund.
 

Ceko

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I’m quite interested in buying one of these regenerator things as I want to invest in solar panels and I heard they will mess up the mains line a littlebit. Anyone experience with that?
 

CnoEvil

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Yeah, I had a PS Audio P10 and it made my system a bit brighter/ harder in the treble and ultimately fatiguing. You say your dynamics, clarity, imaging and micro detail were better but I suggest that they are all being artifiucially emphasised rather than being better. I sold it and all was well. I did buy a mains regenerator from a UK company and that had the same effect. I sent that back to the manufacturer and got a refund.
That is exactly what happened me with an Isol 8 one.

The best I heard (not at home) was an Atlas Balanced Mains Transformer....which they discontinued due to the increased price of Copper making it unviable.
 
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Fourlegs

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That is exactly what happened me with an Isol 8 one.

The best I heard (not at home) was an Atlas Balanced Mains Transformer....which they discontinued due to the increased price of Copper making it unviable.
Well, I went down a similar route and got a Plixir Balanced Mains Transformer. It was the best thing I ever did with my mains.
 

Fourlegs

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I’m quite interested in buying one of these regenerator things as I want to invest in solar panels and I heard they will mess up the mains line a littlebit. Anyone experience with that?
With both of the regenerators I had, they both fired a significant amount of noise back into the wall sockets (I measured it).
 

Nativebon

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That is exactly what happened me with an Isol 8 one.

The best I heard (not at home) was an Atlas Balanced Mains Transformer....which they discontinued due to the increased price of Copper making it unviable.
Had the the same also with the Isol 8. Just bright and thin sounding.
 

Warszawa

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There's an ongoing spat between Amir and PS Audio about these that is worth a bucket of popcorn if anyone is interested. I'll resist the temptation to provide a link.

Personally, I use an Olsen mains block and some entry level MCRU cables for everything and it sounds great with no perceived variation so thats me done with mains. I may well revisit the subject if the upgradeitis continues once everything else has had its final upgrade .

The thing is, there is no device that suits my precise needs AFAIK. I wouldn't mind a regenerator for the turntable, perhaps some sources, but everything I've seen suggests they're a no-no for amps as even the big ones drop some dynamic power output, so I'd want a rack width box with 6 outputs with a combination of regeneration and (high power) conditioning.

Besides, this is one of those situations where the product should only be necessary if you've got a clearly audible problem such as transformer hum or clicks when the fridge comes on. Your devices run on DC and any half decent rectifier and in-built filter shouldn't be bothered by fluctuation mains voltage or noise. That said, any high end DAC should reject noise and jitter from the source and any high end streamer should handle a noisy network no problem. That doesn't stop us audiophiles buying "belt and braces" devices for peace of mind, does it.
 

Fourlegs

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There's an ongoing spat between Amir and PS Audio about these that is worth a bucket of popcorn if anyone is interested.
No thanks. 😜

Besides, this is one of those situations where the product should only be necessary if you've got a clearly audible problem such as transformer hum or clicks when the fridge comes on.
I have 250V mains most of the time and I was interested in being able to use the mains regenerator to tame that (My valve amps didn’t like that many volts shoved up their backsides!). Both the regenerators I tried were very successful at taming the voltage but the sound quality cost was too great to bear.

Your devices run on DC and any half decent rectifier and in-built filter shouldn't be bothered by fluctuation mains voltage or noise. That said, any high end DAC should reject noise and jitter from the source and any high end streamer should handle a noisy network no problem.
I am finding it difficult to tell just how far your tongue is pressed into your cheek when making those statements! I am sort of assuming you are not being serious with any of them !! 😜 🤣
 

lazycat

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There's an ongoing spat between Amir and PS Audio about these that is worth a bucket of popcorn if anyone is interested. I'll resist the temptation to provide a link.

Personally, I use an Olsen mains block and some entry level MCRU cables for everything and it sounds great with no perceived variation so thats me done with mains. I may well revisit the subject if the upgradeitis continues once everything else has had its final upgrade .

The thing is, there is no device that suits my precise needs AFAIK. I wouldn't mind a regenerator for the turntable, perhaps some sources, but everything I've seen suggests they're a no-no for amps as even the big ones drop some dynamic power output, so I'd want a rack width box with 6 outputs with a combination of regeneration and (high power) conditioning.

Besides, this is one of those situations where the product should only be necessary if you've got a clearly audible problem such as transformer hum or clicks when the fridge comes on. Your devices run on DC and any half decent rectifier and in-built filter shouldn't be bothered by fluctuation mains voltage or noise. That said, any high end DAC should reject noise and jitter from the source and any high end streamer should handle a noisy network no problem. That doesn't stop us audiophiles buying "belt and braces" devices for peace of mind, does it.
Since stepping away from 'flat-earth' amps I've had no problems with clicks/pops and other mains malarkey.

And no switch on/off thumps for that matter.
Thank you Denon.
 
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Warszawa

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I am finding it difficult to tell just how far your tongue is pressed into your cheek when making those statements! I am sort of assuming you are not being serious with any of them !! 😜 🤣
I am honestly fairly agnostic on such things as I’ve had varied experiences.

For example, as I recall, Mr Watts advocates using a laptop or phone with his DACs, such is the jitter performance, but I heard clear differences between a MacBook and an Aurender into the Hugo TT, despite its galvanic isolation.

On the flip side, the fabled Cisco Switch made no difference in my system, nor does pulling the cable during playback.

All my gear has well implemented linear power supplies. I get no obvious ill effects from the mini fridge, router or electric radiators in my listening room, but I wouldn’t rule out trying some form of mains treatment, just to be sure.
 
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Snoopdog

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My two cents!

I have used Vertex balanced mains products on my source components since 2008 (Elbrus - now relegated to A/V system).

As my system has grown and the demand for more outlets with it, I now use an Alethiea (Vertex) PSU2, which has been designed around the principles of reducing RFI/EMI and microphony in the system infrastructure. From the IEC input socket, the feed is filtered by the shunt input filter. This shunt input filter does not add any inline restriction to current flow and is designed primarily to be working at very high radio frequencies. Next, the feed splits and the first line passes through an acoustic absorption module, then to the bypassed output sockets. This arrangement provides the feed for power amplification - it has been well conditioned by the shunt input filter, and has the acoustic absorption module inline to lower the progress of vibration from the domestic mains wiring, into your power amps. This also blocks the feedback of vibration from your amps and into the feed to the balanced section!

Next is the feed to the balanced section, which is taken through it's own acoustic absorption module keeping the feed to the transformer (limited to 300 watts continuous output) as acoustically quiet as possible and also draining back any vibration that maybe generated by the transformer itself.The balanced mains transformer is wound to the ratio of 1 : 1 , but the output winding is centre tapped to ground, to produce the anti phase 115V at each end of the output winding. The transformer is mounted in it's own poly box, with an acoustic absorption labyrinth to drain vibration away from the transformer itself - a very important factor for the performance of this PSU. The box is decoupled from the chassis with soft rubber mountings.

The balanced transformer brings the significant benefit of 'common mode noise rejection'! So, any noise picked up, will be exactly the same on both of the balanced lines, so there is no net differential from this noise, across the power supply in the source components.

Finally, each of the four balanced feeds is fitted with it's own combined acoustic absorption and RFI filter module, minimising any interactions between each source component connected, particularly with high frequency vibration and RFI coming back from digital processing.

Because I have a requirement for mains distribution to eight separate source components, I slave a second Quiescent (formerly Vertex AQ) HiRez Taga Balanced mains distribution unit from one of the two unlimited bypassed feeds on the PSU2.

I find that the audible benefits of balanced mains distribution (done properly) manifest as a very low system noise floor, coupled with great transparency and and more palpable, richer presence to individual instruments, being smoother, more detailed and less fatiguing (especially with digital source components).
 
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m7rso

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Well, i have a mains conditioner which was a gift from my son. Changes mains to battery and then back supposedly making the electric feed perfect. I use it with cd player and anything wall wort. Made a difference to the cd, though I believe it shouldn't, less harsh and more lovely is my expert opinion and review. I am almost on top of a main electricity station that supplies a lot of Liverpool at Lister Drive. we both noticed the difference and i wouldn't be without it. Meant to add, a slab of granite under the same cd bettered the sound also…who would have thunk it!
 
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MF 1000

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I run a huge airlink balanced supply through a Isotek Minisub….tbh I’ve never done a back to back listen with and without etc ….sounds good as it it
 
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lower bullens

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Well, i have a mains conditioner which was a gift from my son. Changes mains to battery and then back supposedly making the electric feed perfect. I use it with cd player and anything wall wort. Made a difference to the cd, though I believe it shouldn't, less harsh and more lovely is my expert opinion and review. I am almost on top of a main electricity station that supplies a lot of Liverpool at Lister Drive. we both noticed the difference and i wouldn't be without it. Meant to add, a slab of granite under the same cd bettered the sound also…who would have thunk it!
Whenever I read Lister Drive my brain adds “baths” not that I ever went.
 
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