Live Stream Multitest - Power Conditioning - Do power conditioners sound differently?

This has been the most entertaining and funny live streams I have ever watched😂. And very informative too.

I've had a lot of questions about these things, and these models in particular. Thanks for finally bringing clarity to the subject. Very good video, indeed!

Good stuff! I just happened to get me a PSM156 and was very surprised how much it improved the sound of my system (stage width, depth, spacial cues, etc.) However, in the first day it sort of tamed the transients a little, which I was not too happy about. By day 3 it “opened up” so no transient masking, huge dynamics and just wonderful sound. So yeah, it definitely needs burn-in time.

Awesome testing thanks

Amazing work guys! Thank you.

Great work!!

Thanks so much for going to all this effort. 🙂

Nice job, thanks guys!

A huge thanks to the team for this super fun and illuminating test! I appreciate the work and time commitment involved and I hope these will continue - I for one look forward to these sessions, and the way they are presented makes us feel a part of the the group. I have the PSM156 feeding my power and pre and it was journey of burn-in; beginning slightly harsh, quickly settling to become warm but rolled-off, and then (after about 2-3 weeks) becoming more detailed, spacious and balanced (did it change or did I? 😅). I think your conclusions and guidance are 100% - try before you buy, and check to see if the manufacturers also offer the option of 30 day return.

I find the tests you do very interesting and your efforts are much appreciated! I must confess I am studying the results of your videos and it is not like work for me.   .

There are a lot of drop outs during first track, but you realized it. Thank you.

Very nice job again!

...and I have been listening to the AudioQuest Niagra 1200 and it certainly seems the better sound is from the low power plugs. Much better. Your livestream gave me the idea to try it out.

Not watched the whole video just yet (1:01:22 in so far) so not sure if you covered this later on, but the Puritan PSM136 and more expensive PSM156 you were using both have very effective DC blocking already built in to them (as well as their various levels of filtering for common and differential mode noise). Thought I’d mention this in case it’s of use for anyone 👍. [EDIT - I see you did pick up on the built in DC blocking - but query if the unit you have has been burnt in, as they particularly warn customers to burn in for min of 100 hours before it realises its full potential. Maybe it opens up and is less “rounded” after? Also everyone who’s tried says their upgraded Puritan power cable to the unit, instead of their standard one makes a huge improvement. Just thought I’d add this

You should add a Shunyata Denali V2 to the mix. Incredible what the Alpha and Sigma bring to the table.

The Puritan 156 alway requires three days of break in and it’s companion Ground Master to hear its full potential.

We had severe connection problems at the start, so up until time mark 29:10 you will experience a few strange cuts in the video and sound. That is where the stream dropped. Sorry about that, but we don't know why this happened. Furthermore: When we test a filter, we had the plug of the Rega Planet CD player, the plug of the Weiss DAC and the plug of the Earmen power supply, which feeds the Earmen preamp, in the device we test. The plug of the power amplifier is always in the Supra power block and is not filtered. 05:18 - introduction of the set. 13:42 - the order of the test explained. 17:51 - the music used in this test (from cd). 21:33 - everything in a Supra power block (first try). 23:15 - livestream interuption, due to bad connection. We had to restart. 29:10 - restart of the livestream. 30:35 - everything in a Supra power block (retry). 42:48 - Jaap is checking the polarity of all plugs. 48:22 - everything in the Supra power block, but now with polarity of the plugs checked. 55:21 - Jaap explains a parallel filter plug (and zap's himself). 58:05 - The function of the Isotek Syncro explained, to block DC. 01:01:20 - Rega planet and Weiss Dac in the Isotek Gemini, which is fed from the Isotek Syncro. 01:11:35 - Puritan PSM156 power conditioner explained. 01:20:00 - Listening with the Puritan PSM156. 01:29:00 - Isotek Aquarius Evo3 explained. 01:30:45 - Listening with the Aquarius Evo3. 01:34:53 - Isotek Aquarius V5 explained. 01:36:38 - Listening with the Aquarius V5. 01:43:20 - Audioquest Powerquest 707 explained. 01:46:04 - Listening with the Powerquest 707, plugs in low current outputs. 01:48:05 - Listening with the Powerquest 707, plugs in high current outputs 01:56:33 - Listening to the Powerquest 707, fed from the Isotek Syncro, plugs in high current output. 02:01:47 - Listening without any filtering, back to the Supra power block only. 02:04:15 - Conclusion. 02:11:14 - The next live stream. Music used: They say it’s wonderful, Johnny Hartman & John Coltrane, album Coltrane & Hartman, 1963 Spiral Stairs, Mammal Hands, album Captured Spirits, 2020 Speakers and amplification: Tannoy Super Gold Monitor (SGM) 15 Yamaha B2 power amplifier EarMen CH-amp preamplifier EarMen PSU-3 power supply Source: Rega Planet CD transport Weiss DAC2 Studio D2, Nieuwplaatz, Leiden

Great! I moved from the city (apartment complexes) to villa area with lots of wall box chargers and solar panels around, including some on my own roof. DC was MUCH worse in the city, to the point where I could not block it properly with any of the Supra DC blockers. Out here the blocker works well.

Would be interesting your opinion on the Stromtank, I'd several years Audioquest Niagara and since owning S1000 Stromtank it is quite shocking how good battery-pack can be. Thanks a lot for your heavy-duty work, keep going!! 😊😊

hey guys.. thanks for the work .. fun to watch, entertaining, ..(although maybe next time test it with streamers/DACs/amps of the 2020s.. ;-)) I am thinking of upgrading my power supplies.. so one question, one comment: which power filtering system/ conditioner or whatever to use for devices with switch mode power supplies?? ( I own a decent Linn streamer/DAC ) ... how about power regenerators i.e. ps audio.. that ok for switch mode device + torroidal in one system ?? .. you know, its hard for normal customers to test this amount of devices at home and only keep the best one for your system...