Audience adeptResponse Power Conditioner

You wouldn't put 87 octane in your Ferrari, now would you? The $3800 Audience adeptResponse (yes, spelling is correct) is a mini-refinery for the electric crude pumped out of your walls:

"At $3800, the Audience adeptResponse is not inexpensive, but given its ability to improve the sound of everything connected to it, I feel that it is worth every penny. Audio gear is always about compromise. The Audience adeptResponse is the first and only component I have experienced that represents zero compromise."

Zero compromise is, of course, relative. Just wait a couple weeks for someone comes out with a $20k zero ZERO compromise juice box.

Audience
Audience adeptResponse Review [Positive Feedback]

| Permalink | Power Conditioners | Posted by Josh Ray on Nov 12 '05

BPT PPC Power Strip

The most unimpressive piece of equipment you'll ever own, the power strip from Balanced Power Technology actually makes a dramatic improvement in all of your gear. Amazing, isn't it, that power strips, power cords and outlets can undo the noisy crud coming out of the rat-eaten cables in your walls?

The BPT PPC starts at $149 for the standard model which, according to the review, is practically a must. Price goes up to $499 depending on the quality of the outlets. Add $200 for Bybee quantum filters which, um, filter quantum noise, naturally. $50 for ERS electromagnetic shielding on the inside and $25 for brass feet. So, yeah, $775 for a power strip providing no power conditioning or surge protection. Is it worth it? Paul Candy of 6Moons says he's buying one.

BPT PPC Review [6Moons]
Balanced Power Technology

| Permalink | Power Conditioners | Posted by Josh Ray on Aug 10 '05

Shunyata Hydra Power Conditioners

Since we posted on the continual power conditioner battle yesterday, it only makes sense to bring out another big player in the juice game. Shunyata's Hydra series gets universally awesome reviews and this one from Stereo Times is no different. What separates these guys from the rest of the pack is a whole bunch of proprietary technologies (far more than I could go into here). If you check out Shunyata's site, you'll see reference after reference to all the people (both pros and otherwise) who use the Hydras, more than any other company I know of. Prices run $395 for the two outlet version, $695 for four outlets, $995 for six outlets and $1995 for the eight outlet model shown.

Shunyata Hydra Review [Stereo Times]
Shunyata Home

COMMENTS (1) | Permalink | Power Conditioners | Posted by Josh Ray on Jul 28 '05

Richard Gray's RGPC 600s Power Conditioner

Described as a "power reservoir," Richard Gray's Power Company RGPC 600s brings 6000 watts of purification into the mix. Anthony Lim of Star Audiophile says:

"Both picture quality and sound performance had quite a bit lopped off them after I removed the RGPC and linked up everything back to the soundstage (remove the soundstage after that, and you’ll wonder how you ever got along without anything before)."

Richard Gray has stiff competition with the likes of PS Audio and Audiophile APS, not to mention Shunyata and others. The RGPC runs $1295 and usually gets pretty high marks when compared head to head against other conditioners.

Richard Gray's Power Company RGPC 600s Review [Star Online Audiophile]
Richard Gray's Power Company

Permalink | | Posted to Power Conditioners

Audiophile APS 1050 Power Conditioner

Audiophile APS brings something unique into the power-conditioning mix: total battery isolation. Basically, they take a huge battery, put some outlets on the back and tweak it for sonic bliss. So once you plug all your gear into the APS, you'll be completely free of the electrical muck provided by your refrigerators, air conditioners and whirlpools.

Audiophilia likes the APS's 1050 watts of isolated power, proclaiming a "lower noise floor" and an "increase in black background." APS's unique approach does seem to have some benefits over traditional filters and regenerators, but check out the review for detailed comparisons and a valiant attempt to describe what "nothing" sounds like. Prices run $2495 for the 1050 watt version, $2195 for 700 watts and $1795 for 500 watts. Check out their website for loads of other details and reviews.

Audiophile APS 1050 Power Conditioner Review [Audiophilia]
Audiophile APS Home

Permalink | | Posted to Power Conditioners

Review: PS Audio UPC-200 Power Center

Ah, power conditioning. For those reading who don't believe sticking a box between the wall and your shiny gear makes a difference, well, your loss.

The UPC-200 is PS Audio's second newest power conditioner (their UPC-200HB version adds hum-busting power) and costs $499. PS Audio has been around a long time and won numerous awards for their larger, more "effective" Power Plants (which start at $1500) as well as their excellent digital amps. Though not the only power conditioner out there, the UPC-200 is PS Audio's cheapest solution and a great place to begin. Paul Taatjes says it best:

"...there is no question as to the UPC-200's effect on my video system. I am not talking about any increased detail or more 3D video images, but a total correction of a major issue I was having."

With four outlets, you may not be able to plug all your gear into one UPC. Then again, the benefits of conditioning vary depending on the type of equipment. Check out the review - this may be just what you need.

PS Audio UPC-200 Power Conditioner [SHTHF]
PS Audio [PS Audio]

Permalink | | Posted to Power Conditioners