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In the Forum: Audio Discussions
In the Thread: It’s mad, mad, mad... electricity.

Post Subject: Byzantine Empire and PurePower.Posted by Romy the Cat on: 6/20/2011

Byzantine Empire and PurePower.

spytsi wrote:
Everybody here remembers that Romy's initial acquaintance with PP products was through model 1050; at some later point he upgraded to model 2000. Since then quite a few user opinions appeared on this thread to discuss how did the PP1050 develop over the years. Where there any PP1050 users to also experience buzzing or humming of any kind? Did the —seemingly problematic— revision/upgrade for PP2000 during late 2010 also affect the sonic behavior of revised/upgraded PP1050 units in a similar manner? Were there any PP1050 users that at some point experienced similar sound from their newly purchased units, performing significantly better when running on battery than on AC regeneration mode? Any feedback on model PP3000, introduced during late 2010? It would be interesting to know, especially from thread readers that might have not yet posted their experience with PP1050 or PP3000.

I need to say honestly: I am very disrespectful to the user comments about buzzing or humming after PP2000. It is not that I disbelieve them but I do not like how they deal with the problem. The reason of buzzing or humming is DC component at the PP2000’s output. PP2000 has DC adjustment that might take care of it. IF for whatever reason the DC adjustment does not work or has no enough amplitude then the complain shall be not about DC adjustment buzzing or humming but about to high DC component. Sticking a scope into the PP2000 ass would instantly show any DC component or any asymmetry of wave. I see people complain about buzzing but I did not see then to show the actual output of their PP2000 loaded to their specific load. I found it strange at least.

About the PP3000 – I do not know the fate of it. I use to consider it but then decided to go for multiple PP2000. At that time it was reasonable decision but from what I know not it was a wrong decision as I was not able to get from multiple PP2000 the Sound the one single PP2000 outputs. As the result I have now 3 PP2000 but use only one and when I turn all my equipment on then one single PP2000 show 98% load and goes to bypass once a while. So, ironically if I would like to have both Pacific A/D and Phonostage on then I need to shut down my tuners. Very freaking comfortable! I am considering to get rid of two of my PP2000 and to get one PP3000 but I need to hear the PP3000 first as I do not know it it will sound as good as my current PP2000.

spytsi wrote:
On a side note: what does the labeling of PP models (following their 4-digit number code) stand for? Maybe "i" for international (120V), "hv" for high voltage (230V)?

I have no idea. You might clear it with PurePower, the company.

spytsi wrote:
Romy, since you are the person who discussed extensively with the manufacturers the imperative need to deal with the problems encountered on their revised PP2000 units (Nov-Dec 2010), did they recognize the need to apply this (hardware?) treatment for this bug on their entire product line (1050, 3000, both i & hv), or just on the 2000i/hv devices? Apart from implementing this treatment on their product line prospectively, did they also happen to do so retrospectively = did they fix all already stocked late-2010 PP units before being sold to customers?

I have no knowledge about it also. I do not advocate wide consumer protection but I advocate my own sound. Since the problem was addressed with my units I stop to acknowledge the problem.

spytsi wrote:
Do you think PP1050 will suffice for my needs (especially during multi-channel playback at nearly-max load), or should I opt for PP2000? I'd like to note that both systems are almost completed and no major upgrades are planned for at least the next 5 years.

It depends of what vintage of PP1050 you use. If you have older PP1050 unit from the time before PP2000 was introduced then stay away from it as far as possible. If it is current production of PP1050 that reportedly has the same bypass and protection as the PP2000 has then it might be not problem to use it. I say “might be” as I did not head the new PP1050 production and I do not know if they have any sonic difference with PP2000. They shell not but as nun said stretching a condom over a candle: never be too sure….

spytsi wrote:
PP1050hv has 4 schuko receptacles; 3 of them will be occupied by the 2 amps and power sub; all the other devices can be hooked on the 4th receptacle through a BlackNoise audio-grade power strip, or alternatively hook them on PP1050 through a power filtering device (Belkin Power Console PureAV PF50). Which solution of the two appears as more solid? Can PF50 be fed by PP1050 without any electrical or sonic "side-effects" to either device? On a theoretical basis, is it a good or a bad idea to insert a filter between PP1050 and my source/DAC/TT? I mean, could PF50 filtering cancel all the benefits of running my source/DAC/TT on regenerated power?

Alternatively, what about chaining the two devices the opposite way: use the PF50 filter to power PP1050? I guess that's similar to feeding PP2000 through the AdeptResponse units recently discussed here. Or would it be preferable to use a Kemp balanced isolator source to feed PP? BTW, can regenerators run on balanced AC?

I do not know, spytsi. On a theoretical basis it might be a good idea to put some kind of filtration to an isolated load that runs from PurePower but in practice I was not able to find anything that can run after my PP2000 that did not ruin Sound. Your mileage might wary but I kind of abandoned any other devised with I discover PP, so I do not know what is nowadays out there.

spytsi wrote:
Although I'm convinced in finding the optimal answers to these questions by personal trying-and-listening, still I'd greatly appreciate your experienced approach to this, like I would for the comments of other forum members.

Be careful with “comments of other forum members” or with my own comments at this matter. When you build your playback you shall not be caring about compliance with some kind of knowledge out there but only with the actual results you get and with compliance to your own reference point. It is not to mention that you live in own country where electricity has absolutely different problems from other countries. I would not even mention that 220V units might be very different by sound and design then 120V units. So, make your own mind with your own result and pay little attention to what people say out there.

Rgs, the Cat

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