PurePower wrote:

We routinely operate our 230 volt models with two phase +/- 120 volt input.

After 4 days of suiting in boxes in my listening room today is my day off and I decided to dedicate it to play with the new Pure Power 3000+.

I desired to use just records and connected all amps, preamps and phonostage to old unit, disconnecting everything else. I relisted the first movement of the Tch 6, Mravinsky 1961, I know that recording very well, and even it is not the best “audio quality” it has in there all the I need to hear and even more.

Switching 5 cables to PP3000+ was no brainer.  The unit shows 50% load.  All power cables are lifted ground (in old and new units). Bothe of the PP3000 and PP3000+ are plugged into the same dedicated power line, phase A.

No, contrary to the comment I nears I have no noise from speakers of any kind, in fact it was no difference at all from noise perspective. Just for fun I measured the AC nose on the filaments of my DHT of the Milq mid channel. The folks who played with direct heated triodes know that this place is the most sensitive. I have 0.7mV with old unit and I had the very same with new. I maxed out the phonostage at its full 84dB gain. No noise of any kind, the same as with old unit. So far so good, the folks who reported that PP3000+ had “noise via loudspeakers” need to find out how to address own ground loops.

The initial sonic result is auditable instantly at the very first bar – a large portion of HF extension is not there anymore. The the glitz and confusion at HF is removed. With older unit the lower bass is slightly softer and defused, the sense of rhythm is slightly less pronounced, the first violins slightly earlier chock my own recording crescendos, the woodwinds re more lay back, more creamy, with no whistling intend. There is nothing else to say – it is as simple as that.

It is not about the proverbial HF noise however, it is more about the new definition of beat that the new unit has. The new unit injects some very definitive sense of rhythm. I can’t compare it to anything else then to bring an audio association. If you try to compare the CEC TL0 transport again peaty much anything else out there then you know what I mean. The TL0 reads very hard with spectacular rhythmical articulation.  The same rhythmical articulation the new PP3000+ feels like showing only the PP take it further: it feels like it throws some kind laser-distinctive rhythmical differences.  This new super pace is not about rapidity of sound but rather singularly of sound that is not necessary pleasurable thing. I did switched back to the old unit a few times and to a degree I do see the merits of using the old unit legato-like rhythm.  I need to listen a bit more and to get use to this super articulation of the new PP+.  Does this super verbalization make sense musically?  I do not know year, this is attractive and might be even addictive but I need to think about it. For whatever it worth the new PP3000+ looks like a new unit with very different performing capacity.  The PurePower people told me that this is basically the old unit that took many of the old unit ideas further. That might be the case but for sure this is the example where the quantitative approach did give birth to a new definition of quality. Now I need to think how this new quality might be used in context of my playback. At this point I do feel that this new super articulation has in a way always mechanical nature and I am a bit cautious about it. I need to think more about the way to use this new opportunity.

I did not measure anything, did not test bypass, buttery operation or anything else. As the initial exposure I would say the result did exceed my expectations and was well worth it. It is certainly a very new sound from Pure Power and if they learn how to make their units stable and reliable then they could stand up very arrogantly and the product they have is very unique.  The best thing so far that Pure Power took his old wonderfully sounding unit and converted it to a new generation of Pure Power sound. Considering my firm believe that they have no idea what they do (neither anybody else BTW) I was very afraid that they would kill the accidently-wonderful sound of the old PP3000. They did not do furthermore then took it to very right direction. That is very pleasant to see.  It is possible that what Pure Power does has already nothing to do with electricity itself but rather it possible that they got a grip how to pre-condition power before PS in order to make it to sound more interesting.  One way or another but I feel it is very stimulating direction to go.

Ok, it is a lot of information on my plate and I am trying to make sense of it. Below I will share my observations about the new Pure Power 3000+.

The first thing first.  In the post I made a few days back:

http://www.GoodSoundClub.com/TreeItem.aspx?PostID=19457   

I expressed the VERY exuberant feeling about the new PP3000+. The feelings were justifiable as it was truly spectacular result but unfortunately it was an erroneous observation. How little I knew that the unit I got was stuck in bypass mode and in fact was not regenerating anything – it juts sent the wall electivity to outputs. Next day when I put a scope to the outputs it I realized that it has identical voltage profile before en after the regenerator and activating/deactivating manual bypass did not make the unit to click. So, the wonderful, truly phenomenal sound that I experienced that day was the sound of the “super electricity day” (I have them a few times a year) and the PP3000+ WAS NOT responsible for that Sound. I do feel like an idiot. An interesting observation that does count: the sound of the naked electricity directly from the wall during the “super electricity day” was way more interesting than the sound of old PP3000. I did not have the new unit operation at that day and I can’t say how it would behave during the “super electricity day”.   A few audio folks around me did note that these few days electivity was spectacular for Sound.

Ok, back to the PP3000+. I called to Pure Power and they were very surprised. They claimed that among many of PP+ units they sold they never had a problem with apparent stuck relay or anything like this. I do not know how many among the new PP+ units they had 3000W units. It is possible that the relay they use across the board in the new  PP+  units is too flimsy for   3000W model but it might be juts an accidental fluke.  Furthermore the very same unit that I have they did flip back and forth at a customer before me and it was perfectly operational. Well, possible, the shit happens. They requested to return the unit and they informed me that they will hold the shipping of new units unit they inspect the unit I have and figure out why the relay stuck in bypass. I find this is a commendable behavior, perhaps they are begun to take the quality control more serious. Manville they sent me another unit that I spent time to listening it last night.

Last night the electrify was not even close to perfect and it was very auditable when I plug the whole system in the wall. It was not good at all and it had all symptoms if ill electricity. The sound of the naked way was not something that I cared.  I was wondering how the sound of new PP3000+ would stand against the older model PP3000. Beside the general curiosity if the new unit worthy sonically I would be considering to get the PP3000+ for myself. The deal on the table is ugly: no upgrade, not trade in – buy if you like it. So, naturally I was very much interested to see what the new unit does against the older one.

First thing - the mechanics.  The old 3000 unit is huge and heavy, the new is two boxed and highly manageable. This is a big plus. The unit has in addition to normal 10 or so power outlets 2 twist locks. Only God in his infinite wisdom knows what why Pure Power desired to do it. Instead to add 4 more normal power outlets they made the stupid twist locks. They promised to send the twist locks power cords, I wonder if they want to enter the business of power cords making? I hope they not. I truly wish they did not do the twist locks but they for whatever reasons are very proud of their twist locks. I never seen people complain that power receptacle is disconnect itself from the wall but I have seen a lot of people who do not have enough power receptacles – I am one of them. It is not to mention that most people will lift the grounds on the PP’s output – how will you do it with the twist locks connectors? I think that the twist locks was a big shoot themselves in foot.

Next: the Operation. This was a bit strange. The new unit claimed to be much powerful then the old one but it does not feel this way and the auto-bypass kick in the new unit sooner than old one.  When the Melquiades PS are charged it take LOT of current to saturate the huge Milq’s input chokes.  As the choke begin to charge it has virtually shorted and the inrush currant is huge a first view periods.  Considering the amount of the input chokes in Milq the inrush current is very high but as soon the chokes are charged the amp draws very stable and constant current. The old 3000 unit NEVER switched to bypass while it was charging the Milq’s input chokes. The new unit does switching itself to bypass for a second as apparently the Milq’s startup current is too much for its peak current. This is very strange as the new unit shall be more powerful and shall have might higher tolerance for peak current. The old and new units both indicate 50% load as the whole system is up, so where I do not see any excessive power of the new units.

The measurements.  I did not do a lot – just put the scope to the new and old unit with identical load. I was VERY surprised. The new unit claims significantly lower distortions and the Pure Power folks assured me that the “fuzziness” atop of the wave will be much smoother. This is very much NOT what I saw. With all problems that the older unit had it had more or less textbook sinusoid (if they were properly operating) but it is not how the new unit look at the scope.  My estimation that the new unit has at least 5-6 MORE harmonic distortions as the wave does not look nice at all. I might post the pictures of old vs. new but trust me – there is nothing to look in there, the older unit has way better sinusoid. The sinusoid crossing-zero corruption when the PP drives input choke is identical to the old units. I hope PP would be able to address it in new model but they did not.

Ergonomics. This is not good from my perspective. The display button that flips the display mode is something the people would use once or twice during the whole life of the unit. The Bypass Mode button in contrary is something the any people would use a few time a day.  You are home, listening your playback and you run the regenerator. You stopped listening and you switch the unit in Bypass Mode – to save the electricity and do not waste the regenerator to keep hot your transports, DACs, computers and the rest SS audio gear - why you do not need good power if you are not listening.  As now you need to hold two PP3000+ buttons for 5 seconds to engage and disengage the Bypass Mode – VERY uncomfortable and the indication of Bypass Mode is hardly visible from more than 3 feet. It need to be a separate bright light indicating that for Bypass Mode is On, a separate stand alone button for Bypass Mode and IR or RF remote control for Bypass Mode. This Bypass Mode button is the ONY button that user will be interacting with. BTW, it sound like the switching the unit in Bypass Mode not only does bypass but also kill the regeneration. I do not know if that is correct, PP folks need to confirm that, but as the unit runs regeneration I can hear a minor HF noise coming from most likely the  pulse transformers. In bypass Mode this noise is gone, which means the DC/DC convertor is not running

Sound. It is no brainer: the new unit does sound notably better then old one. It is across the board: bass, dynamics, HF noise, in any audible characteristic. I have no idea why the new PP+ measures so ugly and sound still better. It was very interesting to switch the new unit to operate from wall to battery (with no bypass mode). The sound is virtually the same BUT when the unit runs from battery I feel that sound is slightly less loud. I have absolutely no explanation for it.

So, it is interesting all together and I will continue to play with it for a few more days. Despite the apparent good sound that the new unit demonstrates I have to admit a very unpleasant fact: the sound of “super electricity day” was significantly more stimulating then the sound of all regenerators combined.  Saying that I need also admit that during the “super electricity day” I did not have the new PP3000+ operational. It might be, juts might be that even the “super electricity day” the PP3000+ still might be shining doing own regeneration.  This experience however was lost for now…

To summarized everything. Pure Power after the famous Chinese accident have to come up with own version made in Canada. They did. If the PP+ would be identical to older Chinese-made units then Pure Power world have logical problems. Luckily for  Pure Power, intentionally or accidently, the new PP+ units are sonically more advance then the older Pure Power units. It shall give to new PP+ some momentum. I think the main attention for Pure Power shall be functionality, stability of operation and quality control. The do have a good product in my view and I hope then would not screw it up with running away QC.

I personally feel that if Pure Power get grip over stability of own predation then they would need to come up with next version of PP+ that would lock all aspects of measurable stability across a wide range of loads. The same version has to have a luxury options. The Pure Power nit has not been look and feel like a tank that was making in 1930s. It has to have remote option (in room and IP), it has to show the operational parameters more elegantly. This is 21 century and all of those bells and whistles cost nothing nowadays. The USB plug-in with wireless IP costs now $20 and pretty much nothing in wholesale. The main issue with such devises - the Sound- looks like Pure Power got control. Now is the time to indulge the Pure Power customers with friendly and respectable operational functionality. Also, if the Pure Power feel that they know why their unit sound so good (I believe that it is accident but they insists the they know) then I would like Pure Power to try making own SS amplifier for a 150-300W, employing their PP+ power technology. It will be more then compatible on market with any another SS amps the do not use Pure Power regenerators.

Romy the Cat wrote:

It is not to mention that according to the specification the unit has 1% of THD but looking as the crooked sinusoid I can see in there at least 5%-8%. How with those THD of the power the unit sounds so good is a mystery to me! I am a bit afraid that in a few months they will fix the problem with sine wave and if I own the PP3000+ at that time I will be sorry that I did not wait.

Of course, all the mfgs. claim their AC regenerators and correctors put out perfectly shaped, perfectly clean sine waves, and they also say that this is why their devices "work" (and never mind if they don't actually work...).  But people who use the PP have claimed for some time that the PP still does what it does when the 'scope says the PP output stinks.  Does this mean the battery is superfluous?  What about the other PP users who claim that the PP sounds better unplugged from the wall, running off its battery only?  And isn't it the battery that distinguishes the PP from otherwise-similar devices that don't actually "work"?  Since the PP battery is so heavy, maybe the ticket is to sell/buy it without a battery and then DIY that part of it.




Paul S

Romy the Cat wrote:

I was keeping thinking about the new PP3000+ and if I want to get it now. This morning I had a very good listening session and a few time used the new and old units. Yes, I see a merit to get new unit. The PP3000+ has slightly better bass, significantly less pollutional HF energy and the music all together sounds less in face with it. There are a few other aspect of PP+ advantage. The Pure power give me time to Monday and they want me to buy the unit or to send it to back as they need to send it to some kind of review to west cost.  I do not need more time to conclude that I want the PP3000+ but I do not know if I want it now.  Despite the wonderful sound the PP3000+ measured dreadfully and I do not uy the Richard’s excuse that “appearance of the voltage sine wave a little less elegant, but is a small compromise for the improved specifications”. I do not know why the unit can’t output a “perfect voltage sine wave” into near resistive load, preserving all positive sonic characteristics that PP has obtained. It is not to mention that according to the specification the unit has 1% of THD but looking as the crooked sinusoid I can see in there at least 5%-8%. How with those THD of the power the unit sounds so good is a mystery to me! I am a bit afraid that in a few months they will fix the problem with sine wave and if I own the PP3000+ at that time I will be sorry that I did not wait.   Well, there is another side of the medal. In a few months when they fix the problem with sine wave they might loose the sound that PP3000+ has now and then I will be  very sorry that I did not risk with the current version of PP+. Who knows, it might be the current version of PP3000+’s sound  is unique and never will available again and by passing the opportunity I have on the table I am passing a only one of its kind chance to own a unique power regenerator.  I have seen this behavior with older Pure Power products when sometimes it took a few vintages of their products to get them to sound right.   As now I am 80% incline to get the new units even though each time I touch the Bypass buttons I curse like drunken seller – It is hugely inconvenient. Amy the Kitten proposed informed me that if I like that regenerator so much then she would like to buy it for me as a birthday present... The Cat