15-Feb-2017, 04:03
(This post was last modified: 15-Feb-2017, 04:50 by deviousalet.)
My realization of how much power conditioning can improve the Devialet sound continued.
I got a Shunyata Alpha Model-2 power conditioner, which sounded much better than the basic power strips I had tried before. Yes I've tried my D400 plugged directly into the wall with stock power cords and Shunyata Z-PC10, but I turn my Devialet off when not using them so directly plugging into the wall is highly inconvenient. The Alpha Model-2 let me unplug one cord in an accessible place to turn off the Devialet, and only sounded slightly worse than plugging into the wall. I also tried a Furman IT Reference 20I but didn't like it at all compared to either the Shunyata Alpha Model-2 or a decent basic power strip. I got a Shunyata Venom HC to power the Alpha Model-2.
Next I upgraded to a dedicated circuit using 10' of 3x12AWG solid THHN cable in a Liquidtite (metal with thermoplastic jacket) conduit directly from my breaker panel to a Leviton 8300-HW hospital-grade outlet dedicated to my Devialet (my other components plugged into another circuit). This made a huge improvement to the sound quality. It wasn't quite the difference between stock power cords and Shunyata Z-PC10, but very easily noticeable and more so than the difference between plugging directly into the wall or into the Alpha Model-2 power conditioner.
Then after having so much success with Shunyata and reading such good things I sprang for a Shunyata Denali 6000/S power conditioner. Now I've plugged all my AV system into that (the D400 into the 20A outlets and the Mac Mini, UpTone Regen, AVR, & Blu-Ray player into the 15A outlets. The Denali 6000/S immediately sounded much better than the Alpha Model-2 and sounds even better than plugging the D400 directly into the wall. Plus it has a power switch that actually turns it off, unlike a Devialet. The Denali further reduced the digital glare or harshness in records prone to that. It gave an even quieter background. I can't say that it improved transients but it didn't detract from them the way the Furman did. So the sound got better and I got the added convenience of a power switch. The only downside was a distracting blue light on the front of the Denali, which I fixed with a piece of electrical tape covering it. I got a Cerious Technologies Graphene Extreme High Current Optimized power cord with the Denali and liked it better than the Shunyata Venom HC so am using it, but it was a close call not a dramatic difference. Now I'm wondering about upgrading the stock Denali feet with Stillpoints or Darkz and upgrading power cables now that Shunyata has improved models. A bonus was that the Denali had no break in period of sounding anything but as wonderful as it does weeks later.
I think the hierarchy of power improvements so far in my system is:
1) replacing the stock power cables with better ones (Shunyata Z-PC10 in my case)
2) installing a dedicated circuit
3) the additional power filtering of the Shunyata Denali
4) better power cables for the power conditioner
I got a Shunyata Alpha Model-2 power conditioner, which sounded much better than the basic power strips I had tried before. Yes I've tried my D400 plugged directly into the wall with stock power cords and Shunyata Z-PC10, but I turn my Devialet off when not using them so directly plugging into the wall is highly inconvenient. The Alpha Model-2 let me unplug one cord in an accessible place to turn off the Devialet, and only sounded slightly worse than plugging into the wall. I also tried a Furman IT Reference 20I but didn't like it at all compared to either the Shunyata Alpha Model-2 or a decent basic power strip. I got a Shunyata Venom HC to power the Alpha Model-2.
Next I upgraded to a dedicated circuit using 10' of 3x12AWG solid THHN cable in a Liquidtite (metal with thermoplastic jacket) conduit directly from my breaker panel to a Leviton 8300-HW hospital-grade outlet dedicated to my Devialet (my other components plugged into another circuit). This made a huge improvement to the sound quality. It wasn't quite the difference between stock power cords and Shunyata Z-PC10, but very easily noticeable and more so than the difference between plugging directly into the wall or into the Alpha Model-2 power conditioner.
Then after having so much success with Shunyata and reading such good things I sprang for a Shunyata Denali 6000/S power conditioner. Now I've plugged all my AV system into that (the D400 into the 20A outlets and the Mac Mini, UpTone Regen, AVR, & Blu-Ray player into the 15A outlets. The Denali 6000/S immediately sounded much better than the Alpha Model-2 and sounds even better than plugging the D400 directly into the wall. Plus it has a power switch that actually turns it off, unlike a Devialet. The Denali further reduced the digital glare or harshness in records prone to that. It gave an even quieter background. I can't say that it improved transients but it didn't detract from them the way the Furman did. So the sound got better and I got the added convenience of a power switch. The only downside was a distracting blue light on the front of the Denali, which I fixed with a piece of electrical tape covering it. I got a Cerious Technologies Graphene Extreme High Current Optimized power cord with the Denali and liked it better than the Shunyata Venom HC so am using it, but it was a close call not a dramatic difference. Now I'm wondering about upgrading the stock Denali feet with Stillpoints or Darkz and upgrading power cables now that Shunyata has improved models. A bonus was that the Denali had no break in period of sounding anything but as wonderful as it does weeks later.
I think the hierarchy of power improvements so far in my system is:
1) replacing the stock power cables with better ones (Shunyata Z-PC10 in my case)
2) installing a dedicated circuit
3) the additional power filtering of the Shunyata Denali
4) better power cables for the power conditioner
