iFi audio PowerStation - The Official Thread

[AMR/iFi audio]

Power to the people

iFi’s new PowerStation mains block uses Active Noise Cancellation to deliver a whole-system clean-power solution for high-performance audio/AV systems.

Southport, England – The PowerStation is the latest addition to iFi’s collection of performance-enhancing audio essentials – a six/eight-way mains block that ensures any audio or AV system is supplied with clean, consistent electricity to unleash its full potential.

 

Every audio system can be tainted by poor mains quality – a problem that affects many of us, especially those living in towns and cities. The quality of our mains power is further eroded by the abundance of cheap switch-mode power supplies in typical household appliances and the sea of RFI/EMI in which we are constantly bathed. The signals that move loudspeaker drive units are electrical; if the ‘unrefined fuel’ from which these signals are formed – the power we feed our systems – is corrupted, the negative impact on sound quality is inevitable.

 

iFi manufactures a number of highly effective products that reduce ‘noise’ (distortion) in incoming electrical power – both directly from the mains or via USB ports – but the PowerStation is the first to offer the company’s proprietary Active Noise Cancellation in a whole-system, six/eight-outlet mains solution.

 

Intelligent technology to tackle a universal problem

The PowerStation’s core performance–enhancing technology is Active Noise Cancellation II – the latest version of iFi’s proprietary noise-busting tech. Most power ‘conditioning’ products engage passive noise reduction through a selection of filters and regulators. Whilst this can be effective, it has inherent disadvantages compared to iFi’s active system, which uses inverse noise current to cancel out the noise in the mains signal. The way this works is not unlike the technology in noise-cancelling headphones.

 

Noise in the mains supply occurs at different frequencies, depending on the cause. Passive noise reduction systems are effective at the top end of the frequency spectrum but tend to be less so at lower frequencies. In addition, passive systems need large capacitors to be truly effective, which make the best such products bulky and expensive.

 

iFi’s Active Noise Cancellation II is effective in reducing noise consistently across the entire frequency spectrum, by approximately -40dB. This is coupled to additional passive filtering on each outlet to eradicate noise at the very highest frequencies – typically caused by wireless transmission systems. The result is an affordable mains bar that delivers highly effective reduction of both differential mode noise (caused by conventional switch-mode power supplies, for example) and common mode noise (including interference caused by Wi-Fi and Bluetooth) from an affordable mains conditioning block.

 

Smart features to enhance and protect

The PowerStation’s smart diagnostics system helps to avoid potential issues by indicating both correct polarity and whether the system has a ground/earth in place. The lack of an effective earth can cause an audible buzz or hum through the speakers, resulting from amplified low-level mains noise; this can be rectified by attaching an optional ground cable into PowerStation’s earth socket. iFi calls this circuit Intelligent Ground because it will not create a ground loop (a common cause of buzz or hum) even if the system is already earthed.

 

The PowerStation not only enhances the performance of every connected audio/AV component, it also guards the connected equipment from spikes and surges in the mains supply. Instantaneous and repeatable protection ensures that damage will not occur as a result of power fluctuations, providing valuable peace of mind. If the protection circuit is triggered, the PowerStation will only reboot once it is absolutely safe to do so.

 

Specialised construction for optimised performance

The PowerStation’s case is solidly constructed from dark anodised aluminium, as befits a high-quality audio/AV component. Inside, each of the six/eight mains outlets is independently isolated in its own chamber to prevent differential mode cross-contamination, with the addition of strategically placed EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) to damp vibrations.

 

PurCopper – a form of 99.9999 per cent pure OFHC (Oxygen-Free High-Conductivity) continuous-cast copper – is used extensively for its superior conductivity. This includes heavy-gauge internal wiring with multi-layered polymer insulation, solid PurCopper busbars and the conductive elements of the AC outlets themselves. It all adds up to a level of functionality and performance that users will not obtain from other whole-system clean-power solutions without spending considerably more.

 

Sonic improvements delivered by the PowerStation include greater clarity and definition, plus enhanced dynamic and spatial qualities, avoiding the apparent softening of leading edges, timing and dynamics that can occur with lesser mains filtering products. Available from August with a choice of four outlet types to suit the UK, EU, USA/Japan and Australia, it raises the performance level of every connected component – a whole-system upgrade delivering impressive value for money.

 

The retail cost of the PowerStation is US$499 (ex tax) or €549/£499 (inc. VAT.)

 

 

 

[Ralf11]

what noise spectra will it work on?

[firedog]

If you already have a power strip with 2-3 ifi iAC Purifiers in it, how much is this strip really going to add? Isn't it basically using the same technoglogy? 

[AMR/iFi audio]

9 hours ago, Ralf11 said:

what noise spectra will it work on?

 

The same as our AC iPurifier.

 

2 hours ago, firedog said:

If you already have a power strip with 2-3 ifi iAC Purifiers in it, how much is this strip really going to add? Isn't it basically using the same technoglogy? 

 

Yes, it's based on the same tech we developed for the purpose of our AC iPurifier. PowerStation has one fixed now, plus it's a fine power strip on its own and active on top of that. As such it adds functionality of course.

[asdf1000]

10 hours ago, AMR/iFi audio said:

This is coupled to additional passive filtering on each outlet

Technical query: doesn't this increase impedance between outlets?

 

Isn't minimum impedance between outlets preferred?

 

[OuYang]

Hi:

 

Is it necessary to use additional AC iPurifier on this to separate digital and analogue equipments?

[The Computer Audiophile]

This looks really cool. 

[Ralf11]

and it's not expensive

[firedog]

This seems like a very useful unit with a good form factor.

I already own a power strip with a couple of iFi AC Purifiers and a conventional power filter that isolates each device - essentially a setup that does what this does in a more cumbersome form factor. 

Otherwise I’d buy one of these. It seems like a fine unit with a good value ratio compared to other devices in that area. 

[AMR/iFi audio]

11 hours ago, Em2016 said:

Technical query: doesn't this increase impedance between outlets?

 

In 99% nope, but we'll double-check with our tech team.

 

6 hours ago, OuYang said:

Is it necessary to use additional AC iPurifier on this to separate digital and analogue equipments?

 

Nope, it's optional and the way to go if one wants to squeeze extra performance out of the product.

 

6 hours ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

This looks really cool. 

 

Thanks! We won't disagree

 

2 hours ago, Ralf11 said:

and it's not expensive

 

Nope, it isn't, but surely does the job.

 

1 hour ago, firedog said:

It seems like a fine unit with a good value ratio

 

We won't comment on other manufacturers' work, but PowerStation was meant to be a good price-to-performance product just as all iFi stuff. We do our best to not go crazy, upcoming AMR products are for that

[asdf1000]

53 minutes ago, AMR/iFi audio said:

In 99% nope, but we'll double-check with our tech team

 

Thanks. If they come back with nope also, can you ask the tech team to please explain why...

 

[AMR/iFi audio]

20 minutes ago, Em2016 said:

Thanks. If they come back with nope also, can you ask the tech team to please explain why...

 

Will do.

[AMR/iFi audio]

On 8/1/2019 at 10:53 AM, Em2016 said:

Technical query: doesn't this increase impedance between outlets?

 

Isn't minimum impedance between outlets preferred?

 

Bus bars in our PowerStation guarantee much lower impedance than any form of wiring. Does this clarify your question?

[asdf1000]

15 minutes ago, AMR/iFi audio said:

 

Bus bars in our PowerStation guarantee much lower impedance than any form of wiring. Does this clarify your question?

 

Thanks for following up but the question was, doesn’t filtering between outlets increase impedance....

 

Because you said:

 

“This is coupled to additional passive filtering on each outlet”

 

[AMR/iFi audio]

On 8/5/2019 at 12:03 AM, Em2016 said:

 

Thanks for following up but the question was, doesn’t filtering between outlets increase impedance....

 

Because you said:

 

“This is coupled to additional passive filtering on each outlet”

 

 

Each outlet has local passive filtering in shunt mode. This does not increase impedance, but lowers high frequency impedance directly and locally to each socket.

[Jez]

This looks like an interesting product. But can you show measurements that demonstrate that it improves the performance of any iFIAudio DAC? Or any other DAC?

[AMR/iFi audio]

On 8/10/2019 at 8:18 PM, Jez said:

This looks like an interesting product. But can you show measurements that demonstrate that it improves the performance of any iFIAudio DAC? Or any other DAC?

 

Please take a look here:

 

https://ifi-audio.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/TECH-NOTE-iFI-PowerStation.pdf

[Jez]

On 8/11/2019 at 11:37 PM, AMR/iFi audio said:

 

Please take a look here:

 

https://ifi-audio.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/TECH-NOTE-iFI-PowerStation.pdf

 

Thank you for the link. It does not answer my question. So I will repeat it. Can you show a measurable improvement in the performance of any DAC using the power station. Does it measurably improve the performance of your DACs? Does it measurably improve the performance of other manufacturers DACs. If so, please show the measurements.

[firedog]

1 hour ago, Jez said:

 

Thank you for the link. It does not answer my question. So I will repeat it. Can you show a measurable improvement in the performance of any DAC using the power station. Does it measurably improve the performance of your DACs? Does it measurably improve the performance of other manufacturers DACs. If so, please show the measurements.

He is correct. You sent him to measurements of noise reduction of the electric line; he asked if you can show improvement at the DAC, in other words at the DAC output?

[Jez]

So, since iFIAudio haven’t responded can we take it to mean that they have no measurements of any DAC showing its performance is improved by this product?

[firedog]

1 hour ago, Jez said:

So, since iFIAudio haven’t responded can we take it to mean that they have no measurements of any DAC showing its performance is improved by this product?

Have you ever seen any manufacturer post this type of data? I haven't. 
But in answer to your question: that's one possibility. They may also feel they have no need to, as none of their competitors post such measurements. 

[AMR/iFi audio]

On 8/14/2019 at 7:11 PM, firedog said:

They may also feel they have no need to.

 

True. Just think of all variables. We won't go there.

[Jez]

32 minutes ago, AMR/iFi audio said:

 

True. Just think of all variables. We won't go there.

 

All you have to do is show one measurement of one DAC that is improved by this product, that’s all. Not complicated. Nothing that should trouble a good engineer with a good product.  You won’t go there because you can’t. I conclude that the PowerStation  does not improve the measured performance of any DAC. 

[AMR/iFi audio]

Guys, you really crack us up, honestly we have nothing but love for you. 

 

 

...

[Tintinabulum]

So if you have a radio station playing out of your hifi, this will stop it? Cool.