Article: Reality Quest: Power and Digital Audio with the Sean Jacobs DC4 and Sound Application PGI TT-7 (Part 2 of 2)

[Nenon]

2 hours ago, MarkusBarkus said:

For folks using high-gauge wire runs from the panel to audio-feed outlets: how are you terminating into the outlets?

 

Crimp-on terminals? Please don't say you're pig-tailing them. Are you?

 

Any outlets I recall ever seeing, audiophile or other, max-out at 10 gauge, and even that can be a pain to fasten and get neatly into your gang box (outlet box), though manageable with care.

 

I have a 12ga. homerun to the panel for audio gear, and 10ga. homerun for network gear. Not sure what I was thinking there, although I have added gear since I pulled the dedicated line a couple of years back, and the network line is new.

 

I plan to pull another run for the audio gear, so I could do 8ga. instead of 10ga., if I sort out termination at the plug-end. Panel is NP/usual breaker stuff. Thanks!

 

Jim Weil has a custom outlet that can take 6 AWG wire. He used to sell it for around $100 but I am not sure if the price is still the same. I use a couple of them and some Furutech NCFs.

[Nenon]

5 hours ago, Exocer said:

What are others using in the $1000 - $1500 range?

 

3 hours ago, Downtheline said:

I used a passive device previously that was better than regular power strips, I then bought a used p5 power conditioner from ps audio.  That was a major step up, and was one of the only times my wife commented on the audio quality improvement without promoting. So perhaps a used p5 or p3 stellar. 

 

FWIW, my Ref TT-7 replaced a PS Audio P20, their biggest and best power regenerator. And I never looked back.

I am expecting my 240V TT-7 now and expect that to be another big step from the Ref TT-7.

[Nenon]

2 minutes ago, happybob said:

Nenon, if you could elaborate a bit on the difference between the TT-7 and the PS Audio power regenerator, that'd be great. I've got a PS Audio P10 and it's pretty good but I feel I'm missing some dynamics and perhaps more (I do have dedicated AC runs to the box for my home).

 

I traded a P10 for a P20. That was an improvement up in every aspect. The dynamics with the P20 are just amazing. The stuff that Paul McGowan advertises about the incredibly low output impedance and instantaneous power reserve on the P20 is true. And that does result in stunning dynamics. 

 

The first thing that is immediately noticeable when I switched from the P20 to the TT-7 was the lower noise floor. You may think that the P20 has very dark background. And it does when compared to plugging everything directly to the wall. But in comparison to the TT-7 the P20 is a noisy device. Then you get the speed, transients, and everything else @ray-dude describes in this excellent review, and there is just no comparison in my system. 

 

I opened my P20 and looked at the parts inside. The power reserve gets stored in a huge bank of capacitors. I was so tempted to replace the twenty four $3 Cornell Dubilier capacitors with $30 Mundorf caps! Here is a photo of half of them inside my P20:

But I did not want to void the warranty on my P20.