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EQUIPMENT FORUMS >> ZMA >> ZMA hums with Power Regenerator
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Message started by NormD on 09/17/17 at 21:31:41

Title: ZMA hums with Power Regenerator
Post by NormD on 09/17/17 at 21:31:41

I love my ZMA and I'm always looking for ways to get the most out of it and he rest of my system. A Power Plant Premium (PPP) power regenerator from PS Audio was recommended to me and I picked one up used. But the ZMA hums mechanically when it is plugged into the PPP. The hum seems to be coming from the transformers or the capacitors. There is no hum coming through the speakers. This tells me the ZMA is not happy and I stopped using the PPP.

Anyone else have this experience or use a power regenerator?

Title: Re: ZMA hums with Power Regenerator
Post by Lon on 09/17/17 at 21:54:42

I had a P300, then a Power Plant Premier, then a P5 and now a P10. I love them! I honestly have never had a hum or vibration transformer problem with either of them. Does this happen with any other components, or only the ZMA. The Premier may be the culprit.

Title: Re: ZMA hums with Power Regenerator
Post by NormD on 09/18/17 at 00:05:44

Thanks, Lon!

Good to know that you are not having problems. Are you doing anything special with grounding? What power cords are you using for the ZMA and Power Plant? Any suggestions on what to look for to fix my hum? I'm calling PS Audio tomorrow.

Where is a good place to get a P5?

Title: Re: ZMA hums with Power Regenerator
Post by busterfree on 09/18/17 at 00:16:35

I would buy directly from PS Audio. They will let you trade in the PPP toward a new model to save money, and you might get more that what you paid for it.

Title: Re: ZMA hums with Power Regenerator
Post by Lon on 09/18/17 at 00:48:13

Norm, I don't have a ZMA, I have a Torii Mk III. I am using a PS Audio AC-12 power cord, in fact all my power cords are AC-12s. I'm not doing anything special with grounding, just plugging the power cord into the (admittedly nice) wall outlet and then into the regenerator.

I do recommend calling PS Audio and asking them about the hum and also asking them about trade ins towards a newer regenerator. . . .

Title: Re: ZMA hums with Power Regenerator
Post by NormD on 09/18/17 at 00:54:59

Lon:

Thanks. I'll call them tomorrow. Do you hear an appreciable improvement with the Regenerator? How so?

Title: Re: ZMA hums with Power Regenerator
Post by Lon on 09/18/17 at 02:45:50

I've talked about these a lot on these pages of the forum. I like them and find that they imp rove most every aspect. I especially like the diminution of noise, the silences are black and this improves both dynamics and tonal details, and I like the sense of a "strong foundation" and even headroom that I get with the regenerators.

Title: Re: ZMA hums with Power Regenerator
Post by Jeff of Arabica on 09/18/17 at 05:48:19

I do not have the Power Plant Premium, but I do have a P10 and ZMA. I get no hum from the ZMA as you have described.

Title: Re: ZMA hums with Power Regenerator
Post by 4krow on 09/18/17 at 17:20:12

Having had a few PA Audio units, I can say that the ZMA may well need to have the PS Audio Premiere set at a different program. I forget what it has to offer, but the sine wave setting may need to be set differently. Sorry for the vague description here, but suffice it to say that the problem may be solved by means of the PPP output.

Title: Re: ZMA hums with Power Regenerator
Post by Lon on 09/18/17 at 17:28:27

Don't believe there is any such setting on the Premier. Though one person on the PS Audio forum says there is a setting on the bottom of the unit that allows you to adjust the readout of the metering of the input voltage and output voltage, but I don't see how that would help.

Norm, I think a call to the tech support at PS Audio is the best bet. And as I said on their forum: Lonely Raven reports that with the P10 he hears little to no improvement with the ZMA plugged in. Do you hear any sonic improvement with it plugged into the PPP? If little to no, perhaps just use the PPP for all other components. . .

Title: Re: ZMA hums with Power Regenerator
Post by Lonely Raven on 09/20/17 at 15:31:13

I don't know if it has anything to do with this issue, but I'm pretty sure I recall the PPP is a balanced output design, and honestly, I thought it sounded really good, especially on smaller amps. My guess is that something is not quite right with your PPP - definitely give PS Audio a call and see if they can come up with a solution.

All that said, since the ZMA has those large caps, they do a lot of the noise filtering that the Power Regenerators are known for. I have the P10, and honestly, with the ZMA I hear very little to no difference. I heard a bigger improvement running a dedicated 10AWG wired outlet directly from my circuit panel to my dedicated 20amp typical hospital grade outlet. However, I do hear improvements on every other amp and component in the system with the P10.

If your PPP needs any repairs or updates - I too would consider trading it in on a P5 if possible.

Title: Re: ZMA hums with Power Regenerator
Post by NormD on 09/20/17 at 15:55:53

Thanks for the perspective. I took the advise and traded in the PPP on a P5 and PS Audio was very accommodating. The PPP seller refuses to accept the test results that indicate that the PPP he sold me has problems, so I didn't have a lot of choice. I did not want to pour any money into an obsolete component. PSA was perplexed with my diagnostics, so the PPP is headed to PSA for diagnostics so I can try and get a claim from him. I refuse to use the defective PPP in my system.

When I get my new P5 Friday, my first test will be with the ZMA. Lon mentioned that you saw no improvement and that is my expectation considering the beefy power supply of the ZMA. I'll let you know my assessment.

My next tests will be with the ZTPre, Manley Chinook and my OPPO SDAC. I'm not expecting big improvements since all these devices have good power supplies, so I hope I am surprised and delighted. Anyone with experiences with these components?