I wanted to offer my observations for fellow Decwarians on the addition of a power regenerator to my setup.  

I know there are differing opinions out there about power filtering versus regeneration, but I jumped into the regeneration camp after hearing Lonely Raven’s PS Audio P10 on my Rachael.  It just produced a huge improvement in soundstage, dynamics and my favorite, the bass lines.  So much more articulate.

Well, I didn’t have a spare $3-$4K sitting around so I sought out opinions on PS Audio’s smaller units and their earlier models.  I ended up with a used Power Plant Premier that had been refurb’d and came with a 12 month factory warranty.

I got nearly the same impact with this older unit and I think if you can afford one of the new models or find a reliable one used, it is definitely worth the money.

Beyond the marketing literature, I believe these units help Decware amps kind of like the way the huge caps help the ZMA.  It’s better, smoother delivery of cleaner power.  The ZMA still has more wattage to get the most out of every note, but you come closer to the ZMA with lesser power amps with good power feeding them.  And in line with the marketing hype, these units really do deliver late night listening benefits all day long.

I have found over time when my power is the worst and unfortunately it’s exactly at the time when I listen at night.  The PPP measures the THD of the incoming power and it ranges from low 6% in the early morning to a high of over 9% at 7:00 at night.  And I just looked at my home’s wiring schematic and found out that the power to my listening room is on a separate circuit!   So its that bad on essentially a dedicated circuit.  The PPP cleans up the output to .3% to .5% THD.

So maybe I see bigger benefits to the PPP because my power is just that bad.  Maybe others can weigh in on this.

Currently I am trying to figure out what power cord to run the PPP with.  I have found it is extremely sensitive to power cords and I quickly sorted out the five I have.  Two are banished from my main system forever and I am suspect of two others although one I am still using on my source.

Picking out power cords is my idea of hell, so if anyone has any suggestions, I am open.  I have had good recommendations on the PS Audio cords.  Anything above a AC5 is probably out of my budget.

Yeah, I may have mentioned this to you in a PM, but I was not getting half the impact I heard with the P10 using one of my DIY cords between the wall and the PPP.  

When I changed out to a better cord, I got a lot closer.  I think there is more there still with the right cord.

I also think I agree with you on your power cord versus tube rolling comment.

I experienced very similar reactions, and having the PPP made me go over the whole system and wring out even more juicy musical playback.

The next step for me would have been room treatment but then I heeded my inner call to come take care of my parents and I am going to be a renter for some years to come so a whole different set up and yet really good sound. . . I really feel the PPP is the lynchpin that holds it all together.

What is the "tube wave"? Maybe they call it something different on the P10?

I believe in the "xStream" power cords from PS Audio there is ferrite impregnated in the jacket. In the "PerfectWave" series (Jewel, AC-3. -5, -10 and -12--the Jewel and the -10 have been discontinued) there is no longer ferrite.

I have a few of the xStream Statement cables in use, both with my guitar amplification (one feeds a PS Audio Duet that my amp and my reverb head are connected to, one feeds the Fender Bassman TV Fifteen amp I use). They're pretty awesome and they make my guitar tones sing! I have xStream Premier SC, AC-5 and AC-10 cords in my second system as well as My Audio Cable Burly cables. My main system is all PerfectWave AC-12, and I don't anticipate replacing any of those, they're amazing.

You know, I don't know why, but I do find that cords that have been not in use for some time take some hours to focus and start to "be all they can be."

Electrical engineers probably think that's impossible, but I'm not an electrical engineer and 'what I know" doesn't stop me from experiencing some things.

I used to be a skeptic about a lot of cabling and isolation and power treatment things. . . and I still am about some products and claims about them. But I've learned to esperience my experiences and make evaluations from those.

Sounds like you now have two reference points: your DIY cord, and this one. A few more cords would be even more educational perhaps. It IS sort of fun, isn't it?

That really does seem like a reasonable way to get a base of experience with different cables. I've never used their lending program, but I have bought from them and their sister company (usedcables.com). And I have gotten good, very on target advice from Ethan who seems the one who answers the phone and emails.

I forgot to add - static is supposed to play a part in power cables. It takes a bit for all that static from shipping, and setup in your system to work it's way out. That's why you see these high end systems with wood blocks/bridges under their power and speaker cords. It's supposed to physically isolate them from the static inducing carpet. Moving/Adjusting a cable once set induces static again, and they need to "warm up" all over again.

I used to use a Zerostat on my cables.

$100 on ebay for the zerostat.  It used to be part of the discwasher package.   I still have my discwasher.  That and my turntable are the sole remnants of my 70's stereo.

OK, so this latest power cord continues to change and for the better I think.  

I contacted the Cable Co. sales guy and he said keep it going till it stops changing, then make up your mind.  He said he hears all the time that even on these used cords it takes up to 40 hours before they stabilize.

So for you cable believers out there, break-in or should I say re-break-in is real, man.

Sounds like you had a little fun! Power cords fascinate me. I can still play around a little with my second system (which I never get to listen to any more really) and my Dad's.

Yes Lon, that's what I am hoping for.  The ac5 is a bit long to go from the PPP to the amp, but I intend to try it.  I'll also try the SR cord in that position.  The Cable Co guy said it would work there and said people even use it with source equipment.

I can return the SR cord for something else to try between the PPP and the amp as well.  But I feel less a sense of urgency given the performance of this AC12.

Whatever does not stay in my main system will go to the cottage system which is shaping up quite nicely.  A P300 would be a very nice addition if you ever want to part with it

Sounds like I might need to get an AC12 (or three) for myself. I'm just having trouble finding an affordable deal. Palomino lucked out on the one he got.

I got my Kimber PK-10 Palladian for cheap too (it runs in to my Emotiva XPA-2 beast...makes it a much-much better Solid State AMP)!!  Decware has so ruined me for great Timbre/Texture, imaging with a large deep and high sound stage......Emotiva is all that is needed for the Living Room Rig/Solid State....spending more on Solid State would not matter!

Only because I bought it from Dave Weinhart of Weinhart Design LA, did I trust it. Once you received your PS AC12...then you new it was okay...worth the minimal risk. Nice find'.  

Yeah, that's twice what Palomino paid for his.


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Yeah, I even E-mailed him to see if he had another. He simply said not at this time.

Now you probably understand why I immediately hit Buy Now and then thought "what did I just do?"

I did some power cable testing last with my son who is a musician of sorts.  He's young and has good ears.  Hands down, the AC12 won the battle for the "wall to PPP" cord.  And my DIY cord won the battle for the "PPP to Amp."

I am thinking I will send the SR back and try something else.  I also have another eBay special AC5 coming today (I think).  I'll try it in both positions to see if I like it and what lift I get with the AC12.

Well, I got the AC5 in.  Its a much more "well broken in" cord than the AC12.  Too long for the PPP to the amp, but I bought it to go to the wall and then the 12 popped up.

Anyway, huge air with the 12/5 combo.  Maybe a little less in the highs.  Richer bass.  I'll give it some time.

Yes, outlets make a difference. When you get to the type of transparency that regenerators and Decware components bring. . .damn seems everything makes a difference!

So...I wasn't sure which of our threads to put this under.

Do you think it's overboard to wire my dedicated 20amp outlet with 8AWG Zen Styx type wire, all the way back to the panel?  



I've been looking for some 8AWG for about 7 months now and finally stumbled into a deal worth buying...and I supposedly have about 200' here. It's way more than I need to wire Hot, Neutral, and Ground, and make a few power cords...I'll probably still have a bunch left over!

Looks like a good score.  I may buy some if you have extra you want to sell.  I have a set I made for the cottage but I could use a little more length.

Will three lengths of that fit into conduit?  What are you thinking in terms of termination - both at the box and the panel?

LR,
You beat me to the punch about using 10 GA. for the earth ground. I have pulled a LOT of cable in my day through conduit, or not, every size imaginable. In a nutshell, you always need larger conduit than you think. 3/4" is small, but better than 1/2", that's for sure. The number of bends and the length will add up quick. I am just hoping that you have access to almost all of them for pulling. The insulation on the 8 GA. Will also determine how difficult this will be. I say go for it, as it is worth it if it can be done at all.

The stuff is aircraft wire and is really abrasion resistant and slips through without much friction.

I have been having trouble with my PPP shutting down and may have to send it in.  It's not the infamous issues where the regenerator does not work.  It simply seems to shut down randomly during periods of high THD.  I've contacted PS Audio and have a dialogue going but they say they have never heard of such high THD.  This morning at 6:00 am is was 9.5%.  Last night it was still high (about 8.4%) and did not shut down the whole evening.

Anyway, I started the evening without it to do just a little A/B comparison in case I have to send it in.  What kind of sound will I get?

Well I thought, you know this sounds pretty good.  Imaging was still there.  Clarity was good.  Bass a bit soft, but not bad.  Still pretty good bass definition.

Then I plugged just the amp into the PPP.  BIG difference for the better.  Everything was more articulated, soundstage was bigger and bass was more precise and louder.

I sure hope I don't have to send this in.