will
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Yes, I did not like the P5, but after my DIY cord (big difference in micro info and spaciousness, and notably better than a PSAudio AC12) and the Synergistic MIG feet (also opening it up notably) things shifted better...more open, complex, natural... less colored. Then I explored Voltage and Phase adjustments. All contributed to tailoring the sound to what I think is very good now, but it was a struggle.
I wonder if I inadvertently corrected some odd P5 issues with the cord (phase or something...). The power cord with the MIGs really filled in the spaces with fine detail, providing subtle information and nuance.
I tried, but I could not get where I wanted with the Defender plugged into the P5. Still too much P5 influence. But I guess this makes some sense in that the Defender circuit, though interactive, would have been effected by the P5 regeneration and therefore the P5 tonal decisions.
I thought the P5 did filter as it regenerates but I am not sure what parts are in there and where. Differentiating conditioning from regeneration seems very important to them in their sales talk, but if the newly regenerated AC produced is clean, the process must in effect “condition” the power, the method and levels determined by the PSAudio crew....what sounds good, and I guess I didn't agree fully. But it was workable in time, and I really needed voltage control.
I use the Defender as a conditioner plugged into my modded Brickwall with the Brickwall plugged into the same Furutech copper receptacle as the P5. So in theory the Defender is also filtering the receptacle and therefore the P5 before the cord. I can't recall what happened plugging the Defender directly into the outlet with the P5, but I think the main benefit I hear with the Brickwall is the Defender working there on the Tranquility DAC, USB power supply (AQVOX) and Mac Mini which are plugged into the Brickwall. The DAC in particular into the P5 suffered, but the Tranquility DAC with this USB power supply is extraordinary at “analog” micro information, something I needed to work hard to pull with the P5. But even the tweaked out P5 hurt the Tranquility.
It was fine, but I was used to better. I am convinced that if your system can extract the very fine and complex detail, then the potential for music rather than a system is notably higher. Once again...how many times have we read and heard....if it is not at the source, it is not there. And my variable voltage influences are not noticeable for the DAC like they are with the Decware tube amp and pre, so no problems I can hear.
This simpler Brickwall/defender front end treatment makes for a less "confined," more transparent sound...In this arrangement the Mac Mini/Tranquility is very, very good at making the music feel real. And the amps sound great through the P5 so all is good.
I got my P5 over 1/3 off, so all in all it is worth that, especially since I could find no other real options that covered voltage with good return policies. A costly power system non-the-less, but once sorted out with the rest, the best I have had for sure and very good indeed.
That said....I also have a lot of other little things for power cleaning, and they all matter. Kemp Schumann resonators, some EMF/RFI AC line filters, black discus....I guess like many, I have found that power is sort of massive in the whole for “real” sound. Can't say I have figured it out, but organically adding this and that over years, it is really good!
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