will
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The only reason I got a PSAudio P5 was that I determined a lot of my difficulties with fine tuning my system with tubes, wires, feet, etc, were created by inconsistent voltage. I was using a Pi Audio Uber, which is a nice, relatively transparent power filter. With it feeding my power, I was trying to find a really good balance between dynamic warmth and spacious fine detail. But I would get it "right," and it would change. Mostly I noticed a thickness that was difficult to tame consistently. Sometimes notably better, and sometimes notably worse, in time I figured it out with a volt meter...With my Toriis and CSP3, higher voltage made the sound bigger/thicker, and lower made it leaner, more spacious.
Finally, for the level of refinement and consistency I craved, the problems were not night versus day power quality (though this had some effect, the Uber did a lot to smooth it out). It was more the variable voltage from the power company in my case. I think I recall, from about 119 to about 123, most often in the 120-123 range according to the meter I had.
So I got a regenerator to try for its consistent voltage. I did not like the P5's "signature" at first after the Uber, but after struggling to find better sound with the right feet, fuse, cable and settings, I came to like it in time. Even so, a realization was not using it for my source gear, computer, DAC, etc, where its remaining lack of transparency (warmish signature) was more obvious in defeating the space and fine detail I wanted. For source power I use a modified Brickwall with a Shunyata plugin filter which allows space and fine detail more cleanly. But for my Decware amps, once I got the P5 cleaned up to my satisfaction, it was a breakthrough for my continued tuning. I suspect what you are referring to Scott, about Steve saying the amps didn't care about voltage, was likely in terms of damage, not sound. There are clearly sound differences with voltage changes with my Decware amps...If you have a variac around, or use a PSaudio regenerator, you can increase and decrease voltage to hear these differences.
The regenerator fixed variable voltage, allowed setting voltage wherever I like it, along with other nice tuning tools for your power. Finding the best phase, multiwave/sine settings, and voltage for my system, room and tastes, I like 118 volts, to me, lots better than the variable, usually much higher voltages from my wall. With the P5, my tuning is based on a pretty consistent power, and associated, sound.
This is not to say that my regenerator is necessarily better than a ZLC or similar, especially with relatively stable voltage. But with highly variable voltage, this is a real sound consideration for me.
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