| Model: | Power Plant Premier | | Category: | Power Conditioner/Surge Protector | | Suggested Retail Price: | $2195.00 | | Description: | AC Regenerator/Power Center | | Manufacturer URL: | PS Audio | | Model Picture: | View |
I live in a rural area on five acres with my own transformer. My nearest neighbor is a mile away. However, like many of you, I discovered my system sounded magical at night and less so in daylight hours. By that I mean less precise and defined.A symptom of AC "backwash" from other appliances or from down the line? I used to work for an AM radio station that powered down at night. So maybe that was part of the problem even though we are 90 miles from the nearest radio broadcast tower. The Chang Lightspeed 9600 I used kept the air conditioning "pop" from coming through my speakers, but the idea of fresh, regenerated power sounded appealing. I began my first session with the PS Audio Power Plant Premier at about 4 p.m. It took about 10 minutes to "settle in" as my immediate impression was that the midrange sounded slightly distorted. It was only in the initial test that I heard that. From there on the midrange was smooth, natural and wonderfully real sounding to me. Over several days, I noted that my rural electric was feeding 122 to 124 volts into the PPP. Output locked in at 121. THD coming in was 4% in the shakedown cruise. The reading going out was .4. After a few days, I noticed that the evening incoming THD usually was consistently about 2%, so I was not imagining that my system had sounded better at night. Here were the numbers to prove it. The improved THD number remained at .4 even when the incoming THD was halved. After 10 minutes in the initial trial, the improvement was obvious. The system, which I felt was already pretty black, seemed to get much blacker. Even though my volume was set to it's normal 8 a.m. position, the presentation seemed louder. Bass tightened significantly. Listening to Sinatra's first Duet's CD, I could separate horns and strings in a way I could not before. Off mike breathing could be heard in places I had missed it before. I've always had a great front to back soundstage. That improved as did the breadth of the stage. As the notes were more focused, they sounded louder at the back of my rather large family room. When Sinatra starts singing, "Set up Joe..." the emotion and grit in his voice was obvious. Piano has never sounded quite so "there." The depth, decay and delicacy is very impressive. The fan did run (very quiet) during my first 8 hour session even though the volume levels were low. I had my Symphonic Line Kraft 250 Class A monoblocks, Symphonic Line Die Erleuchtung tube preamp, Rega Apollo CDP and an idling Carver M500T (used for HT center channel) connected. I did not test in Cleanwave or Multiwave modes since the recommendation is not to use with any component with an AC motor. I would make the case that if you place one of these PS Audio Power Plant Premiers into your system, you will find it as necessary as any component and that you would put up a pretty fierce fight before giving it up. No affiliation with the company.
| Product Weakness: | The remote is a bit cheap looking. | | Product Strengths: | Should power most systems with ease. Five star effectiveness. Remote control. Construction quality is very good. Attractive. |
| Associated Equipment for this Review: | | Amplifier: | Symphonic Line Kraft 250 Class A monoblocks | | Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): | Symphonic Line Die Erleuchtung tube preamp | | Sources (CDP/Turntable): | Bix TT, Rega Apollo | | Speakers: | Meadowlark Hot Rod Herons | | Cables/Interconnects: | Biwire Mapleshade Double Helix and Purist Audio Museaus speaker cables. Mapleshade ICs, ceramic cable risers. | | Music Used (Genre/Selections): | Michael Franks, Frank Sinatra, Jane Monheit, Diana Krall, Was (Not Was), Frank Zappa | | Room Size (LxWxH): | 40 x 30 x 7 | | Room Comments/Treatments: | Carpet, textured ceiling, furniture... typical family room. System is very polished and clean sounding. Details audible at very low levels. | | Time Period/Length of Audition: | six days | | Type of Audition/Review: | Product Owner |
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