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General Asylum: REVIEW: PS Audio Noise Harvester Accessory by Quint General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories. |
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Model: Noise Harvester Category: Accessory Suggested Retail Price: $350/set of 5 Description: Noise-remover Manufacturer URL: PS Audio Manufacturer URL: PS Audio
Review by Quint ( A ) on June 10, 2006 at 03:41:35
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for the Noise Harvester
PS Audio obviously needs no introduction here. The company's line of amps, preamps, and, particularly, AC-line devices have generally been well received in audio circles, and the number of awards the company has garnered over the years speaks for itself.Still, I’ve never met a PS Audio product that I completely cozied to. I owned a 300-series AC “regenerator†some years ago, and while it did produce some positive changes, in my system, the cons—energy consumption, heat, and a constriction of the dynamic envelope—outweighed the benefits. I’ve also heard some of their recent power-cell amps, which left me impressed in some regards and nonplussed in others.
It was with some trepidation, then, that I decided to try out PS Audio’s newest product, the Noise Harvester. However, my dealer has a very fair return policy, so I figured it was worth a try. I’d only be out return shipping if I didn’t like them.
The agriculturally named Noise Harvester is a 2†x 2.5†device that looks vaguely similar to the popular but now sadly discontinued AudioPrism QuietLine. Like the QL, it plugs into unused AC outlets—but that’s where the similarities end. I am admittedly technically challenged, so I won’t even attempt to discuss the differences in any sort of technical depth. As I understand it, though, the QL worked as a shunt filter on the line. The Harvester, on the other hand, works by converting line noise to heat. Not sure how it works beyond that, but work it definitely does.
I picked up 10 Harvesters for audition and plugged them into all unused outlets—including those on my Hydra-8 line conditioner—in my listening room. But before I did that, I listened to a few tracks on one of my favorite pop reference pop discs, Mick Jagger’s solo Wandering Spirit album, with the QuietLines in place. Sounded nice enough. I then removed all the QLs and replaced them with one Harvester. I wasn’t expecting much, because I’ve had a lot of electrical work done on my room, and the state of my electricity is definitely better than average. The level of grit and noise on the line was already very low. But color me absolutely floored when the noise floor plummeted like a Boulder amp from the fifth story of a luxury high-rise. Mick’s voice became smoother and much more natural, as if a layer of grit and grain had been wiped free, and, as I said, the noise floor went down dramatically, revealing little details in the mix in stark relief compared with what the QLs were able to do. Sufficiently intrigued, I plugged in two more Harvesters, and the improvements I noticed above increased, though not to the level of going from the QLs to a single Harvester.
Bottom line: The Noise Harvester works exactly as advertised. It “harvests†noise and grunge from the AC line, and even works on lines that are already very low in noise. I plan to plug the remainder into my main system. If they work half as well there as they did in my second rig, they’ll be staying for a long time.
Drawbacks? Every product has them, and the Harvester is no exception. First, the Harvester comes equipped with a blue light that flashes to indicate noise on the line. Because the light is always flashing, and faces the listener, it can wear a little thin after a while—after a short while, in fact. I was fairly distracted while listening, but I’m sure my brain will tune it out or become acclimated to it after a while. With all the blinking lights, I thought it was Christmas all over again! If PS Audio can remove that damn light, I’m sure they’d sell these things faster than they could build ‘em. But audiophiles are generally willing to put up with a few idiosyncrasies for good sound, so the company should sell a good number even with the light. Second, the way the Harvester works, it generates a very low-level buzz that was only audible if I put my ear within a few inches of the thing. I couldn’t hear it from my chair, even with the music turned off, but that doesn’t mean that especially keen ears won’t be able to pick it up in a quiet room.
In the past year, I’ve had pretty good luck with tweaks, and the PS Audio Noise Harvester continues that streak. I’m definitely keeping them. They aren’t cheap, but they do work extremely well. Even if you have relatively clean AC, like I do, the Harvesters can be of eye-opening benefit. Yeah, they have a couple of aggravating quirks, but once you hear your system with them in place, I’m betting you’ll keep them like I did. Very highly recommended.
Product Weakness: Blinking light that wouldn't be out of place as a torture device in a mental asylum; generates a very low-level buzz Product Strengths: Removes noise and crud that you didn't even think was there
Associated Equipment for this Review: Amplifier: Dussun V-8i Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): none Sources (CDP/Turntable): Denon 3910 Speakers: Von Schweikert VR-4 HSEs Cables/Interconnects: Jena Labs Music Used (Genre/Selections): Pop/rock Room Size (LxWxH): 24 x 20 x 7 Room Comments/Treatments: NuCore Technologies, EchoBusters Time Period/Length of Audition: 2 days Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Shunyata Hydra-8 Type of Audition/Review: Home Audition
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Topic - REVIEW: PS Audio Noise Harvester Accessory - Quint 03:41:35 06/10/06 ( 36)
- I sent a set of five back - oofer 14:43:17 06/11/06 ( 3)
- Line noise is mostly appreciated by its absence. - soulfood 17:45:21 06/11/06 ( 2)
- Improvement - oofer 23:45:27 06/11/06 ( 1)
- Degradation. - soulfood 10:38:05 06/12/06 ( 0)
CAUTION: USE THESE THINGS CAREFULLY!!! - Quint 00:42:43 06/11/06 ( 2)
- After years of experimenting with Quitelines... - Steve Cortez 03:07:21 06/11/06 ( 1)
- Same here (nt) - TWR 14:26:35 06/11/06 ( 0)
Thanks for the review. The PS Audio site says it converts noise to light. - Al Sekela 12:28:48 06/10/06 ( 8)
- Had the same thought - bartc 06:11:22 06/11/06 ( 1)
- That four-feet-apart rule - Al Sekela 13:45:03 06/11/06 ( 0)
Re: What??! - No challenge to conversion of noise to light operation? Well, I never! :-) nt - geoffkait 04:27:18 06/11/06 ( 1)
- Re: What??! - No challenge to conversion of noise to light operation? Well, I never! :-) nt - paulmc 15:56:54 06/12/06 ( 0)
You're right: They do convert noise to light - Quint 00:22:59 06/11/06 ( 1)
Actually, before the noise is converted into light... - Paul_A 17:07:11 06/10/06 ( 0)
Harvester - unclestu52 12:50:21 06/10/06 ( 1)
- Thanks for the additional information. - Al Sekela 13:32:01 06/10/06 ( 0)
Quint, many thanks. Will definitely check these out. nt - speyer 12:26:43 06/10/06 ( 0)
Nice review. Just ordered one (nt) - Ken B 10:35:55 06/10/06 ( 0)
Quint................. - mr_bill 09:27:06 06/10/06 ( 1)
- Re: Quint................. - Quint 00:51:28 06/11/06 ( 0)
Great Review! - Big Dave 08:41:17 06/10/06 ( 0)
Thanks, you just might have talked me into trying them :) [nt] - Ted Smith 07:30:40 06/10/06 ( 0)
Quint: absolutely interesting review, thanks for sharing that experience with us (nt). - Antonio Machado 07:04:10 06/10/06 ( 0)
If placed in parallel the noise will still be present in other outlets - nightdoggy 06:53:44 06/10/06 ( 2)
- Why wouldn't the Harvester be quieting all outlets on that line? - jeffreybehr 09:47:51 06/10/06 ( 0)
Re: If placed in parallel the noise will still be present in other outlets - Quint 07:01:50 06/10/06 ( 0)
PS Audio Noise Harvester Accessory - middleground 06:50:11 06/10/06 ( 1)
- Sorry, thought I was a reviewer for a minute [nt] - Quint 07:02:56 06/10/06 ( 0)
PS Audio Noise Harvester Accessory - Awe-d-o-file 04:36:17 06/10/06 ( 1)
- Re: PS Audio Noise Harvester Accessory - Quint 04:49:03 06/10/06 ( 0)
PS Audio Noise Harvester Accessory - Ozzy 04:22:30 06/10/06 ( 5)
- Re: PS Audio Noise Harvester Accessory - Tuckers 12:04:26 06/10/06 ( 0)
You're a friggin genius, Oz! - Quint 04:33:32 06/10/06 ( 3)
- Does that eliminate the buzz? - Frihed89 05:30:27 06/10/06 ( 2)
- No, the buzz is still there - Quint 05:49:03 06/10/06 ( 1)
- Good luck - Frihed89 08:29:46 06/10/06 ( 0)