Tweakers' Asylum: REVIEW: Alan Maher Designs Infinity DIY filter Power Conditioner/Surge Protector by boodles

Model:	Infinity DIY filter
Category:	Power Conditioner/Surge Protector
Suggested Retail Price:	$25
Description:	passive EMI/RFI absorber/blocker
Manufacturer URL:	Alan Maher Designs
Model Picture:	View

Review by boodles on May 24, 2009 at 16:06:43
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for the Infinity DIY filter

I was recently fortunate enough to try out Alanâ€™s newest offering; the Infinity DIY filter. I took Alanâ€™s advice and installed the first one inside by breaker box right near the breaker that feeds my dedicated audio circuit. The second, I was not sure where to begin, so I installed it inside my SACD player atop its power transformer. I figured that was a good starting point, based on all the literature Iâ€™ve read about other EMI/RFI blocking devices and the sensitivity of digital circuits to these forms of interference. Alan had warned me that these things would produce mayhem with my circuits for several days, but I couldnâ€™t resist a listen about 4 hours after install just to hear how things were coming along. By now, I should know that Alanâ€™s products always produce very strange effects upon initial installation and then, as they set up, more and more of their magical abilities are revealed. Well, the new Infinities were no exception to this rule; my initial reaction was that I had taken several steps backwards in sound quality. Everything sounded rather thin a bright, and the soundstage collapsed entirely down to the point that all sound seemed to be coming almost directly from my speakers. There was no width depth or height. At 48-72 hours after install, things had changed dramatically for the better, and when I say better, I mean better than anything I had ever experienced. Suffice it to say that it was as if the gates of Heaven had opened in my family room and from them was pouring forth the music of the cherubim. Listening to The BIS SACD of Beethovenâ€™s 9th with VÃ¤nskÃ¤ was a revelation! The final movement with the choir and soloists was unlike Iâ€™ve ever heard it reproduced. Each soloist could be placed at a precise location both side to side and front to back. Moreover, I could actually hear the vertical positioning of the choir members, with some higher up, I suppose on risers, than others. Starker playing The Bach suites for cello was almost a religious experience as was listening to Bono singing MLK on the Mobile Fidelity gold CD release. Every subtle nuance and inflection is there. Listening at night with the lights off is almost spooky; youâ€™d swear people were in the room singing/playing just for you. In conclusion, I donâ€™t know what exactly the Infinities are doing to produce their effect (they donâ€™t look like much; just little black boxes), but wow! The soundstage is so big and clear you can almost walk around in it and the sound is like liquid gold! Itâ€™s unbelievably clear and detailed, without even the slightest hint of harshness or brightness. Alan hit it out of the park with this one. I canâ€™t wait to order more and treat everything I can find to see how far the magical spell the Infinities have cast over my system can be taken.
Thanks Alan for another great product that redefines what I thought was possible in audio reproduction.

Product Weakness:	None detected, other than having to wait a day or two for it to settle.
Product Strengths:	Huge sound improvement at a laughably low price. You can't lose!

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Michael Yee PA-1
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Micheal Yee LA-1
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Marantz SA15-s1
Speakers: Green Mountain Audio
Cables/Interconnects: MAC Mystics/MAC UltraSilver+
Music Used (Genre/Selections): all
Room Size (LxWxH): 35 x 15 x 10
Room Comments/Treatments: area rugs, some absorbers on walls
Time Period/Length of Audition: 3 weeks
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): DIY Alan Maher Power strip
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition): system as listed above

Amplifier:	Michael Yee PA-1
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Micheal Yee LA-1
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Marantz SA15-s1
Speakers:	Green Mountain Audio
Cables/Interconnects:	MAC Mystics/MAC UltraSilver+
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	all
Room Size (LxWxH):	35 x 15 x 10
Room Comments/Treatments:	area rugs, some absorbers on walls
Time Period/Length of Audition:	3 weeks
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	DIY Alan Maher Power strip
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition):	system as listed above