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Tweakers' Asylum: REVIEW: Alan Maher Designs Power Enhancers Power Conditioner/Surge Protector by cdc

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REVIEW: Alan Maher Designs Power Enhancers Power Conditioner/Surge Protector

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Model: Power Enhancers
Category: Power Conditioner/Surge Protector
Suggested Retail Price: $75.00
Description: AC line filters
Manufacturer URL: Not Available

Review by cdc on July 05, 2007 at 17:05:49
IP Address: 71.139.1.180
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for the Power Enhancers


BACKGROUND:

My system is used for both music and HT. System usage is now approx. 60% music and 40% HT. I have been fortunate enough to be able to experience in my system many different products marketed to the audiophile in the last 7 years. I have spent tens of thousands on audio accessories and upgrades. Mainly with cables (power, interconnects and speaker), tweaks of all kinds (isolation, coupling, component mods) and power conditioning. The quest to obtain more from my audio system is my main hobby, as I suspect it is with anyone reading this review. I write very few product reviews. Most of the products I have experienced that I like, have kept in my system or have recommended to a friend or fellow audiophile usually has a questionable value (performance to cost) ratio. So the reason for this review is the PE by Alan Maher Designs IMHO represents a very high value, or performance to cost ratio.

Below in the associated equipment you will notice that I own other products by Alan Maher (Studio Reference Power cords) or was a brainchild of Alan Maher (Hammond 193L chokes). On Alan's recommendation and with my permission Alan sent me one PE and one PE II. I have not evaluated the PE II yet. I will try to cover the info that I wanted to know and think you may want to know when contemplating a purchase of this kind of product. As always, the results I received were in my system, my home, YMMV, etc. So here is my experience with the Power Enhancer...


What is a PE and how to install it?:

The PE is an acronym for "Power Enhancer". It looks like a large black plastic Walwart without a ground pin. Weighs ounces and feels fairly solid. Instructions from Alan were for me to plug it into a spare wall outlet in my A/V system's circuit that provided the most pronounced HF tilt. Or, plug the PE into the duplex outlet that my video gear is plugged into. I have a 20amp-dedicated line to my A/V system. This dedicated line consists of 5 duplex outlets wired star clustered (I have no idea how the builders did this). Two of the duplex outlets are not used and have those child safety caps plugged into them. I use Chesky's Critical Listening disk when evaluating any mod, tweak or changes I do to the system. I polished and buffed the blade contacts with 100% ProGold solution. Then as instructed, while the system was playing the above-mentioned Chesky CD, I plugged the PE into all available outlets in the A/V circuit until I found the one that produced the most pronounced HF tilt. This outlet happened to be the same $1 AC duplex outlet that my video gear is plugged into. The main system duplex currently is a Furutech FP-20 and the sub duplex is a P&S cryoed 5262-A.


Is there a break-in or settling-in time?

Yep. After 7 days most of the settling in occurred. It took my system 10 days to fully settle in. As with everything I try that is from Alan, there is a roller coaster ride. From extreme HF glare, to bloated and exaggerated bass, to next to no bass. Then finally it all snaps or gels into place... a very weird experience to say the least. Then again I am used to this roller coaster ride. I experienced a similar roller coaster ride with his power cords and the Hammond chokes. You know the swings and shifts that the system goes through when adding a high-end AC duplex or high-end power cord? To give you a frame of reference of the roller coaster mentioned, the PE settling-in is similar just a bit more dramatic.


What does this PE do to the Sonics of the system?:

To pre-frame, I am an "it is what it is" kind of person. Either I hear and feel (emotionally, how musical it sounds) or I do not. I could care less what is claimed by the manufacturer. At the end of evaluating an audio product there is a pass or fail. I do not like products that take away and provide benefit (which is typical in high-end audio). At this stage with my system, I am less tolorant of compromises.

Anywhos...I did not critically listen to the system until the 2 week period of having the PE in the system. My system before the PE install tilts a tad to the warm side of neutral. This is what I experienced:

* Within minutes I noticed that the system got a tad warmer, a bit more organic without the HF rolling off. This got my attention! When I mention warmer and organic, think a shade more like tube gear. The presentation sounded a bit more musical and involving. More of a harmonic completeness, if you will.

* The presentation from above midbass frequencies is more relaxed, without any detriment to transients or dynamics. Sounds a bit more natural.

* Watched a DVD (Black Snake Moan) last night. Video is improved. Object depth (3-D) is clearer and more pronounced. Close up detail is improved, like a layer of detail is now more apparent. An example would be more depth to the detail on the pores of a close up on an actors face.

* Vocal clarity. I am quite happy with the system before the PE in this area. I have oodles of detail with vocals. After installing the PE the vocals just sounded a bit more real and relaxed. Hard for me to express with words. Even my wife commented in this area.

* Lastly, instruments within the full frequency spectrum sounded a bit more real. A bit more like a live performance vs a good reproduction of the same performance. Timbre is truer.

* No other positive or negative effects to the system.



To summarize:

The effects noted above are very noticeable. Even when I listen to other recordings I am very familiar with. From my experience, the effects of the PE is on a level of a superb interconnect, speaker cable or power cord upgrade. Here is the kicker, $75! I could not find any fault with the PE, needless to say it stays in my system. Actually there is one more in the mail coming my way. :o) The PE is very well received and appreciated by this frugal audiophile. Kudos and congrats on an excellent product Alan!

If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask.

Chris


Product Weakness: None that I can detect.
Product Strengths: Performance to cost value is supurb. Easy to install and integrate into the system.


Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: (3) Proceed AMP2 - slightly modded
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): modded Proceed AVP
Sources (CDP/Turntable): modded Proceed CDD Transport
Speakers: Infinity MTS Prelude and 5 other custom built speakers (3 used for center channel) using Infinity MTS Prelude drivers. Custom crossover and enclosure mods by Jeff Glowaki at Sonic Craft, Sunfire True Subwoofer Signature sub
Cables/Interconnects: DIY active Alumiloy interconnects. (5) Alan Maher Designs Studio Reference power cords, Electraglide Fatman 2000 Gold, VH Audio Flavor 4, Electraglide Mini Kahn Plus
Music Used (Genre/Selections): All Chesky Recordings. Jazz and Classical, with most of the review based on Chesky's Critical Listening disk.
Room Size (LxWxH): 19' x 16' x 10'
Room Comments/Treatments: Very live room. No professional room treatments as of this review. All marble flooring with a large thick rectangular rug in the center, wood blinds, large leather sofa with large leather ottoman and chase lounge.
Time Period/Length of Audition: a little over two weeks
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): (8) Hammond 193L Chokes, 2 Transformer PLCs for video, Most gear modded, many accessories and tweaks, different types of high end component footers, Symposium clone platforms, etc., etc.
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: Alan Maher Designs Power Enhancers Power Conditioner/Surge Protector - cdc 17:05:49 07/5/07 ( 51)