Tweakers' Asylum: REVIEW: Sound Application XE-12S Power Conditioner/Surge Protector by mfinochio

Model:	XE-12S
Category:	Power Conditioner/Surge Protector
Suggested Retail Price:	$4200
Description:	power line conditioner, non-current limiting
Manufacturer URL:	Sound Application
Manufacturer URL:	Sound Application

Review by mfinochio on April 18, 2005 at 18:56:39
IP Address: 63.229.112.162

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This is my first attempt at a review, so please excuse me if it is not up to par with the others found here.
I had a very good power conditioner, a "Balanced Power" version, but felt it was not helping as much as it was hurting, so off on a quest I went. I did a lot of research and talked to a lot of people about various power conditioners using web-sights, reviews and personal opinions. I did not go into this decision lightly. I found that most who owned a Sound Application had nothing but happy results. The reviews where awesome, take these, as with any review from a ad based magazine, with a grain of salt. I talked to Jim, the maker of Sound Application products, multiple times. He gives honest opinions and theories behind why his products are superior to many of the power conditioners out there.
I purchased a unit he designed for my system based on the XE-12S power conditioner. I give fair warning here, if you buy a Sound Applications product, please give it a lot of time to burn in. Jim using very high voltage caps that take a lot of time to burn in. You do not have to have a huge load on them, but it must be constantly plugged in to achieve burn-in. I took Jim's warning to heart and waited about one month before I was ready to post this review.
I have to say that the Sound App XE-12S is the most significant upgrade of one component I have ever come across. There is no one single component that effects all of your system like the Sound Application. I have a home theater based system and nothing I have done has come close to this. My audio is the best I have ever heard it. I will give a real-world example of something I feel everyone every one can hear, no dynamics, lushness etc as I feel these are system dependant terms. I had some hiss from the tweeters of my speakers, not real loud but I could hear it from about 12 inches away. I have to almost put my ear inside the speaker to hear this noise anymore. In the video area I have had to adjust my pictures three times due to the TV getting brighter.
I can not say enough about Jim and his product. If you are looking for one of, if not the best, power conditioners out there I highly recommend Jimâ€™s Sound Application products. His attention to detail is amazing as is his knowledge of AC power and its effects on audio and video. There is simply no other product, in my knowledge that can produce such a dramatic improvement in all areas as the XE-12S. Try one and be amazed.

Product Weakness: only thing I can say is price, but this kind of omprovement is worth it.
Product Strengths: Over-all gains in all aspects of video and audio equiptment

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	California Audio CL-2500 MCA
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	California Audio CL-2500 SSP
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	California Audio CL-2500 DVD
Speakers:	Athena S3/P3 sub/sat combo
Cables/Interconnects:	Harmonic Tech Magic(Interconnects and Digital),Fantasy power cords, Pro-9+ speaker cables, and HT video cables
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Alternative,Jazz,Blues and a lot of movies
Time Period/Length of Audition:	6 weeks so far
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Sound Application XE-12S
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	only thing I can say is price, but this kind of omprovement is worth it.
Product Strengths:	Over-all gains in all aspects of video and audio equiptment