[SHXMD]

Hello all!

Seeking input on the Tai Hang power enhancer.

Coming to the completion of my system and receiving comments about adding a conditioner/enhancer to my digital front end including Pre-Amp.

The Tai Hang has been getting excellent reviews particularly from very honest reviewers.

My front end are the Auralic S1 Aries & Vega and LTA Microzotal Preamp stage 2. Leaves one open socket. My Amp is a Pass labs Class A so it goes directly into the wall.

Doing my due diligence here and would appreciate any and all directly related comments.

Best!

Sean

Thanks in advance for taking time to respond.

[Jon L]

Clean layout, nice quality, with some marketing spices added (what the heck is "symmetry current expansion circuit"?).
Let us know how it goes, but I don't know about the $1800 price 



 

[JackD]

I have a pair and like them.  They replaced a Puritan PSM-156.  They are smaller and easier to place than the full width Puritan and don't require a 20amp cord so you can use what you have on hand if need be.  Also in terms of the price you are actually better off ordering from beatechnik.com which is another of Alvin's companies.  Here the price is fixed in US dollars and not subject to the exchange rate and currency conversion fees.  From this site it is $1449.  With the price increases and tariffs the Puritan is up to $2700. If all you need is the four outlets with a normal current draw it will work for you.

[Early B.]

I have a pair and like them.  They replaced a Puritan PSM-156.

How does the Tai Hang compare sonically to the Puritan PSM-156?   

[FullRangeMan]

I dont believe conditioners delivery a significant sound benefit,
unless they are AC regenerators as PS Audio units or
Noise Harvester (great benefit for the price).

[JackD]

Early

I don't detect a whole lot of difference noise wise but the sound is slightly warmer in nature which suits me.  For now I still have the Puritan's and at some point may swap them back just to hear the difference after a time with the Tai Hang's.  Over the last six months or so I have swapped out a lot of other gear and am swapping out speakers again within the week so need to let things set a while after all the swaps are done. Won't be completely through with the swaps until the Aric Motherlode XL shows up within the month.

[Early B.]

I dont believe conditioners delivery a significant sound benefit,....

Most audiophiles recognize that everything in the signal path matters. For instance, some of us switch out caps in a single component and can hear differences. If a capacitor matters, imagine what a power conditioner can do, especially since every component is plugged into it, and it is designed to reduce noise, which is audible. That said, the sonic merits of a power conditioner should be subordinate to its ability to protect your gear. Not sure how well Tai Hang protects gear, since they don't say much about surge protection.     

[Jon L]

I don't detect a whole lot of difference noise wise but the sound is slightly warmer in nature which suits me.

If anything, I have removed many power conditioners in the past because they tend to sound "warmer," kind of similar to if I keep adding more and more shielding to interconnect cables, for example.  Technically, this may be due to noise/harmonics being removed more, but depending on room/personal taste, not necessarily preferred. 

Looking at my systems, all I have left are native batteries without regulation and regenerators. 

I wish I could measure them, but ASR measurements do give me pause..
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/puritan-audio-psm156-review-ac-filter.26136/

[brooklyn]

My own personal experience with a power conditioner revolves around a Shunyata Hydra Triton V1.. I purchased it to protect my gear just in case. I live in tornado alley.. Will it stop a lightening strike? I have no idea because it hasn’t been tested yet in that capacity.. What I did notice after I installed it was blacker backgrounds while listening to music.. I’ve been happy with it so far.. I rather not live without it.

[DaveC113]

A vast majority of US homes don't need an active AC power filter, there are pros and cons, not all power supplies react positively. In some cases it's a good thing though, high density situations like cities and hotels where audio shows are typically held almost require them. A passive filter or distributor that does NOT have caps and coils, but rather uses piezoelectric materials, is better in most situations.

I modify SurgeX conditioners which are industrial distributors with surge and active emi/rfi filters and I also sell Furutech distributors such as the GTO and e-TP609 NCF, these use NCF and GC-303 materials to passively absorb noise but are otherwise simple distributors that use really high quality parts. At audio shows in big urban hotels you can't beat the SurgeX, it makes and night and day difference and has won TAS Best of Show in the Cost No Object category. But the e-TP609 NCF is better for most residential applications.

No distributor will protect you from a direct lightning strike, only unplugging your gear will. Typical surge suppressors use MOVs and will add grain/hash, plus they wear out and get worse over time. SurgeX uses a different tech that is transparent and won't wear out. Same as Brickwall I think, but it's been a while. But again, surge is more of an issue in high density environments but will occur anytime a motor is switched off so you'll get some surge in any home. Levels are limited by law though, same with noise generated by digital gear/Class D amps. I don't think most people are going to hear your fridge turning on and off via your audio system, so again a simple distributor works well. There's no reason to add parts, expense and complexity unless you really need it, overly complicated systems have more opportunities to lose fidelity and cost more.

[Early B.]

I modify SurgeX conditioners... 

I replaced one of Dave's modded SurgeX with the Puritan PSM-156. IMO, their sound and performance are identical. I should have kept the SurgeX -- less expensive, more outlets, easier to plug power cords in, and less obtrusive (thinner).

[Doublej]

SurgeX (some models), Brick Wall, and ZeroSurge use the same non-MOV surge protection technology that was patented by ZeroSurge. The patent expired a few years ago.

Audioquest incorporates non-MOV surge protection technology into some of their power conditioning products.

[SHXMD]

Hey, thanks to all for fast and very thoughtful responses. I have considered a number of these issues. Of note, I can see the power plant where I live and I am 1 substation from the actual power generator-how much noise could get in I wonder. I have no discernible DC issues. I live on a flood plane which frequently gets lighting strikes so I pull the plugs after listening sessions. (I lost an AC unit to lightning strike before building my stereo. So I had a Surge Arrest “umbrella” on the main set-up for the entire house. No issues discernible. As a result of the upstream block, I use a Furutech e-TP 86 to facilitate current to the components.  Amp is class A and goes directly into the wall. Neither my refrigerator nor dryer appear to interfere with the music. I tried them-on and off.)

The only thing I really note is the music has a slight (?) variance over the day. Better in the morning and evening with afternoons being perhaps a little flat-less dynamic.

This last issue, a particularly honest reviewer (who built his own conditioner!) and an itch to see if this can get somewhat better drive this interest.

Any other comments greatly appreciated!

S

[djbnh]

I dont believe conditioners delivery a significant sound benefit,
unless they are AC regenerators as PS Audio units or
Noise Harvester (great benefit for the price).

Review of the Noise Harvester with measurements