Circuit tuning using the PE series:
As you have come to learn, the PE design offers infinite circuit calibrations to match any system component, manufacture, or musical preference. The PE can be systematically installed throughout the home on every circuit and offer a range of tuning possibilities for the circuit, circuit panel, system, and individual component.
Let’s start by tuning non-audio/video circuits. Tuning non-audio/video circuits help develop soundstage size and tonal colors.
I would like for everyone to look at the list of breakers again for this exercise. Go back to the first non-audio breaker on your list. It would be best if you knew which duplex outlet was first and last on the circuit. Once you have the circuit mapped lets start tuning by using one of my favorite combinations:
PE II > PE > PE IV / PE III / PE V Standard > PE > PE II
In this design you can either use a single PE III, IV, or V in the center location, do not use all 3. This design will range from lower midrange warmth to dynamic to hyper detail pending the center filter model added to the combination.
Circuit tuning is similar to power cord tuning. A good quality cord, or in this case circuit panel by the time we are finished, should not add coloration to mask over other problems located within the system. Colorations at the system are nothing but poor interaction choices and easily fixed when you have the right tools. In my opinion a good quality cord should reproduce exactly what is provided by the recording, it should not add or take away from the performance. A good quality and implemented filter system should remove any coloration, noise, crosstalk, etc that may be travelling throughout the home and prevent it from entering the system component, but it should do it in a way that doesn’t negatively effect the original signal.
Allow your first tuned circuit to stabilize over the next 4 to 5 days and see what it sounds like on the audio circuit. I don’t advise using the same filter combination for circuit 2, 3, 4, etc, because other parameters play a role in the tuning process. Example: Circuit breaker quality, number of breakers, length of in-wall wiring, number of duplex outlets, quality of duplex outlets effect circuit ringing, all play a role in the final outcome, the filter is only as good as it’s connecting counterpart. Not every circuit has to have 4, 5, and 6 PE models installed, most circuits do fine with 1 to 4 filters installed.
Example:
Circuit 1: PE II > PE > PE IV > PE > PE II.
Circuit 2: PE > PE> PE. Maybe a 193M installed.
Circuit 3: PE V Standard
Circuit 4: PE > PE > PE. Maybe a 193M installed.
Circuit 5 (Audio Circuit): PE V Surge Interrupter > PE V Pro Custom > Reference Power Strip.
NOTE: Since the Surge, Pro, and Ref share the same receptacle, you might also consider optional tuning/filters for other outlets on the same circuit. It’s only optional because I personally don’t find it necessary, I would prefer instead to use the new Studio Reference v2 cabling with the built in PE V Pro Custom filtering or the new PE V IEC filter to provide component isolation and power factor correction. The Pro Custom combination does a great job of blocking incoming noise and the Studio Reference v2 and PE V IEC filters offer the same level of isolation filtering at the component power inlet to prevent system crosstalk from interacting and entering the component.
