About to buy a Power Plant

orthobiz · « **on:** 5 Mar 2004, 02:57 am »

Almost ready to buy a PS Audio Power Plant. 250 w/ch hybrid Van Alstine amp, T7 hybrid preamp, Linn Sondek, CD player...

Any comments? Experience? Richard Gray? Shunyata?

Thanks,

biz

orthobiz · « **Reply #1 on:** 5 Mar 2004, 02:59 am »

I forgot, a P1000 with PS Audio Reference cable.

biz

Marbles · « **Reply #2 on:** 5 Mar 2004, 03:12 am »

The PS PP600 was not big enough for my Symphonic Line RG4 amps..I had NO bass with it.

The PP1000 might be big enough for your Van Alstine. I have heard of quality control problems with the PP1000's though.

If I were to do it over I think I would go with a BPT 3.5 Signature

http://www.b-p-t.com/

http://www.meer.net/~b-p-t//news.html

zybar · « **Reply #3 on:** 5 Mar 2004, 03:28 am »

I own the BPT 3.5 Sig and highly recommend it.

Eric, had the PS Audio and BPT, the BPT is still there and the PS Audio is gone....

BPT will give you better performance, use less electricity, take up less space, and not double as a space heater.

Oh yeah, it's also cheaper!!

Send me a PM for a dealer who gives good prices on the BPT.

I am not affiliated in anyway with this dealer other than being a happy customer.

George

orthobiz · « **Reply #4 on:** 5 Mar 2004, 05:11 am »

I have a chance to get the Power Plant with a free cord, slight discount, but the BPT is still cheaper!

So many conditioners, regenerators, surge protectors, blah blah blach, it's really hard to decide what is best, but at least I won't be jumping on the Power Plant tomorrow. Thanks...

ekovalsky · « **Reply #5 on:** 5 Mar 2004, 05:57 am »

I'd avoid the Powerplant. It's big, hot, and wasteful. I was on my third unit in less than six months which doesn't speak well for long term reliability, although the third unit was working great for several months at the time I sold it. And from a performance standpoint it did not embarrass the BPT.

If you go the Powerplant route make sure you get at least 20% off retail price on a new unit.

Also I'm not a big fan of the PS Audio power cords. I tried a Statement xStream and found it made little improvement over the stock cord. Also it was very stiff and unwieldy. I've had very good success with the BMI Whale Supreme cords, and Michael Wolff's carbon ribbon cord (which I currently have on trial) seems very promising too.

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #6 on:** 5 Mar 2004, 06:38 am »

I have only the PP300 which has the Sony DVP-S7700 transport, MSB Power Plant/Gold Link III DAC, SAE Tuner and IRD Purist Pre hooked up to it.

I tried the 2 Norh MultiAmps with it (Marbles, they still work!) and it sucked the beejesus life out of 'em - it sounded like hell (properly forewarned by PS Audio, tho). The other four components sound terrific on them. Have little to compare to except Monster PowerBar 1100 and Panamax 1000 before them.

As for PS Audio Statement Extreme, I am thrilled with my 0.5 mtr. PC bought a few weeks ago. Clearly, a good fit in my system. It runs from wall (PS Audio Power Port) to PS Audio Ultimate Outlet.

Good luck on your quest / decision.

Mike B. · « **Reply #7 on:** 5 Mar 2004, 06:43 pm »

The main concern I have heard about these power regenerators is that you must take into account that the rated steady state power consumption of your components is not a good guide. As the power supply caps charge and recharge there is micro seconds where the current demand is far greater, and this can cause sonic problems. One amp manufacture has measured massive line demands far exceeding what was expected. Since they are very short in duration, the AC circuit breaker does not blow.

orthobiz · « **Reply #8 on:** 5 Mar 2004, 09:08 pm »

Seems like power surges from the amp may "get through." Seems like most people are happy running the top end with the power plant, TT, CD, tuner, etc. and get into more trouble with the power amps.

biz

zybar · « **Reply #9 on:** 5 Mar 2004, 09:19 pm »

I have tried my amps plugged directly into the wall and into the BPT 3.5 Sig - sound is better all around with BPT.

It is absolutely not restriciting dynamics.

George

StevenACNJ · « **Reply #10 on:** 5 Mar 2004, 10:33 pm »

The BPT 3.5 Signature is a great product. I got mine about 3 weeks ago and feel it is a good value for the money.

Just be prepared to possibly wait a while to get it. I got several "it will be there in about a week" type stalls before I finally got it.

ekovalsky · « **Reply #11 on:** 5 Mar 2004, 11:25 pm »

And be prepared to give it some time to break in after it does arrive. Took about 3-4 days of use driving a projection TV and some video equipment before it approached the P1000.

tkp · « **Reply #12 on:** 7 Mar 2004, 07:07 am »

I have tried a few amps on the BPT 2.0, 2.5 and 3.5 Signiture and got mixed result.

When the IRD MB100 plugging into the BPT 2.0/2.5, the improvement in the bass region was stunning in my book and I did not feel any restriction in dynamic. I was using the marble 9.0 speaker in this system.

With a pair of Ampzilla2000 plugging into the 3.5 signiture and driving a pair of RM40s, I did not notice a sense of restriction on dynamic at first but over time I slowly realized that the dynamic was some what restricted. However, the 3.5 signiture lowered the whole system noise floor in a ways such that every thing sound cleanner and I can play the system at much higher volume without knowing it. The over all improvement was/is on the positive side with every thing plugging into the 3.5 Signiture. For your information, the Ampzilla2000 is class AB amp with a 2000 watts transformer for each mono block.

With A pair of 75 watts class A monoblock amps and a pair of 200 watts class AB mono block amp driving the RM40s in passive amping mode, the 3.5 signiture actually hurt the system performance with the amp plugging into it versus plugging the amps into 20 amps dedicated wall outlet. I was a bit suprised to find this out because prior to this experience, my main system sounded more real when every thing is plugged into the 3.5 Signiture.

One thing really consistent is that the BPT 2.0, 2.5 and 3.5 Sig all improves the pictures of both my CRT and LCD TVs. This was one of the main reason I got a BPT for each systems in my house.

I must say that BPT 2.0, 2.5 and 3.5 Sig definetely helps the source equipment and should help on most amp. I also bought the BPT Jr. and found out that it did not seem to have any improvement over the PowerWedge product that owned previously.

Hopes this help.

StevenACNJ · « **Reply #13 on:** 7 Mar 2004, 12:55 pm »

My HT system is still torn apart (has been for over 2 months

)

While I was wating for my BPT 3.5, I tore down my system and installed a new 20 amp dedicated line with an ACME 20 amp Cryo silver plated outlet for the BPT.

I am currently waiting for a modded dvd player from Modwright & amp stands from Timbernation before I reset everything up.

But I do have my Motorolla 6200 digital cable box & my Sony RPTV plugged in and running with my new BPT 3.5 Signature. The picture quality improved quite a bit. The sound quality also improved and that is with audio coming from just my TV.

HD TV broadcasts are looking really nice.