Why Your HiFi Audio System Sounds Worse on Some Days. Is this the Cure? What about Transformer Buzz?
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Today I share info on something I found out about MY SYSTEM that may help YOUR SYSTEM! For years I have been plagued by sound changes within my audio system for no reason. I have also had issues with transformer buzzing with some amps, but not all.
I have tried fixing this with rewiring my electric, buying a $10k power plant regenerator and various power conditioners. While the P20 PowerPlant did make my system sound the same 24/7 it did not fix all of my issues with electricity like some amps that still had a transformer buzz. After I had my room re-wired I sold my P20 as I figured I would no longer need it. I was WRONG!
When I found and tested the Puritan Audio PSM 156 this little black box broght back all of the magic to my system as well as bringing stability. This means it sounds the same 24/7 but now there is no more transformer buzzing as well! This magic black box truly helped my system proving that it all starts with POWER. Without it, my system sounds harder, harsher, flatter and with less fullness and sweetness. With it, there is magic and all of these issues vanish.
This is one of the best, if not the best HiFi purchase I have made to date.
Enjoy!
Media Contact/Review Contact: stevehuff1@icloud.com
The only thing I hear when I listen to my amp is my tinnitus and $10,000 is not going to fix that
😂
I'm sorry ... What did you say??
@@gregoire8376he say - youre ears and whole perception mechanism of nerves system working not very well sometimes😂
It's always fun when your system takes the next step towards the sound you want.
Yes indeed, it’s part of the fun :)
Don't underestimate the condition of your ears. Listen to a system after a couple of hours of driving and you'll notice how lifeless it sounds. Even worse, I once listened to my stereo after a plane ride and couldn't believe how quiet it was and how much bass it lacked. Oh and check for ear wax too.
I dont really get it to be honest. Room rewired, with such a top notch system and still sounding flat and noisy. Go figure! Whole thing saved by an obscure power purifier. Another thing is when did this problem became noticable and annoying. If its quite some time now, that this is happening, lets say months now, then how many gear reviews were possibly compromised...
haha right in the kisser
Exactly
On days when I'm drunk it sounds amazing. Transformer hum could also mean you need to recap the power caps.
Transformer hum can also be from laminations in the transformer being dried out and loose.
When I'm drunk it always sounds loud and distorted. Why is this?
@@yuglesstubeMy friend had the same problem and kept blowing up his amps and tweeters! 😅
😂😂😂
Now please review the lesser expensive option from puritan $1600
I’ve been considering adding a puritan here.
Great review as always 🙏
The reason some days my audio system sounds bad is that I sometimes inadvertently put on rap.
That'll do it.
I have this 156 with the power cord and agree it is a fantastic product at a reasonable price compared to others like SR or Shunyata or Nordost or PS Audio etc.
You seem to have researched almost everything(!). Did you ever audition or hear about Furutech star grounded power distributors? On paper they do a similar job to Puritan but without surge protection,
It's one of the best purchases I have made for my system. One of the best I have made in 30+ years.
I agree and heard the same improvement after adding the Puritan to my system. I can understand the scepticism, but the difference is huge.
I've found that the so-called difference in sound from one day to the next lies not in the system but in the listener. You touched on it here. Human beings are infinitely more complicated than audio systems. Moods, state-of-mind can change from day to day and that influences what we hear and how we hear it.
You are so right!
I clean out my ears for more top end. Cheaper than getting a new DAC! 😅
I eat Oatmeal (porridge) for breakfast, two days before a serious listening session.
Everything is clearer in two days !!
Correct
It’s not just DC offset. Most AC is filled with noise of all sorts from home appliances, computers, neighbors, and commercial buildings. It’s usually the worst during peak power usage during the day. That’s why it’s best to listen late at night when everyone is asleep.
99% of the time it's down to your mood.
Most decent pieces of hifi have so much power supply regulation and PSRR that they barely care what the mains does.
Yeah, never had such hideous 'DC on my AC mains' problems like this.
Thing is, you've introduced a new X factor by rewiring the room. You said you just plugged your amp straight into the wall, and the peripherals went into a power strip. First thing I'd do before plopping $4k into a new toy, would be to start from scratch. I'd be really interested to see what the Niagra does as far as alleviating your issue. Sure, this is 1/3 the price of the PowerPlant, but I'm guessing with the new wiring a lot has changed with your system. When I was building my dream room with a dedicated 20amp panel just for the electronics, they installed some sort of sine wave conditioner that wasn't particularly expensive. The noise floor was non existent, and the blackest of blacks. The ex probably has her electric piano plugged into it these days. BTW, after 50 years (25 as a recovering audiophile), I know half of it is psychological. There's days I just shouldn't be listening and don't. In my current digs w/lousy wiring, a Niagra solved my minor issues.
Nope, it isn't psychological.
Well I’ve definitely experienced this. I’m on the cheaper end of the market though as my solution was the audiolab dc blocker. My hifi now sounds consistent.
I use the Audiolab DC Blocker also and it improved the sound of my system greatly.
Day to Day Ear Wax & Critical Listening...................
I use a smooth spatula with a 0.3mm wax depth indicator. Smear your ear canal evenly with the day's accumulation removing any excess. Consistent layering of aged wax can produce unique tonal air in the soundstage.
I am so thankful that every time either day or night I listen to my system I'm nothing but blown away. And I don't use anything but 10 gauge copper speaker cables and standard basic jacks for my preamp CD player turntable and plugged straight into the wall, how is that possible?
You have “Magic Juice” Magic Juice is extremely rare. Don’t let the electric power company know you have Magic Juice coming into your house. They will raise your electric power bill if they find out you are an Audiophile.😀
How is it possible ?
The devices you own were designed to be used exactly as you do, nothing more. No magic here.
@@kloug2006 it's the same thinking that allows martial arts masters to knock other practitioners backwards with "Chi" , the power of the mind, a power that is completely useless on untrained people.
I’d be interested to hear how your system sounds using just the ultimate power cable without the Puritan conditioner.
Have you tried the Puritan with a nornal power cable yet? Logically, if the power conditioner is doing its job, the cable between the wall and conditioner shouldn't make much difference. On the other hand, cables between the conditioner and the equipment maybe more effective to preserve the clean power and reduce interference via shielding.
Conditioners don't condition themselves.
Getting clean power for your stereo is a cumulative process. Even the power outlets (i.e. Furutech, Audience) can yield a noticeable reduction in noise if you have a revealing upper mid-end to high-end system.
Have you tried the skunk audio enhancer?
It is just due to how you feel , your mood influences your perception of music
IMHO they should have given you a discount. You bought your Luxman Turntable from them and you've mentioned their name .
I’m glad you could improve your hi end system sound, although you know this is a never ending quest. I hope you can really enjoy your music for a long time with this settings, and your family too, because that’s what matters, in my opinion. I really appreciate your work, and i think it would be even better if the message is deliver in less time (my humble suggestion). Apologyze for my writing, but english is not my native language).
Bad luck for everyone this problem happens to, I feel bad for you! Personally, I must be blessed; my Samsung soundbar sounds great every time!
If you rub the power cable with extra virgin olive oil, it will sound better. I promise.
Big believer of clean power. Makes a difference. :)
I use the iFi Powerstation and it has also brought consistency and low noise floor to my system. A $750 bargain in comparison.
Does it have star grounding? The CEO of PS Audio himself said that is a key ingredient.
@@connorduke4619 Paul's a great and knowledgeable guy. I'm not sure but I'm confident that the Powerstation has some form of isolation between any independent circuits/PCBs - they do design a variety of power and signal related products, in addition to their audio gear. There's also an intelligent ground function that detects whether or not a ground is needed to avoid ground loops.
@@infn Paul's a great salesman too.
The big issue I have with Puritan conditioner is all the inductors it uses to filter noise. I’ve used power conditioners like this before. It lowers the noise floor at the expense of restricted dynamics and truncated soundstage. This conditioner maybe different but I doubt it.
This was convincing. Think I'm gonna buy it. Do you recommend connecting all equipment? Especially is there any problem connecting both digital and analogue devices to it - as opposed to some power strips that have separate zone for those (perhaps the outlets here are all separated zones to some extent)?
Whenever i feel my system isn’t performing the way it is supposed to I just take a couple of Tylenol and it sounds perfect!
Your kidneys may not appreciate this, especially when taken by "couples".
I tried the Supra dc blocker and the audioquest 1200 in combination, they did absolutely nothing my dc dc offset/transformer hum. Moving house cured it 100% though (a more expensive soultion overall 😅)
Temp and humidity levels in the room can significantly change any audio system
Yes, it can affect the sound but not anywhere near as much as clean power.
Before you takeout a Bank Loan... Try the iFi Audio AC iPurifier ... Plug into wall outlet
Usually those things affect sound quality you want something that doesn't color sound.
ifi dc blocker solved my amp transformer hum.
What is the difference between psm156 and PB104-DC Power Brick?Which one do you recommend?
I compared the P20 with the Niagra 5000 (as 7000 not available) and the PSM 156. The 156 walked it for a FRACTION of the price.
I’d be curious to know if this could help with ground loop hums between pre and power amps. I had to use an Ebtech Hum X ground line voltage filter in my preamp to eliminate a ground loop hum. Before this, I tried Niagara 1200 and AQ cables, but the hum was either loud at some times or barely noticeable other times.
What would happen if you use the Puritan and the PS Audio Powerplant at the same time? You get rid of the electrical issues plus massive warm soundstage? Hmmm...
You run the risk of experiencing a paradoxical reaction and your system will sound like a Bose.
Great insights! I have that problems too audioholicer, everytime i switch input or change music I have to do some balance even change geer move etc. I wish there was a purity hifi system that make all music sound great. I look for matching system more then upgrade down-grade is an other game! keep going!
I own an Audience power conditioner which dramatically improved the sound of my stereo. It's also a lot more expensive than the Puritan. It would be interesting to compare the two to hear if the Audience is that much better or if the Puritan is a giant killer.
I have all my audio components plugged in wall sockets, and it sounds wonderful, no transformer buzz, no nothing... just super sound...and no fairytale stories with magic dust...
Fairytale
What about surge protection? Even in the absence of a major strike, small surges can wear down electronics over time, without proper protection..
Lucky you. My old amp was humming happily in the background until I got an audio lab dc blocker thingy that brought that noise down to almost inaudible. Since then had four other apps on trial, Hegel 390, Gato Audio Amp-150, Luxman 700u and Accuphase e380. All hummed, the dc blocker worked on them all (never totally removing the transformer hum, but always at least halving) except for Luxman, which I actually bought but ultimately had to return for that reason. Luxman has an E type transformer, unlike toroids in the other three, and I read somewhere the dc blockers are not effective with those. What is puzzling a bit here is that the 595 is most likely also of the E type… Have I got a dodgy dc blocker that can’t cope with DC on my mains, i.e. lacking in that magic dust, or just unlucky with four respected brands and their expensive amplifiers?
TheMeridian, you're my darn HERO! I don't know where these cuckoo audiophiles get this stuff from. I got my electronics plugged into a surge protector, and then the wall. There's no buzz, no noise, nothing. Some people will believe ANYTHING!!!
@@Larwiz Someones gotta feed all those families, and our mate Steve's got very expensive hobby, so...
Interesting that I only see videos like this coming out of the USA.
I live in a 100yr old suburb in Australia, we have 240V compared to your 110V. I have never experienced your problem. Interesting topic, thanks.
My thoughts exactly - us the land of the “dirtiest” wires 😂
:) fascinating ha?
Same here n the UK.
American hifi reviewers are only promoting snakeoil!
This problem occurs in bi-phase main power supply (110V-0V-110V) countries like in US, where the "neutral" lead is not so neutral... There is no problem if you use mono-phase (220V-0V-Ground) like in Europe.
why?
@sqnax888 why what?!
@@kodtech How come the neutral wire is not so neutral? How does this improve power quality?
I have an audiolab dc block. Nice bit of kit
I think you guys are fooled with these Power things. I don't how bad your electric systems are on US, but I don't think the reason is there. I used to be an electrician 20 years and know something...
Explain…?
The grid or your house power factor might be out a bit to far, causing the buzzing and also increasing your electricity bill. Do you have a lot of older 12v lighting in the house?
Thank you. Very interesting. One question : have you changed all the power cords in your system ? Or did you keep the ones you had initially(for amplifier, sub, etc) ? Thanks.
Even expensive units, are likely to have, "starter," power cords. I purchased better ones, recommended by PS Audio {the maker of the P 20 Power Rejuvenator}, specific to each piece of equipment, including more substantial ones for the power amps, & the P 20, itself. The quality power cords, and connectors, represent 15 to 20% of the cost of the system! Worth it, I feel, to try to maximize the quality of the system. It's interesting how different pieces of equipment, help in his particular situation ~
My system always sounds worse after watching your video's, I'm comparing it to what you have, which is way above my system.
I'm well aware of the PS audio power conditioners but can't see myself paying 10K for that! Like someone else said try the Puritan products.
I have the psm 136, v nice
Audio by Van Alstine (AVA) Humdinger also a great, simple DC Blocker. Simple, quality, high-value
what happened to the audio quest!
How can DC cause buzzing? How can you pollute the mains with DC of any noticeable voltage? I must have missed a couple of days at school when I studied electronics…
It’s a thing / read up on it. If your transformer buzzes and you can hear it then usually this is caused by having DC on your line. If you read up on the top cause of transformer buzzing, it’s DC on the line. The Puritan was the first to remove nearly all DC on my line. No more buzzing, much better sound and protection for the system. All you need to do is google “dc causing transformer buzzing” and you’ll find years of articles and info about it. It’s a thing. The puritan is the best HiFi purchase I’ve made in many years.
I only learned like a week or two ago that you can run a DC & AC voltage on the same line and they won't really interfere with each other and I thought the same thing, how was this never mentioned in any electronics course??
@@HiFiHuff as the E type transformers are not susceptible to DC offset on the mains, how can the puritan possibly eliminate the transformer hum of your Luxman caused by the said DC offset?
Just because you don't understand it doesn't mean it's not true.
You are so right!
it's not the gear. it's your ears, your mood, your blood pressure, your tinnitus your imagination...unless you are using all valve gear which is notorious.
What's a bipolar HiFi system?
I swear you do this so your wife lets you buy your toys.
Do you use AC power cords on your components your speakers are gorgeous is the locksman a integrative amplifier?
Humidity, temperature, barometric pressure.
I have the PSM156 with the ultimate and it is fantastic!!
Bang for the buck ❤
I also have had a few moments, that the sound was worse. Maybe signals can be influenced by the envirement. I am every day working with acoustical instruments as a profession, and I never had the same moments there.
Ear wax and mood makes a big difference
Thank you. I will look into getting one. I have a buzz and hum in one of my amps.
You are absolutely right that some days sound is not perfect for the same system. Could it be depending on air pressure change?
Or if you have a cold that can effect the sound,plus if you sneeze and your ears pop slightly that too can change the sound.
I live in Mexico and Mains power is horrible. I had to install a large UPS for my home network media center. All my TV's and audio equipment have there own UPS. Voltage can swing 15 to 20 volts during the summer. The LED lights that I installed in my home insert horrible noise in the the Mains that I had to look for and locate better options. Power outages are not common but they happen when wind is high voltage spikes happen quite often. Rain always brings power failures but I have a power generator for outages.
Evenings and nights sounds noticable better. The quality on the electrical grid goes up and down where I live in Sweden.
Same here in the U.S. or any city. But after I bought a Audience Adept Response aR2p-T4 power conditioner, my stereo sounds the same, day or night.
If you hear the transformer hum, crank up the volume have a beer and relax 🤣
My system always sounds fantastic. Must be my sansui AU 717. No Integrated amplifier 100 watts and under comes close.
Warmth in sound it is distortion
ive noticed that if you didnt listen to music or any noice, didnt watched youtube etc for some time - sound system works much beter 😂
The P20 costs how much???
I have 5 mains filters and purifiers and have never looked back since 2002. The cost was fairly high but well worth it
yesterday i made a cassette recording with bands from late 80´s to early 90´s only from british bands ,when i put the recording playing i felt like if there was a problem with the cassette deck ,this morning while getting up to go to work i put the cassette playing but i felt like the sound is perfect
Can you use a multimeter and check for dc offset of your ac line and again on a port from the power conditioner?
I had the same exact question. I'm tempted to use my Fluke meter to probe my outlets for the presence of DC voltage. Anybody know if this would prove anything?
My Yamaha powered subwoofer was making my system sound noisy, with an annoying buzz every so often. I changed the male plug and all the noise dissappeared. Then I changed almost all the other male plugs and everything sounds amazing! Silver contacts, copper wire and brass coating make a huge difference.
Morning ears Vs Evening ears are definitely a thing!
these so called HIFI reviews should be signed as advertising shows
Rap is like scissors, it always loses to rock
Get 3 audio lab dc blockers for 300 quid .I’ve got 3 toroidal transformers .
Power purifiers are as old as the hills. Their supposed benefits have been debunked numerious times over the years. I'm old enough to remember when digital was unheard of and cds didn't exist didn't exist. Power purifiers were debunked way back then.
Creatures Of The Night!
I had really bad dc hum ( big monoblocks with torroidal)and the Emotiva cmx2 work extremely well. But every once and a while some dc would get through and the transformers would hum for a couple minutes……..so I tried the Puritan and it removes the same amount of dc as the CMX2, but offers much better sound…so I bought it today.. …I do have an odd issue…my transformer in my psu for my turntable buzzes on the Puritan psm156, but not when plugged into the cmx2….so….keeping both!
I use the CMX-2 and the CMX-6 units. No issues here. System sounds fantastic.
@@michaelwright1602 That’s great Michael….I used my CMX2 for about 6 months and they were great….then on occasion my transformer would hum for a minute or so….that’s when I thought I’d try the Puritan. It’s probably equipment dependant as well as how bad your power is coming from the wall…(my power is very dirty)….but on my system the Puritan provided in inky black quiet background for the music that the cmx2 didn’t quite achieve.(you can buy 20 cmx2 for the price of a Puritan). If your power isn’t too bad….I am sure the CMX2 is all you need….some peoples power is so clean they don’t need any form of power conditioner (so they say:)….Chris
It is because some hifi fans had a terrible hangover!!!
In my country we are 220V will Puritan 156 Purifier is safe to use please? Thanks 👍
DC Hum? ahh ok lmao hilarious
Mine sounds crap when I’ve run out of the herb
Glad your situation worked out.
If audio gear requires a $10,000 power plant or a $3,000 'power purifier', IMHO its not a well engineered unit.
@@bikeman7982 these are usually needed for those without great power, like me. Not for the gear, but for the bad power that some of us have that does cause issues. Also, btw, there’s loads of poorly designed gear out there and some of it costs a small fortune. The Powerplant will also put its own signature on the sound. Wider stage, slightly warmer. Wether this is due to producing perfect electricity or something else, I do not know. Like anything we add to a system, it can make a great difference or even cause the sound to be worse. Ps audio has a 30 day trial that they give with every sale of all of their products. Seems to me many many more keep them than the fewer who may send them back : )
There's one born every minute
Puritan is legit, I’m very interested in one. They are going for $1800+ on Audiomart. Currently I’m using a PSA regen and I love it but I still get that occasional loss of dynamics phenomenon.
Great review and recommendation! My problem is with the harshness in vocals and cymbals. I own a Linn DSM 4 connected to a pair of FyneAudio 501 speakers. At beginning it sounded very good...a bit bright, but tolerable. After a few months things started to sound too bright and harsh. Checked.the speakers and the Linn, and everything seems okay. Could this be the solution?.
DC blockers.
Alcohol doesn't help either.
Thanks for making your points. It sounds exactly like beeing catched by the hi-fi religion this industry strives for, and that's both fun and engaging - as long it's lasts.
Yes, hifi is great fun! The hifi reviewers allways think they have found the hifi Jesus, but they are never happy!
My system always sounds better at night for some reason.
thats because the background noise level is much lower.
Yeah... it s*cks when you got a $45.000.- system and the sound is cr@p!😞
You could try a new earthing in your backyard (metal pole 10 feet into the ground) and use that to 'earth/ground' the audio system.
I use a power conditioner on my sources and preamp in my area there are no power problems but at Peak usage times you will always share a difference
Yea, I have a dedicated Earth/Ground line with a 5 feet brass rod into the ground and the minor buzzing on my speaker is gone. The background noise is very much lower than before.
I simply can't effort to own a 3300 bucks line purifier.
This is why I stick to my zone in the vintage world and stay far away from the audiophile world. You end up dumping tens of thousands of dollars in this pursuit of "perfection" and, if any audiophile is ever honest with you, it's never ending. It's a continuous forever quest for "better" and absolutely never being happy or satisfied with what you have. It's pursuit of gear and the "sound" is the excuse.
too many change/swap in mains power. why no change/swap in amp itself?
1st world problems.
the magic is back!! 👏🎉
Who would have believed it, hifi runs on electricity?
do you have any flourescent lights in the room?
None in the entire house, so no.
Thank you for your thorough test! I wasn't aware of this brand. Have you ever tried a Furman conditioner in your system? I have been using their cheapest model (AC 210) and I very glad for the purchase, because it has brought a very noticeable improvement in my system. The system became silent and I can hear the background as being totally "black" (absolute lack of any kind of noise). There is also a model (P 1400 in Europe) which does what all the other conditioners do, plus it's also a voltage regulator. I was wondering how the puritan compares to any Furman conditioner. Thank you!
It does all that?