Several audiophiles (one being my local dealer) have assured me that
they can hear a distinct improvement in the their systems with the
addition of a power conditioner. While it would be helpful form me to
listen to a demonstration of the a system with and without such a power
conditioner, I don't know where I could arrange such a demo in our area.
- And, if I brought such a unit home to audition it in my own system,
comparing the system with and without the unit would be difficult.

Has anyone on the ng been involved in any semi-blind tests of such
units, and are the results available on-line or elsewhere? Or, have
tests been conducted that could be reviewed? This seems to be an area in
which hyperbole and personal bias could tend to skew the results in a
sighted demo.

Jim Cate

Jim Cate wrote:

Several audiophiles (one being my local dealer) have assured me that
they can hear a distinct improvement in the their systems with the
addition of a power conditioner. While it would be helpful form me to
listen to a demonstration of the a system with and without such a power
conditioner, I don't know where I could arrange such a demo in our area.
- And, if I brought such a unit home to audition it in my own system,
comparing the system with and without the unit would be difficult.

Has anyone on the ng been involved in any semi-blind tests of such
units, and are the results available on-line or elsewhere? Or, have
tests been conducted that could be reviewed? This seems to be an area in
which hyperbole and personal bias could tend to skew the results in a
sighted demo.


You can always borrow one from your dealer for the weekend and listen to it for
yourself. It's not that difficult to listen for a while with it in the system
and then again without it. In general, the downside of many power conditioners
(depending on their design, of course) is to lessen dynamic contrasts. I use a
Monster HTS2000 ($199) - these are available everywhere - for my CD player with
good results.
Regards,
Mike

My experience has been that they generally have no effect on the sound
of an average system or actually hamper the sound of higher powered
ones. I tried quite a few in an effort to find one that did what it
claimed in terms of protection and sound on a high powered, quite
revealing system. None tested so far have improved the sound, all
protect the system and only one - the winner, had no effect on the
sound but also protected it. So my take so far is that if you can't
hear it, then it is working well. I would not expect it to actually
make things sound better. I have been told that many times, yet have
never actually experienced it. Of course I have have not heard them
all either as it seems there are new units every month or so. I get
comfort from knowing that mine has protected my system for years, yet
has not interfered sonically.
- Bill
www.uptownaudio.com
Roanoke VA
(540) 343-1250

"Jim Cate" wrote in message
...
Several audiophiles (one being my local dealer) have assured me that
they can hear a distinct improvement in the their systems with the
addition of a power conditioner. While it would be helpful form me
to
listen to a demonstration of the a system with and without such a
power
conditioner, I don't know where I could arrange such a demo in our
area.
- And, if I brought such a unit home to audition it in my own
system,
comparing the system with and without the unit would be difficult.

Has anyone on the ng been involved in any semi-blind tests of such
units, and are the results available on-line or elsewhere? Or, have
tests been conducted that could be reviewed? This seems to be an
area in
which hyperbole and personal bias could tend to skew the results in
a
sighted demo.

Jim Cate