PS Audio P10... is it worth getting at a really great price?!

[PewterTA]

I have a chance to get a PS Audio P10 Power Regenerator for my system at a really remarkable price. Basically, I inquired about an open box item (was the wrong color for the person) given at about a 50% off... well that was sold already, but the guy is willing to sub in a brand new one shipped to me for the same price.

I currently have an APC S15BLK battery conditioner...but I'm thinking the PS Audio would be a nice step up, or at least will do a little bit better than the APC unit since I modified it and it sounds a lot better... and really... is not going to be much of a price jump over what I originally bought my APC unit for. Plus I'm thinking it'd be nice to give the APC unit to someone here that really could use it in their system....for a nice discounted price that is... *cough* a very good friend of mine, have to pass things down you know *cough*....

So my question is, what's your opinion, should I go for it?! I looked up some reviews and there really isn't much out there... So I figured I'd see what people thought!?

[wkhanna]

The black one sounds better. :W

My theory is that the effect from power conditioners is highly dependent on the quality of power delivered to your residence, which varies greatly based on the condition of the grid in which you reside. From there, the condition of the mains panel & distribution within the residence can also have effect. Even in the best to cases, line power fluctuations are the norm & have significant adverse effect on the performance of audio equipment. This is especially true with lower power, signal producing components like phono-pre's, pre-amps, DAC's, etc.

I have heard the difference the APC units make in my system & yours. It is obvious to the point that non-audiophiles such The Wife can discern the improvement.

Your in the range of other offerings like the Shunyata Research Hydra Triton & the Blue Circle BC6040 power line conditioner. I will also note that not one of the exhibitors at the Capital Audiofest where without some sort of power conditioner inserted in their systems with PS Audio, Shunyata & Blue Circle being in the majority.

This is one of the most detailed articles I found, but I am sure you have already seen it.

[Hdale85]

PS Audio is generally much more over built than anything from APC which is understandable as APC is a big major brand where as PS Audio caters more to a niche market. Will you be able to tell a difference? I don't know, will you have more peace of mind? Probably.

[Hdale85]

Wow just clicked Bill's link and WOW! That's a power station haha! That thing looks amazing.

[PewterTA]

Well the price was way too good to not get it (I'm paying almost nothing above the P5 and getting a P10), shipping brand new from PS Audio... I'll take that... and hopefully it'll make a difference!

Now I think I need to look into those HIFI/better fuses to put in the thing, people claim it's worth it....

Can't wait for it to get here (should this week)...I'll definitely post some pictures and let people know what I think. At 78lbs it's going to be fun to move!

Ohh... and Bill.... I got a black one, so I know it'll sound better than if I had gotten silver.

The nice thing will be since this is regenerating the AC current, I'll no longer be dependant upon the quality of AC coming into my house. Which has me thinking (purely speculation) that maybe it's the AC that's been the reason why sometimes I'm blown away by my system and other times I'm wondering why things don't sound as good as they just had...!? Normally I equated it to just my mood, sinus pressure with allergies and what not... that was the effect. At least now I won't worry that I'm not getting good clean power. The tough part will be waiting the ~300 hours most people I've read have said for things to sound really amazing.

Course I'll have to make sure I don't do too many modifications at once, I still got my Maple plinths to put under my speakers!

[wkhanna]

Wow!!!
That is the last power conditioner you will ever have to buy!
I think your system deserves such a device.

But now you have a problem...........what on earth are you going to do with that APC S15BLK Power Conditioner.
I mean especially since it is Black!
Probably no one will have the slightest interest in purchasing that old thing from you..............

Hmmmmmm.......

[Hdale85]

I can haul that old paper weight to the dump for you no problem.

[wkhanna]

Good 'ole Dougie, always ready to lend a hand to a friend in need!!!!! :P

[PewterTA]

Well I mean who would want the APC unit since it's black with silver markings on it... the silver probably makes it sound very terrible. Plus blue LEDs..... UGH... I can't believe I didn't realize it until now... That's why those Parts Express speakers sounded better upstairs. lol

Dougie I'd let you haul it to the dumps for me... however Bill already said he'd dispose of it for me, plus don't need you to make a special trip ALLLLLL the way back here. ha ha.

[Hdale85]

Lol, ah but I'd be willing to make the trip just to help out a friend

[PewterTA]

I think you'd have to talk to Bill about that one... I think he's planning on making art out of it or something. You know, recycling.

[PewterTA]

Bah, PS Audio is on back order for their P10s, mine won't ship until next Friday. The weight is killing me! (pun intended)!!

This is making me want to buy something like a NAD M51 or Classe CP-800 or CA-M600s or just maybe some new Schiit if they ever get it out...... LMAO. If only I could afford it all.

[Hdale85]

So we'll have a get together at Dan's house when those new NatP's are done right? Bob wants to come as well lol! And I want to hear Michael's speakers!

[PewterTA]

Heck yeah.... anytime, it's about time for an audio get-together, I was just talking to Bill about that.

[Hdale85]

Yeah I agree, it's been like several years lol.

[PewterTA]

Three hours in on the P10, well maybe 4 and this is HANDS DOWN the 2nd best upgrade I've ever done to my system. B&W 802Dis would still be number one...but wow.... this is not far behind...

Everyone says that it's about 300 hours for the unit to really make things hit the sweet spot... and if that's the case... I'll be in for a treat. There's such a focus and clarity to my system, but at the same time, just a pure musicality that I've never had. Everything basically feels just "right." It's one of those "lifting the veil off the speakers" type of thing going on. Getting it for a crazy good price helps...but I honestly would say that if I had demoed it in my system... I'd have bought it at full price.

Which anyone that knows me... I'm all about getting the deals. LOL.

Pretty cool thing is I am able to run my entire system off the unit... two amps and everything. Which I could NOT do off my 15amp circuit before. That's pretty spectacular in and of it's own right.

More to come...but wow... if ANYONE is considering a PS Audio regenerator... do not think, just get it.

[wkhanna]

I heard Dan's system this past weekend with the P10 installed.
What struck me right away was the quick, clean natural attack in the lower mids.
The fact that he is running his power amps off this thing is amazing, too.
We always heard degradation in SQ anytime a power amp has been run through a standard conditioner (we always [had] run our power amps straight from the wall because of this).
It was neat to see on the units display the AC waveform of the incoming power.
Not at all pretty.
Then the AC waveform from the regenerated PS......as smooth & clean as any sine wave could be.
Granted, this is 'tweaking' at V high $ level, but when compared to the total investment in his entire system, (video included as all his HT equipment is hooked up, too) the increased performance is real, impressive & in relative terms, worth the price, IMHO.
Especially at the discount he got on it.

[PewterTA]

Only 250 more hours to break it in before it sounds good and then I can put in the HIFI Tuning fuse! Each day I'm noticing slight differences... last night my sound stage was all out of whack. It went really big and wide on me (hearing things to the left and right of my head which I shouldn't be). Today it's more back to normal...slightly over exaggerated and the bass is a little bit weaker then it was. Interesting how it's changing (worse and better at the same time). At least everyone on their forum says that's what happens as everything settles in. So I'll keep chugging through!

[wkhanna]

Yikes!
I would be getting nervous.
If it ends up not helping to a degree you feel comfortable / satisfied with can you return it?

[PewterTA]

That's all part of the same things everyone says they hear.

Really the changes I notice are good enough already that it's worth keeping. Can't wait for the rest of the "not supposed to happen to electronics" break in period as well as adding the better fuse to it.

All in all.... DEFINITELY the best audio power change I've ever heard.