Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Power Conditioning on DSP8000SEs

+1 on Shunyata.

Thanks guys. I know that Shunyata is highly rated here, but I am really interested in current PS Audio kit experiences.

Hi Hector

You may have seen my other post on using a Triton with 7200SE's, first with the Triton v2 then with it upgraded to the v3. The difference was pretty amazing. The thing I noticed most about the v2 was that it cleaned up the imaging immensely and made the Meridian far more engaging (and relaxing). With the v3 it seems to do more of the same, but what I noticed most of all was how much more realistic everything sounds.

Jeremy

Also, the Shunyata products are completely passive. There was a series of posts a while back talking about how if an active AC line conditioner failed, it could cause extensive damage to the speaker. With a passive conditioner, there's less chance of that.

Firstly, I'm not wholly convinced of that. Secondly, I have a preference for complete regeneration of mains if that is possible without impacting sound quality. Yes, the double failure has occurred (probably once) and it spooked Meridian big time.

Edit: Let me also be clear: [rant on] The Shunyata products may sound great (yes, really), but I am philosophically opposed to buying anything from a company which spews pseudo-scientific bull all over its website. I have a scientific background and it is simply *my* requirement that I understand what the product that I am buying is doing. YMMV. [rant off]

Just to clarify: *if* the DSP8000 goes into a failure state *and* it attempts to protect itself by short-circuiting its main fuse (a tremendously unusual and stupid failure mechanism) *and* the power conditioner fails to deliver the required energy (current x time) to blow the fuse, then there would be a problem. This is not a regular occurrence.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to audition a Audioquest Niagra 5000 and Thunder power cables in my system consisting of a 818v3 and DSP8000SE speakers. The results were very similar to using the Shunyata products. Using just the power cables plugged directly into the wall will leave you completely unimpressed. Add in the Niagra and the special sauce becomes completely clear. One item of note is that the Audioquest power cables are very heavy and stiff so your system will need plenty of real estate to deal with their inflexibility and weight.

Standard mains cable has capacitance and inductance, which is obviously completely passive. My understanding of active is that it has some electronic influence on the signal and I believe that the Shunyata is passive (I suspect it uses something like the piezo-electric affect to covert noise into heat).

That doesn’t mean there isn’t an argument for regenerative power, though, if done right. Not sure how easy it is to get this right, given I’m more of an expert at sitting on my arse and listening than I am electrical engineering, but I’m interested in giving it a go.