Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems (No) wow on power amps on clean power

Maybe slightly OT, but am wondering if someone has the same experience or maybe can explain why M amps are not working when supplied with clean power. I`ve had 505`s in the past and tried them to be fed with clean current from a PS audio power plant. The result was that many dynamics were lost, the sound became real flat, no stage and the bass performance was boomy again. Reversing the plug in the sockets didn`t make a lot of difference, and there was no ground loop. So now the power plant is connected to the pre-amp, DAC&transport, which generates a good result. The reason of asking is that I`m (again) contemplating if I should or could buy me the PS audio premier power plant, which in theory is heavy enough as it deliveres up to 1500W of clean power, to feed my two 557`s (not bridged otherwise I would need two PS`s.. ).

Cheers Alex

Lost dynamics and uncontrolled (boomy) base? It has to be current. My guess is the amps are capable of supplying more current than your conditioner.

Have to admit that when you play very loud, and the specs of the conditioner is not properly matched with the amps, the conditioner will fall short. However it happened also on low volumes when they drew only a slight amount of current from the conditioner. On other fora I read that more people have the impression that amps do not like power conditioners. Might it be an amp thingie in general?

Cheers Alex

I am using 2 x PS Power Plant Premiere to feed all my audio visual el circuits in the house (these circuits are separated from all other outlets). No problems at all, enough current to make the fabric of the building tremble in my main system at 80 or 85 volume! Positive difference to sound when using MultiWave shape.

I've heard the multiwave before and was really shocked by the effect it brought, it was like I was sitting in a bubble with the music coming from every angle, to me even much more than listening to the Avalon Eidolon with its acclaimed 3D imaging.

The fact sheet of the 557 states:

"The 557 takes the Meridian 500 Series into new territory - with 200W of clean clear power.."

Clean & clear: does this imply that the amp is already filtering?

I know for a fact that Meridian does not recommend the use of power conditioners with DSP speakers.

I have tested the earlier PS Audio Designs and they have always been current limiting in a profound way. Perhaps the roof has been upped a bit with their new "Premier" design. But with their 1500W rating it is probably current limiting. And probably happens audioably before the 1500W is reached. This is my experience with their previous offerings. Now for DACs preamps and DVDs then there is no problem running them on a current limiting conditioner.

In my system with my hardware I have found that Shunyatas Hydra 8 is the conditioner that I can truly put 1.5KW worth of amps on and not break a sweat.

For Amps you usually drive them straight from the wall as there are few conditioners that are truly non-current limiting.

Worth noting that the PS Audio PPP and previous units (300/500 etc) are not conditioners per se- they are regenerators. In my experience, the PPP is far more capable than my previous P300.
I don't use the PPP on my 8k's but it does take care of my Pio screen, SB+, G68, 598, Sky+ and 5kc. There was a quite noticable improvement in the Pio screen image. Not sure if this comes from the Sky+ being on the PPP or the Pio screen...or both.

Common sense really dictates that care is required with heavy loads. As ever...get a demo before committing.

I have a PPP and was considering connecting my Isotek Titan which is connected to my 8ks to the PPP. An email to isotek warned against using the PPP for power amps and the suggestion was to connect the titan straight to the wall....

howie

on our local forum PurePower 2000 is popular for all equipment including amps (like Plinius SA Ref). but i have not heard it with Meridians yet.

that's odd, because on the PPP there is a separate 'Zone' for plugging in power amps... .. or would they mean that real -high- power amps better not be connected..