Best Power Conditioner around $2000

[Rayooo]

if you happen to have a closer look at Furman...2400IT.

[SMC23]

I recommend the RGPC products.

Got a 600S and 1200C that are noticeably better than plugging directly into the wall.

[drummermitchell]

I'll second the Torus(BIT)as I seem to have acquired three,they replaced all my hydras even with dedicated lines.

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by VT Skier

How about the new Bryston Bit products? The Bit-5 is $1,500 and the Bit-15 (more outlets) is $2,200.

James Tanner in the Bryston forum here can undoubtedly provide more info.

And I agree that Furman is also very good.

Due to material costs, all Bryston BIT prices will increase 9% on 6/1/12

I plan on getting a few to play with before the increase.

[thesaint519]

Originally Posted by drummermitchell

I'll second the Torus(BIT)as I seem to have acquired three,they replaced all my hydras even with dedicated lines.

I've heard a lot about the Torus, but no real world comparisons against the other industry favorites. Can u give the rundown on how the Torus competes with the Hydras, and why you switched?

[drummermitchell]

Hi,what I had for maps then were 3X7Bsst's_2X4bsst+2XDD15's.
My electrican ran 8 dedicated lines which I had hydra 6 for components and hydra 2's,one for each amp.They each had a dedicated circuit.
As I like to experiment,I home auditioned a Torus 15a balanced PIU.
Used two outlets(same phase"120-120)had everything on there except subs I believe.Then installed a dedicated 240v line.
She was just the same as the Shunyatas nothing wowed me,even the hydras .
Fine,definitely not a step down.Then came across a 20a Torus(used)balanced.
Figured I'd buy the 20a and take the 15a back.
Having both Torus(s) connected made a HUGE difference instantly.
Huge stage,authoritative bottom end with attitude and quite a bit more power with dynamics as I had to turn everything down.
I was totally shocked at how big and powerful everything became.
I e-mailed a person I know who's been around audio for many years and pulls no BS.
His words were,You have discovered as I have that having gobs of power in reserve for the amps makes a huge difference..
With having all 5 amps on the 15a Torus,I knew it couldn't supply what the amps wanted same as the Hydras,otherwise I would have heard a big difference.
As soon as I installed the 20a,it was SHOWTIME,that's how dramatic a Torus can be if you match the correctly.I had components and 4bsst in the 15 I believe and one sub and the 7's and sub in the 20.
I think the formula is add up the total amperage of the amps full output and divide by 2/3.
I love when you have no choice to hear the difference instead of I think I can hear a difference.
I use to tell people the difference was like riding a honda 90,then your friend lets you try out his Harley 1200,that feeling of authoritative power and you really hear it.
Also you'll seldom see a Torus up for sale on Agon and before I had seen 4-5 before which a friend of mine bought two and I had bought one 20a and 10a besides the others I have.
A few of those sellers who I knew sold only to upgrade to a bigger one as they had upgraded their amps(more power)hence bigger Torus.
What do they say that a 200w amp can demand up to 50a short term power.
They also say the wall won't give it and a non limiting conditioner can't as it
is relying on the walls power.
All's I'll say that the Torus made a huge improvement to my stage and bottom end and of course dynamics.
Night and day difference for the way the Torus makes music sound moree like music.
As I run Bryston 28B-sst's X1+7Bsst for the front I needed(wanted a 60a Torus)so I run that and then the 20a balanced for all my components and 4bsst.
Last but not least I run a regular 20a Torus for my 1812 sub on a dedicated line.The slam and midbass punch is the best I have heard as I use to use pairs of DD-15's and pairs of JL F-113's before.
Anyway, power wise and bottom end,I'm totally(almost)satisfied,another 1812.perhaps.
Hope all that helps and makes sense.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by cmalak

If you are interested in passive power conditioners, then I would also keep an eye out for used Shunyata Hydra V2s. They are selling for around $2K used.

+1 on the Shunyata Hydra V-Ray V2.

FWIW, I demo'd a Purepower 2000 in my system for a week, and came to the conclusion that I preferred the sonics from by my Shunyata Hydra 4 in my system. My Hydra 8 was a large step up in performance over the Hydra 4, and I've heard that Hydra V-Ray V2s are even better than Hydra 8s, FWIW. Just my 2¢.

One of the issues that I had with the Purepower 2000 was it's size, it was so big (deep) that it would not fit well in my rack. I know that the current, newer model was redesigned to fit better into a standard size rack configuration.

[mdkim]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

+1 on the Shunyata Hydra V-Ray V2.

FWIW, I demo'd a Purepower 2000 in my system for a week, and came to the conclusion that I preferred the sonics from by my Shunyata Hydra 4 in my system. My Hydra 8 was a large step up in performance over the Hydra 4, and I've heard that Hydra V-Ray V2s are even better than Hydra 8s, FWIW. Just my 2¢.

One of the issues that I had with the Purepower 2000 was it's size, it was so big (deep) that it would not fit well in my rack. I know that the current, newer model was redesigned to fit better into a standard size rack configuration.

As someone considering a PurePower 2000 unit can you tell me what differences you heard between it and your Hydra. I'm mulling the PP or going with Shunyata throughout. Thanks in advance.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by mdkim

As someone considering a PurePower 2000 unit can you tell me what differences you heard between it and your Hydra. I'm mulling the PP or going with Shunyata throughout. Thanks in advance.

I thought the differences the improvement the PP brought were pretty subtle during the demo period in my system, which was a full week. Yes, there was a bit of an improvement, but not a significant one. The Hydra 4, like all Shunyata products, just made everything notably quieter. When you really reduce the noise floor of your system using products like Shunyata power cords and distributors, you can "hear into" the music that much more. My Hydra 8 was a considerably larger improvement over the Hydra 4 than I expected; effectively a component level improvement. I thought it would just be a Hydra 4 with four more outlets, but boy, was I wrong. Makes me really wonder what a Shunyata Triton would do.

What I've learned from all this systematic investigation of power cords and distributors is that you just cannot overstate the importance of taking all the EFI and RFI induced grunge, hash, and noise out of your system while concomitantly improving transient current delivery. While it sounds contradictory, the more "quiet" you make your system, the better it sounds. And everything improves as a result. Most notably are improvements in bass output, definition and accuracy/texture, a more fuller, more open and richer sound. You can hear details and nuances that you simply couldn't hear before that markedly enhance the verisimilitude of the reproduction. And there is a naturalness and "ease of listening" that is kind of hard to describe until you experience it. All in all, it just makes the experience more natural, engaging, and beguiling in a very musical sense.

It's kind of a weird analogy, but in reallty, it's very comparable to putting an excellent shock, like an Öhlins, on a sport motorcycle. It's improvements are not from what the bike does with the shock, it's from what the bike NO LONGER does with the better shock. As a result, the bike handles truer to, and more fully realizes, it's "design intent". Serge would know what I'm talking about from his driving and riding experience.

[EightZeroZeroDelta]

I have heard nothing but good things about Shunyata, but have not had any experience with them, sadly. Maybe one day.

I do have a Running Springs Duke for my amp and love the lower noise floor it provides. It is all fully passive, which is a feature I do appreciate.