PPP - MultiWave & CleanWave

[jdandy]

Besides delivering perfect 60 cycle sine wave power, the PS Audio Power Plant Premier is capable of two additional functions, MultiWave, and CleanWave.

As I understand PS Audio's literature, manual, and web video, the MultiWave function extends the peak charging time of each cycle of the sine wave, both the positive and negative swings, and is suppose to lower power supply ripple and improve performance.

The CleanWave functiuon starts a timer countdown while the CleanWave signal places a series of higher frequencies that ride on the main sine wave. This function is used while the attached components are energized but no audio playing. The CleanWave is suppose to deguass connected magnetics, which I assume must be the component power supply transformers.

Neither the MultiWave, or the CleanWave are explained to my satisfaction in the owner's manual. Why would my connected components benefit from extended peak charge time of the sine wave? It is suppose to be a perfect sine wave output, right? Why would I want to alter that?

The CleanWave funtion creates more confusion for me. What benefit will my components achieve from degaussing? Inductance in the power supply transformers immediately remagnitize the core, so what exactly is the point.

I am not looking for some vague answer telling me how my system components will sound better. I want to understand exactly what is happening, and how the effects of these two "features" actually performs there task. I am comfortable supplying my expensive equipment a well regulated voltage with a pure sine wave, and low harmonic distortion. I am not comfortable altering the peak charge time of the sine wave, or inducing high frequencies pulses on the sine wave in an attempt to reap the benefits of some vaguely explained advantage.

Has anyone using the PPP tried these two functions. Any audible benefits from using MultiWave verses the pure sine wave? Any audible improvement in system sound after a CleanWave treatment? Did anything detrimental take place during the use of either function?

[-E-]

Well I know that the Brass of PS Audio does view here... I would love to hear a nice response. It's obvious that people believe in the product, but being able to know more of the HOW is certainly a plus.

[Masterlu]

I run all of mine with MultiWave on, it does provide an audible improvement. I will descibe its exact sonic benefit in my complete review tomorrow.

As far as what goes on technically, I will let Ryan from PS Audio chime in.

[jdandy]

One of my concerns with the MultiWave term, "extends peak charging time", is when this is done the sine wave takes on more of a square wave shape from the extended time at peak RMS. This causes me to be concerned about possible negative effects like heat generation in power supply transformer windings. Heat is the number one enemy of the dielectric properties of the coating on transformer windings. There is a safe operating temperature, but when exceeded the dielectric properties begin to lose insulation value. Simply cooling it down does not restore the lost value. I am worried that extended peak charge time of a sine wave may accelerate a power supply transformer failure. There is no audible benefit worth that to me.

[Masterlu]

It has been described to me that it does the opposite, makes the Transformers run more efficient & cooler.

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by jdandy

One of my concerns with the MultiWave term, "extends peak charging time", is when this is done the sine wave takes on more of a square wave shape from the extended time at peak RMS. This causes me to be concerned about possible negative effects like heat generation in power supply transformer windings. Heat is the number one enemy of the dielectric properties of the coating on transformer windings. There is a safe operating temperature, but when exceeded the dielectric properties begin to lose insulation value. Simply cooling it down does not restore the lost value. I am worried that extended peak charge time of a sine wave may accelerate a power supply transformer failure. There is no audible benefit worth that to me.

Dan, it is counterintuitive. http://www.psaudio.com/ps/knowledge/...pp-gets-rid-of

[jdandy]

CleanWave seems questionable to me, also. You would think if degaussing magnetics (whatever magnetics we are talking about) was an important issue for continued premium sonic performance of audo equipment, manufacturers would have long since incorporated automatic degausing into the components. That way the degaussing would take place upon energizing, similar to the auto degaussing feature built into cathod ray television tubes. Obviously, there has been plenty of engineering hours spent on design and execution of this feature, and MultiWave, so the claimed benefits may be quite real. I need a clearer understanding than has yet been provided.

[PHC1]

By the way, Noise Harvesters should not be used plugged into Premier if you are going to use the MultiWave or CleanWave feature as they steal some of the energy. I've tried it before and it makes them blink like crazy during CleanWave cycle.

[klipschfan]

Originally Posted by PHC1

By the way, Noise Harvesters should not be used plugged into Premier if you are going to use the MultiWave or CleanWave feature as they steal some of the energy. I've tried it before and it makes them blink like crazy during CleanWave cycle.

Are you sure about that statement?........

[jdandy]

Serge.......Thank you for the link to the PS Audio knowledge base. I am still not satisified with the explanation. If my equipment is designed to operate on 60 cycle current at 120 VAC, how does extending the charge time at the peaks of the sine wave improve anything? I understand reserve current capacity in a bank of caps, but that doesn't have anything to do with increasing peak charge time on the wave form, that I can see. I understand rebuilding the perfect rise and fall of a 60 cycle sine wave, but extending the peak charge time at the top and bottom of the curve pushes the pure sine wave towards a square wave. This is the part I have trouble grasping. Why is this added peak charge time on the sine wave cycle beneficial to a power supply in a piece of audio equipment?