Core power technologies (a mini review)

mikeyb128

I've been searching for cost effective power conditioning for a while now, lots of research, and waiting, hoping ps audio deals would come up for sale on the used market. Living in Canada the deals are few, and well... you wait! Forever!

I picked this up as a demo unit with full warranty, this is the equi-core 1200, rated at 10 amps only to run my front end gear. And weighs in at a beastly 65 pounds! With a solid aluminum/wrinkle powder coated finish. A very simplistic design, 8 Hubble outlets, one power switch/breaker, and a fuse. It's simple and ina small enclosure so you can hide it away if needed.

the CPT has been on since Tuesday, and fired the system up when I got home last night. I let it sit idle for about 3 hours before giving a listen. I find it sounds its best after 24 hours, I flip it on Friday before work and turn it off Sunday night as I don't have time during the week for it (phono stage and CD player get turned off when I'm done, only preamp, amp, and dac stay on).

Anyway... wow... WOW! WOW! I started with some vinyl, I always noticed my phono stage was a little noisey (small amount of back ground hiss, there is 4 tubes in there), and all I can say is I am shocked... no noise what so ever... nothing... quiet passages are like my system is turned off, there is this incredible separation of instruments, everything seems more life like. Now this is 9pm, the drier is on, So is the dishwasher, and a space heater in the basement (it gets chilly). I'm floored.

Before I took delivery of this I sold
Off my nordost Qbase, a QK1, and 2 QK2's. I figured they didn't do much, I was wrong. I switched to my trusty oyaide power bar, and the back ground noise was so obvious, I was surprised at how much they did do, but they also had a negative impact, although more noisey the music had more punch to it without the nordost stuff in there. But the noise floor was huge! A back ground fuzz was always there, always since I can remember, I'm talking years.

I do have a dedicated line on it's own breaker, with 3 hospital grade outlets. I'm shocked how well this thing works.

My next test was some flac played through my benchmark media DAC2L, fully balanced from the dac to my bryston, this has always been quiet, but I was not prepared for the detail, soundstage and BASS! More bass! I was hearing details I've never heard before in my test tracks... amazing...

This has been one of the best investments I've made in a long time. The clarity, soundstage, placement of instruments, and just black background is stunning. I now know what a black background is... seriously this thing is dead quiet, no hum from this thing whatsoever.

Looks like my weekend will be filled with beer and music.

mikeyb128

tonyb

Cool bro, glad your realizing some nice benefits. Remember....power conditioners don't make your system sound better. lol Yeah, that's me being a sarcastic ding dong.

Anyway, looks like there's a mini ComEd plant in there by the looks of it. Congrats.

heiney9

Nice looking system Mike! Congrats on realizing................EVERYTHING MATTERS.

That's a killer phono pre!

H9

mikeyb128

I always believed my power couldn't be that bad. House was built in 2008, and in a newer neighborhood. Guess I was wrong.

Always had this slight background hiss in quiet passages, its hard to fully explain this. I know tubed pres have a degree of noise, but now this is completely gone. It's amazing!

Brock, that EE phono stage continues to blow me away. I've been doing some tube rolling and this little guy is fantastic!

txcoastal1

That's awesome Mikey

I used to get microphonics on my tube pre. Discovered it had to do with a media PC I built and was plugged into same source. I could even here it with me moving around the mouse searching through JRiver. Once I installed my Furman 20, it cut that crud out.

Congrats

mikeyb128

Wanted to add onto this thread. I received another interesting piece to add into my system. I took a leap of faith on the recommendation of a dealer in Ontario.

I added a form of power conditioning that uses similar tech as the Shunyata Hyrda-Typhoon.
This is a company from Holland called Akiko Audio.

I took a leap of faith on this one as this thing seems to be a "magic black box". But I have 30 days to try it out.

Introducing the Akiko Corelli....
Review can be found here: http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews2/akiko2/1.html

I installed it into my system tonight after waiting 3 weeks for this, as it's hand made. My initial comment went something like this.. what the $&%<€£!!! It sounded terrible. The difference it made was dramatic, and not subtle. I began to sweat! And felt that lump of disappointment in my stomach. I walked away from my system for about 5 hours and came back.

I slapped on a few familiar tracks, the focals throw a massive soundstage that extends well beyond the speakers, and I know some great tracks that really brings this out.

I was completely blown away by what I was hearing. The soundstage extends almost passed the walls in my room. The piano sounds rich, its tone seemed so convincingly real. The highs are smooth, the midrange has fleshed out. I almost can't even explain what I'm hearing, the back ground was so black after adding the balanced power conditioner, there isn't even a background at all now, it's just quiet. I hear nothing during quiet passages.

The synergy in the system is incredible. It's like a sped up video of a flower blooming. This is only hours in. On the weekend I will sit down and really give it a good listen as I didn't have time tonight.

mikeyb128

The build on this piece is incredible. The attention to detail is stunning. I also ordered the recommended power cable, which is built solid, and to the same quality as the conditioner.

mikeyb128

treitz3

Atta boy!

Mikey, I see power input but no system. Do you have your rig featured anywhere on the forum to where folks who are interested can see whatcha' gots?

Pictures do say a thousand words...thanks for sharing what you have already!

Your cable management puts me to shame. Admitted.

Tom

txcoastal1

treitz3 wrote: »

Atta boy!

Mikey, I see power input but no system. Do you have your rig featured anywhere on the forum to where folks who are interested can see whatcha' gots?

Pictures do say a thousand words...thanks for sharing what you have already!

Your cable management puts me to shame. Admitted.

Tom

He's got cr@p gear

He's has a really nice setup and nice room

kharp1

Pish posh poppy-****,you must of got this from the flim-flam man...next you'll be trying to tell me cables and such make a difference. Glad I'm not this gullible.

On a serious note glad to see input on a piece I wasn't familiar with.

[Deleted User]

Thanks for the write up!
I was looking at that core power tech but didn't understand why
they didn't use all 12 amps available...

oh and, did you ever get chance to try Benchmarks amp w/ their DAC?

tonyb

Are you using the Akiko in place of the Core, or did you split it up within the system ?

EndersShadow

I feel ya Mikey. I too have been searching for a couple PS Audio items but the powercords seem to not come up anymore.

I shoulda bought another 3-4 of those AC-3's while Music Direct had them for like 80-120 per cable lol....

heiney9

So, it's early and I haven't had any coffee yet, but what does this do? I see a power cord....................how does it help the gear if nothing is hooked to it?

Am I missing something?

H9

heiney9

I reread the manual. I see, it's one of those Machina Dynamica type things where it just needs to be in proximity to your gear.

mikeyb128

This plugs into your power distribution block. I'm not sure its proximity will cause as a dramatic of affect as being plugged in to the same circuits as your gear. There are lots of power conditioning products that basicly plug in to your power distribution strip, conditioner, or need to be on the same circuit as your gear to help filter noise. Ps audio, Nordost, and shunyata all come
To mind. This unit wasn't just a subtle effect either, it has made quite a large difference.

I post this expecting to get some criticism. But that's ok. I've made some changes in my system and will list components when I have more time
To write.

It might help people To understand how it works if you study up on piezoelectric crystals and their uses. It's very cool actually.

mikeyb128

rednedtugent wrote: »

Thanks for the write up!
I was looking at that core power tech but didn't understand why
they didn't use all 12 amps available...

oh and, did you ever get chance to try Benchmarks amp w/ their DAC?

I haven't tried their power amp. I did use the benchmark as a preamp for a while. I did like it, but a dedicated tube pre was wayyy better.

I opted for the 10 amp, and they do make a 15 amp unit. You might be surprised how little your gear draws. My whole front end draws not quite 2 amps, measured around 1.6-1.7 amps. I haven't plugged in my bryston yet, In the wall it goes.

kharp1

Mikey, I wasn't criticizing you or the product, was just having a bit of fun. I'm clearly on the side of quality power products and it's good to see write ups of items I haven't even heard of.

mikeyb128

kharp1 wrote: »

Mikey, I wasn't criticizing you or the product, was just having a bit of fun. I'm clearly on the side of quality power products and it's good to see write ups of items I haven't even heard of.

Oh I know, No offense taken what so ever. A bit of criticism doesn't bug me. You have to expect a bit when posting something such as this.

msg

Great stuff Mike, love reading stories like this, the excitement of getting systems dialed, pieces that make a significant improvement in the experience. Very cool.

I think Larry built those Akiko cases from some leftover DN's.