Equipment Recommendations - The Home For New System and Upgrade Advice

[displayname]

I think the 156 with the ultimate power cord is about $4k, @Mather, but probably worth it if you can up your budget.

Or you can always upgrade the cable later.
And on that note, it's another huge value add that these include a cable. Options like AQ and many others do not.

The testing on ASR is pretty much showing zero change but he does say it contains a filter, which many of these devices might be putting out fake stuff based on his conclusion.

Of course I always take ASR like a grain of salt. It's only one data point.

Ah, ASR. The land of measuring and judging before or even without listening. My favorite type of audiophiles. /s

 

[Mather]

Or you can always upgrade the cable later.
And on that note, it's another huge value add that these include a cable. Options like AQ and many others do not.

Actually these don't include a cable. It's extra. But you can get a basic cable option for like $250 instead of the like $1300 ultimate which despite my love for cables, I AIN'T BUYING THAT.

 

[displayname]

Yeah I saw that but to be honest their testing on conditioners/cables pretty much always shows this same result. I still trust the ears of multiple people over the straight math. But I do have to take into account that I may not really need a hard core conditioner as much as I simply need a surge protector. I don't have any hum or hiss and I never have. But one of the cheaper Puritan units might make sense for sure.

This is also where I'm at. In my system a power conditioner has never blown my mind. I put it below cables for chasing that final squeeze out of the system unless you are trying to resolve something.
However unlike cables and other tweak type upgrades, it also has the added benefit of protection. I know people that insist on plugging their amps straight into the wall. And if an unexpected thunderstorm pops up when they are out of the house, they are sweating.

 

[displayname]

Actually these don't include a cable. It's extra. But you can get a basic cable option for like $250 instead of the like $1300 ultimate which despite my love for cables, I AIN'T BUYING THAT.

Oh interesting! Here I've only seen it sold bundled with the cable. You pretty much can't buy it without a cable in my searching. Hop on USAM. There are a number of dealers that will negotiate on the price, list them below the list price, and include the classic cable because that's standard packaging here.

I was really narrowing between the Niagara 3000 and the Puritan, and without cost factored in the Puritan was edging out the Niagara from any user reviews and personal feedback I had. Factor in the price, and the N3000 just doesn't make sense unless you want to go true full AQ system.

 

[Mather]

This is also where I'm at. In my system a power conditioner has never blown my mind. I put it below cables for chasing that final squeeze out of the system unless you are trying to resolve something.
However unlike cables and other tweak type upgrades, it also has the added benefit of protection. I know people that insist on plugging their amps straight into the wall. And if an unexpected thunderstorm pops up when they are out of the house, they are sweating.

Yeah I really don't want to plug straight in, but also this is a very VERY solid state amp, I'm not sure that a conditioner is going to affect the sound NEARLY as much for good or bad vs something like a tube amp. I may go for the sub $1000 option like the power strips or the brick.

 

[displayname]

Yeah I really don't want to plug straight in, but also this is a very VERY solid state amp, I'm not sure that a conditioner is going to affect the sound NEARLY as much for good or bad vs something like a tube amp. I may go for the sub $1000 option like the power strips or the brick.

I will only tempt you once more just for funsies - buy once, cry once.

 

[Mather]

I will only tempt you once more just for funsies - buy once, cry once.

Also being told to look at Torus Power. Canadian company. Similar price point to Puritan.

 

[Jbraswell]

Or you can always upgrade the cable later.
And on that note, it's another huge value add that these include a cable. Options like AQ and many others do not.


Ah, ASR. The land of measuring and judging before or even without listening. My favorite type of audiophiles. /s

I prefer a mix of both but that's nearly impossible to see the majority of of the time.

 

[ZiggsMBK]

Also being told to look at Torus Power. Canadian company. Similar price point to Puritan.

I must have missed if Torus has units anywhere near the price of Puritan’s stuff. They were big money, as far as I recall. Keep us in the loop.

Bryston makes two that are more in line with Puritan’s prices. Can’t remember what kind or if they have surge protection, though.

 

[displayname]

Also being told to look at Torus Power. Canadian company. Similar price point to Puritan.

Isolation transformer is a fully different approach vs conditioning. I don't have a strong opinion on it either way. I've seen them a couple times (literally less than 5 times in my life).

Torus is the brand I see when isolation transformers come up, but it's just few and far between. Worth looking into if that's a route you want to consider.

 

[displayname]

I must have missed if Torus has units anywhere near the price of Puritan’s stuff.

Torus Tot is in the same price slot. Potentially less for our friends in the north.

 

[Mather]

I must have missed if Torus has units anywhere near the price of Puritan’s stuff. They were big money, as far as I recall. Keep us in the loop.

Bryston makes two that are more in line with Puritan’s prices. Can’t remember what kind or if they have surge protection, though.

Yeah the TOT mini and Max are in a similar price range to the Puritan 156.

Torus Power TOT Series Isolation Transformer Power Conditioner

Torus Power does not allow products to be purchased via on line shopping cart. Please give us a call to order. Thank you. The new TOT series including two compact and affordable products packed with performance and features. The TOT Mini, rated at 7 Amps, is ideal to provide clean power to...

www.noteworthyaudio.com

I'm still not certain I really need THIS level of conditioning considering I've never heard any hiss or hum on my rigs. But I do know the power in this house fluctuates like a mofo, but the UPS would do more to fix that than any conditioner would... DECISIONS...

 

[OMC]

I must have missed if Torus has units anywhere near the price of Puritan’s stuff. They were big money, as far as I recall. Keep us in the loop.

Bryston makes two that are more in line with Puritan’s prices. Can’t remember what kind or if they have surge protection, though.

Isn’t Torus owned by Bryston?

 

[ZiggsMBK]

Torus Tot is in the same price slot. Potentially less for our friends in the north.

I will have to give that a look.

 

[Mather]

I will have to give that a look.

I will say even the Puritan stuff seems to be less expensive here than I expected when you look at US pricing. Could be tariffs or simply that it's a UK import but they weren't nearly as expensive as I had expected. I mean it ain't cheap but it's also not like koo koo bananas.

 

[ZiggsMBK]

Isn’t Torus owned by Bryston?

Isn’t Torus owned by Bryston?

No clue. The design philosophy appears to be similar, though.

 

[Mather]

Isn’t Torus owned by Bryston?

I'm not sure, certainly plausible. Nothing on their website about it...

 

[displayname]

I will say even the Puritan stuff seems to be less expensive here than I expected when you look at US pricing. Could be tariffs or simply that it's a UK import but they weren't nearly as expensive as I had expected. I mean it ain't cheap but it's also not like koo koo bananas.

I have yet to find a better priced solution of the same quality. I have things higher on my priority list, but I'm confident that at some point this will be in my home.

 

[Angsty]

But I do have to take into account that I may not really need a hard core conditioner as much as I simply need a surge protector.

If you are looking for just surge protection, you can go with SurgeX (which is what I have).

 

[Angsty]

I'm not sure, certainly plausible. Nothing on their website about it...

What I got from ChatGPT - it matches what I remember.

“No, Torus Power is not owned by Bryston. Torus Power products are engineered and manufactured by Plitron Manufacturing Inc., a Canadian company specializing in toroidal transformers.

Bryston has a longstanding relationship with Plitron, having used their transformers in Bryston amplifiers for over two decades. During the development of Torus Power products, Plitron consulted Bryston for performance evaluation and feedback. Bryston also distributed Torus Power products and later introduced their own line of power conditioners, the BIT (Bryston Isolation Transformer) series, which utilizes Torus Power/Plitron technology .

In summary, while Bryston and Torus Power have collaborated closely, Torus Power remains a separate entity owned by Plitron Manufacturing Inc.”