Mains purification and distribution
Over many years of listening to most of the mains distributors and multi-outlets brands available on the market, we commonly find that with those that incorporate filtration networks or mains regeneration, there is always a degree of compression to the soundstage and dynamics which is highly bothersome. Some high value products have significant degrees of compression that interfere with sound stage depth, rhythmic speed, and dynamics. Hence, we have always avoided recommending such products, as it is a question of how much of this compression is acceptable as a compromise towards a cleaner sound.
Generally, we prefer multi-socket outlets using just high-quality wiring and connectors capable of supporting fast, high current delivery. There are fine examples of this type of distributor under the Furutech and GutWire sections, as well as Puritan Audio. These coupled with high-current-capable, quality power cords from the same brands will reduce the noise floor from dirty mains supply with no compression at all, resulting in increased sound stage scale, and superb dynamics and transients.
However, we do appreciate that some environments, notably those in high density housing areas, are experiencing today much higher levels of mains and airborne noise issues than in the recent past. This is due to the exponential rise of digital equipment and smart technology used in the home, and that attached to the local grid. This has greatly added to the pollution and noise that can enter a quality audio system and degrade the sound quality. We have auditioned and selected the UK brand
Puritan Audio Laboratories
who manufacture distributors that can help in such situations. They have taken great care in the development of their technology to give a very high level of mains purification with small to negligible levels of compression as a side effect. They compare very favourably in this respect as many other more famous brands in this field all compress sound stage significantly to differing degrees. Puritan Audio mains purification distributers are all reasonably priced making them exceptional value for money compared to competitive brands.
Puritan Audio Laboratories
Puritan Audio offers a range of unfiltered and filtered mains solutions. We have been very impressed with the performance and value of their components. They are more of a mains balancing and purification system than traditional ideas of filter networks, which often are a blunt tool when it comes to compressive side effects.
Their products rebalances the AC sine wave, removing all DC components, silencing transformer noise to allow them to perform more efficiently, delivering optimal dynamics and power range.
Multiple cumulative and sympathetically tuned stages of purification removes both common and differential modes of pollution and interference. The level of the purification stages increases as the model range moves up from the PS 106 multioutlet strip to the PSM Studio Master series.
This unique technology produces a more transparent soundstage, resolving more spatial information and offers a more natural tone and timbre to instruments and voices. Their sonic upgrades outperform some highly regarded brands we have auditioned that are at much higher price points.
Their purification solutions are aimed to counter mains noise issues from emanate from two main sources:
- Differential Mode Noise - from all types of equipment attached to the local grid.
- Common Mode Noise - EMI/RFI in the environment being induced into the line, with the conductor(s) acting as an antenna. Devices such as mobile phones, routers, wifi connected products, smart TVs and other such components have made this form of pollution much more severe in recent years.
There is a minor effect on soundstage with the filtered options, which is mainly observed as a minimal level of compression to the bass frequencies resulting in a little loss of texture. It must be emphasised this is a small side effect; for most audio systems, these would be of an extremely low level and acceptable compromises for the benefits of a cleaner sound, better delineated mid and high frequency information, and the audible extension to bass frequencies. These minor side effects are totally eliminated with the Special Edition options that utilise Furutech connectors throughout. These are described in more detail below.
The quality of the mains cable used to power the Puritan Audio mains distributors greatly affects performance these units are capable of. Therefore use the highest quality power cord the budget allows. Puritan Audio’s own mains cables which start from from £85/£130 for their Classic/Classic Plus models through to the Ultimate models from £540. For an enhanced level of performance we can offer power cords from GutWire, AudioQuest and Furutech. Please call for a consultation with more specific advice here and we will advise on the best selection of power cords for your specific application.
Puritan Audio Special Edition products
We have recently completed an upgrade programme with Puritan Audio Laboratories to redesign all their products to incorporate Furutech FT-UKS chassis sockets and the FI-33 C-20 high current inlet IEC. These are designated Special Edition models and are available exclusively from The Audio Consultants. This development was done for two reasons.
Firstly, the standard issue Puritan Audio UK sockets have a low grip so that when using straight audiophile UK plugs, such as those from Furutech and AudioQuest, there was a tendency for these UK plugs to lose contact, especially if the power cable was of a certain weight and stiffness. This was exacerbated by the sprung flap that is built into the Puritan Audio sockets. The grip issue is less of a problem with L-shaped UK (90 degree) or the more standard straight UK plugs.
Secondly, there is a noticeable upgrade to the sound of all the Puritan Audio models, the Studio Master Purifiers and the Advanced Power Strips, using the Furutech FT-UKS chassis sockets. Careful listening tests between the two variants suggests the sonic uplift in performance is between 50% and 80% that of the standard issue models. Most notably is the larger sense of scale to the sound picture in all dimensions, the separation of images within that space, and a more authoritative tonal weight. Dynamics and transient speed are clearly faster. The additional level of transparency helps resolve the finest details and nuances that enhance the realism of the musical reproduction, and the listening pleasure.
We have direct equivalents of models, with and without the Furutech chassis sockets, available for home trial. Schuko Special edition models are available to order. Please phone to arrange such an audition or for more information if required
Puritan Studio Master Series – the flagship series of filtered units
PSM 136 – 6 outlet filtered mains distributor
The PSM136 with its precision symmetrically balanced circuitry has 6 fully independent outputs and 39 finely tuned filter elements designed to remove mains borne noise. Definition of individual instruments gain air and space between them, their timbre becoming more believable, the sound picture is enlarged beyond the loudspeaker cabinets. Soundstage gains in three-dimensionality enhancing the listening experience.
Even in areas where mains quality is good, improvements can be heard. This distributor offers great value and will perform better in areas where mains noise is particularly pervasive.
PSM 136 – 6 outlet filtered mains distributor £1195
2.0m Puritan Classic power cord included with PSM 136.
PSM 136 SE with Furutech FT-UKS Rhodium sockets and FI-33 R NCF C-20 IEC £1850
PSM 136 SE with Furutech FI-E30 Rhodium NCF Schuko socket and FI-33 R NCF C-20 IEC £1930
2.0m Puritan Classic Plus power cord included with PSM 136 SE.
PSM optional face plate to allow vertical positioning £90. No charge if selected at point of purchase,
Reviews: 1. Paul Rigby, ‘The Audiophile Man’ – click Link. 2. Hi-Fi Choice – click Link
Puritan PSM 136 SE with Furutech FT-UKS sockets and vertical face plate
Puritan PSM 136 SE with Furutech FI-E30 R Schuko sockets and vertical face plate
PSM 156 – flagship 6 outlet filtered mains distributor
The PSM156 builds upon the technology in the PSM136 retaining the precision symmetrically balanced circuitry and 6 fully independent outputs. Increasing the number of independently tuned filter elements from 39 to 52 enables your system to deliver even greater delicacy and detail, especially in areas where mains quality is known to be poor.
PSM 156 – 6 outlet filtered mains distributor £1550
2.0m Puritan Classic power cord included with PSM 156.
PSM 156 SE with Furutech FT-UKS Rhodium sockets and C-20 Rh IEC £2200
PSM 156 SE with Furutech FI-E30 Rhodium NCF Schuko sockets and FI-33 R NCF C-20 IEC £2280
2.0m Puritan Classic Plus power cord included with PSM 156 SE.
PSM optional face plate to allow vertical positioning £90. No charge if selected at point of purchase.
Awarded a 6 Moons Blue Moon (reserved only for “outstanding” products of “rare excellence”) – click Link. Paul Rigby, The Audiophile Man, has also reviewed this product – click Link
Puritan Audio PCM-156 review by Alan Sircom, Hi-Fi+ (868 KB) >>
Puritan PSM 156 – Studio Master filtered mains distributor - 6 outlets
Puritan PSM 156 SE with Furutech FT-UKS sockets and vertical face plate
PSM 1512 – flagship 12 outlet filtered mains distributor
The PSM1512 builds upon the technology in the PSM156 retaining the precision symmetrically balanced circuitry but increases it to 12 fully independent 15 Amp outputs in two banks of six, one under the other. The number of independently tuned filter elements is increased from 52 to 94. This should enable better tonal accuracy and mid / high micro details for larger systems, especially in areas where mains quality is known to be poor. Dimensions in mm: W 430, D 230, H 190.
PSM 1512 – flagship 12 outlet filtered mains distributor
£2795
2.0m Puritan Classic power cord included with PSM 1512.
PSM 1512 SE with Furutech FT-UKS Rhodium sockets and FI-33 R NCF C-20 IEC £3910
PSM 1512 SE with Furutech FI-E30 Rhodium NCF Schuko sockets and
FI-33 R NCF C-20 IEC £4060
2.0m Puritan Classic Plus power cord included with PSM 1512 SE.
PSM optional face plate to allow vertical positioning £90. No charge if selected at point of purchase.
Puritan PSM 1512 SE with Furutech FT-UKS sockets and vertical face plate
Puritan Multi Outlet Advanced Power Distribution Strips
These simpler, multi outlet strips are compact enough to fit into most audio systems and can be sited behind or beside most equipment supports. Their performance in improving sound quality is, again, way above some more expensive alternative brands. The sound improvements are recognisably from Puritan’s technology and are a more cost-effective and ergonomic way of reducing mains borne noise and pollution.
They come in two versions, FILTERED or PURIST, the non-filtered variant. The PURIST strips offer a very high-quality star-wired solution for those residing in areas where mains pollution and noise are known to be low, and would be our recommended product for those sensitive to compression of scale and dynamics.
Both variants of these multi-outlet distributors require an input mains cord. There is a Puritan Classic power cord included with these mains distributers but our listening tests confirmed the obvious that, the better the mains cord used from the wall to the strip, the better the performance of these distributors. We have various recommendations dependent on budget and expected performance from either Puritan’s own mains cords, GutWire, AudioQuest or Furutech options. Please call to discuss.
Puritan PS 106 DC filtered mains strip with DC blocking - 6 outlets
Puritan PS 108 Purist power strip - 8 outlets
Advanced Power Strips - 6 or 8 output sockets filtered mains strips, with or without DC blocking
There are two forms of Power Strips from Puritan Audio: the Purifiers with 6 outlets, with or without
DC blocking; the Purist with no filtration but star wiring, with or without DC blocking.
The standard version of the Power Strip will include a 2.0m Puritan Classic power cord.
All Power Strips Special Edition will have a 2.0m Puritan Classic Plus power cord.
PS 106 – standard with 6 output sockets filtered mains strip
PS 106 standard version £655
PS 106 SE with Furutech FT-UKS Gold sockets and FI-33 Gold C-20 IEC £1210
PS 106 SE with Furutech FI-E30 Gold Schuko sockets and FI-33 Gold C-20 IEC £1110
PS 106 DC – 6 output sockets filtered mains strip with DC blocking
As above with additional circuitry to re-balance the AC sine wave, removing all Direct Current components enabling transformers to work efficiently and quietly, realising fuller dynamics.
PS 106 DC - as standard plus DC removal £810
PS 106 DC SE with Furutech FT-UKS Gold sockets and FI-33 Gold C-20 IEC £1360
PS 106 DC SE with Furutech FI-E30 Gold Schuko sockets and FI-33 Gold C-20 IEC £1260
PS 108-PURIST – 8 output sockets non-filtered strip
Supplied with no supply filtration and no spike protection. 8 outlets directly star connected. Star earthing plan with cleansed earth.
PS 108 PURIST £595
PS 108 PURIST SE with Furutech FT-UKS Gold sockets and FI-33 Gold C-20 IEC £1230
PS 108 PURIST SE with Furutech FI-E30 Gold Schuko sockets and FI-33 GoldC-20 IEC £1160
PS 108-PURIST DC - 8 output sockets non-filtered strip with DC blocking
Same non-filtered unit as the PS 108 PURIST above but with the addition of Direct Current blocking on the earth.
PS 108 PURIST DC £715
PS 108 PURIST DC SE with Furutech FT-UKS Gold sockets and FI-33 Gold C-20 IEC £1280
PS 108 PURIST DC SE with Furutech FI-E30 Gold Schuko sockets and FI-33 Gold C-20 IEC £1210
Puritan PS 106 DC SE with Furutech FT-UKS Gold sockets
Puritan PS 108 DC SE with Furutech FT-UKS Gold sockets
Schuko Distribution Power Outlets - unfiltered
The mains distribution blocks have a large effect on the sound and should be commensurate in quality to the power cords from the wall socket to the distributor, and those from the distributor to the components. We favour distributors that do not employ major filtering, mains conditioning or mains regeneration, as explained above, due to compressive effects. Apart from Puritan Audio Laboratories, the best unfiltered distributors are from Furutech and GutWire Cables. These are only available with Schuko European sockets, but there is major benefit from using Schuko main plugs in that the UK fuse is eliminated. Without a fuse in the plug there is a significant increase in dynamics, a larger sound picture, bandwidth is extended at both ends, with more authority and texture to bass frequencies.
The Schuko plug and socket system gives a higher surface area than the UK 13A rectangular pins. Therefore the fit is to substantially better tolerances, current transfer is more efficient thereby releasing the true current capability of the power cord.
This system works better than using multiple wall outlets to each individual component even on a dedicated spur. completely without any filtration or electronic additions other than high quality wiring and their proprietary damping.
The distribution blocks require a power cord to feed them from the wall socket. This can be either an audiophile UK plug, such as those from Furutech or AudioQuest, or change the wall socket for a Furutech Schuko version.
This system of power distribution works better than using multiple wall outlets to each individual component, even from a dedicated spur.
We have many customers who have gone this route and the feedback has been nothing short of eulogies. Please phone to discuss how to do this and we will be pleased to give you our experiences over many years of assisting with this route of power distribution.
Furutech Power Distribution Outlets
Distribution power outlets fed from a single wall socket can have a large effect on the sound and used with quality power cords give sonic results far in excess of any major mains filtering, conditioning or regeneration that we have heard. The result is wide and deep soundstages without compression to the sound.
Furutech use just high quality proprietary Furutech wiring and their unique damping and resonance absorbing medium. Their Schuko mains distributors employ star wiring to all parts of the circuit. They offer the widest range of Schuko unfiltered distributors on the market and the difference in sound quality is easily heard between the models.
Prices start from a very modest £330 for a 6 outlets.
These distributors require a power cord of commensurate quality and current rating to feed them from a wall socket.
Furutech e-TP609E Schuko distributer
Unfiltered Distributors
e-TP60 – 6 Schuko outlets – gold £330
e-TP66 G - 6 Schuko outlets linear layout £354
e-TP86 G - 8 Schuko outlets linear layout £457
e-TP609E NCF – 6 Schuko outlets – rhodium (pictured) £1642
e-TP809E - 6 Schuko outlets - rhodium £3665
Furutech e-TP60E Schuko distributer
GutWire Power Distribution Power Outlets
Distribution power outlets fed from a single wall socket can have a large effect on the sound and used with quality power cords give sonic results far in excess of any major mains filtering, conditioning or regeneration that we have heard. The result is wide and deep soundstages without compression to the sound. Gutwire use just high quality proprietary GutWire wiring and their unique damping and resonance absorbing medium. Their Schuko mains distributors employ star wiring to all parts of the circuit, earth, live and neutral conductors.
These distributors require a power cord of commensurate quality and current rating to feed them from a wall socket.
The 8 Bar Schuko power distributor is on a par with the high quality of sound achieved with the Furutech e-TP809E NCF but offers 8 outlets instead of 6 for a lower price. They come in two variants using either Wattgate or Furutech connectors.
Schuko 8 Bar distributor – 8 Wattgate Schuko sockets, Furutech FI-33 R C-20 IEC inlet £3200
Schuko 8 Bar FT distributor – 8 Furutech FI-E30 R Schuko sockets, Furutech FI-33 R C-20 IEC inlet £3600
Schuko 8 Bar distributor – 8 Schuko sockets
Visit our demonstration room
4 Zephyr House Calleva Park | Aldermaston | Berkshire RG7 8JN
Demonstrations by appointment Monday – Saturday: 10:00am to 6:00pm.
Telephone or Zoom consultations are available and can be booked at mutually convenient times
