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Cable Asylum Interconnects, speaker wire, power cords. Ask the Cable Guys. |
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Model: Power Wing Category: Power Conditioner/Surge Protector Suggested Retail Price: $2650 Description: AC Line Conditioner and Filter Manufacturer URL: World Power Model Picture: View
Review by classfolkphile ( A ) on August 01, 2006 at 09:27:15
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for the Power Wing
I’ve owned a Power Wing for about a month and a half now. I previously auditioned it for a period of two weeks (Alan Kafton gives, and in fact insists, on a free audition prior to an order being placed) when I still owned a Shunyata Hydra Eight. Comparisons will therefore be between theses two conditioners and with the usual caveats: IMS, IMO.The audition Power Wing had one duplex outlet of each Oyaide type: DX (Rhodium), GX (Gold), and XXX (Palladium over Gold). I did not care for the Rhodium outlet at all on any equipment: much too forward. As has been previously noted, the Rhodium and Palladium are both cool in tone; the Gold, of course, warm (but slightly). I ordered a unit with two Gold duplexes and one Palladium.
Trying all the outlets in various combinations with all of my components and cords has led me to prefer all digital sources (over time an Exemplar Denon 2900, Parts Connexion modded MF Trivista 21 DAC, and APL Denon 3910) connected to a Palladium outlet with a Wattgate Gold VH Audio Airsine. When using the DAC, I prefer my Northstar transport also connected to a Palladium outlet with a Furutech Gold VHA Flavor 2 or, preferably, an Oyaide Gold AirSine. I prefer both my Modwright 9.0SE Linestage and CJ MV60SE connected to a Gold outlet with, for the former, a Furutech Gold VH Audio Flavor 2, or preferably, an Oyaide Gold AirSine or Wattgate Gold Kimber Palladian PK10. The amp sounds best with a Oyaide Gold Acrolink 6N P4030 or, preferably, Ridge Street Audio’s new Alethias (with unplated copper Furutech).
For the Power Wing itself (which has a Furutech Gold IEC), I tried all of the above cords and Prana Wire’s new Kensho (with both Oyaide Gold and Palladium connectors). The Kensho, which was double cryo’ed and “cookedâ€, was also supplied by Audio Excellence AZ (Alan Kafton) and sounded the best (with Gold connectors) in this position. The Kensho is plugged into an Oyaide GX (formerly a Hubbell 5362) outlet on a dedicated line on a dedicated subpanel.
I will attempt, in the near future, to post some comments on the Alethias and Kensho with the friends with whom I auditioned them (in two systems). For now, suffice it to say they’re both excellent and I will be purchasing at least one of each.
The Power Wing is a passive line conditioner (with surge protection) and does what a good conditioner (like the Hydra 8) is supposed to, i.e., it lowers the noise floor of the system thereby increasing resolution. It does so, however, to an extent and in ways that surpasses the Hydra 8. The latter has just gone up in price to $2500 list, narrowing the price gap between the two, although the Hydra is widely available discounted or used. I utilized a 20 amp VH Audio AirSine with Furutech Rhodium connectors on the Hydra while I had them. The AirSine was an improvement over the Shunyata Taipan and Python Helixes I also tried. While the Rhodium connectors were not the best choice (too cool with the Hydra’s silver outlets), they didn’t affect the sound in ways that would impact on the below comparisons. At the same time, I used an Oyaide Gold AirSine on the Power Wing.
The main differences I found between the two follow.
My amp sounded muddy and less dynamic plugged into the Hydra as opposed to directly into the wall outlet (a croy’ed Hubbell 5362). Not uncommon with line conditioners. But plugged into the Power Wing the amp gained in resolution over the wall with no loss (and perhaps a slight gain) in dynamics.
The soundstage of the Power Wing is larger in all dimensions than the Hydra. The former is significantly more transparent and resolving than the latter, and therefore conveys a greater sense of music’s continuity.
The images the Power Wing presents are rock solid: the images don’t shift at all. The Hydra was an improvement in this area over the wall outlet but not by a lot.
Perhaps as a result of the above the Wing conveys more coherence in the music. Perhaps as an effect of this coherence, the speakers disappear all of the time now. With the Hydra they disappeared some of the time.
The ease of presentation that results from all of the above cannot be overstated. The music just becomes so much more relaxing (not soporific) and listening fatigue is tremendously reduced. This ease, once heard, is impossible to do without. I was not really happy listening to my system again until my ordered unit arrived. Which brings up the one drawback to the Wing. It is not a stock item but a custom one. It has to be ordered, and it will take a couple to a few months to arrive. It is definitely worth the wait.
Product Weakness: Custom, not stock item. Product Strengths: Superb performer in all areas.
Associated Equipment for this Review: Amplifier: Conrad Johnson MV60SE (60wpc) Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Modwright SWL 9.0SE Sources (CDP/Turntable): Exemplar Denon 2900, M.F. Trivista 21 (w Parts Connexion Mods), Northstar Transport, APL Denon 3910 Speakers: Aural Acoustics Model B Cables/Interconnects: Shunyata Gemini, PAD Aqueous Anniv., spkr. cables, VH Audio Spectrum ICs, Nirvana Transmission Line Dig. IC Music Used (Genre/Selections): Notebook of A. Magdalena Bach, Teldec: Greg Brown's Room Size (LxWxH): 12' x 7.5' x 22' Room Comments/Treatments: M. Green Room Tunes Time Period/Length of Audition: Couple of months Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner
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Topic - REVIEW: World Power Power Wing Power Conditioner/Surge Protector - classfolkphile 09:27:15 08/1/06 (4)
- World Power Power Wing Power Conditioner/Surge Protector - Wayne Brady 20:29:07 08/3/06 (1)
- Re: Sorry to burst the bubble.... - alan m. kafton 00:25:54 08/4/06 (0)
- It's A Winner - Luminator 12:46:49 08/2/06 (1)
- Re: It's A Winner - calloway 07:55:53 08/4/06 (0)
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