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Review: Allan Maher Power Enhancer AC filter

Category: Accessories

Alan Maher Power Enhancer and the Noise Destroyer

Ok, here is my set up.

I have 3 dedicated circuits all with 10 gauge Romex and all with the Wattgate 381 gold plated outlets.

Electrical Set Up and Equipment
#1 one circuit is used only with my APL 3910 Player. Connected with Purist Anniversary Power Cord
#2 one circuit for only my Pass labs X350.5 Amp Connected with Virtual Dynamics Revelation 2 Power Cord
#3 one circuit for my Hydra 8 (Connected with Virtual Dynamics Master Power Cord) where all my video is plugged in. LCD TV, DVR, DVD, CDR, Cable Box etc.
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Review
Originally, I plugged the Alan Maher PE’s into outlets outside of those 3 dedicated circuits (I used other outlets in the same room) to break them in. In those locations, I actually thought they sounded pretty good. But I was told by Jen Maher not to do that. Jen said to plug them into my Audio outlets and don’t move them from place to place, if I did, she said, they would go thru break in all over again.

Well, I moved them as instructed into the #1 dedicated outlet used on the APL Player and on the #2 dedicated outlet used with my Pass Labs Amp.

A few days later, (about 4 days) the bass and treble sounded less impressive, the dynamics was gone. After a week, the system remained “Dark Sounding” and unenjoyable. I finally said to myself, what the hey, and moved the PE’s back to the Original placement I had at the beginning (outside of the 3 dedicated outlets).

Well folks that is it, they sounded great once again in that location. The dynamics and the upper frequencies returned slowly. But the change was noticeable somewhat right away. After about 15-30 minutes the treble started sounding more extended and the dynamics returned. For some reason, when I plugged the PE’s directly into my dedicated Audio outlets the sound gets dark, I believe the Audiophile word for this is, overdamped. Your results may vary.

So, am I better off with the Alan Maher or the Noise Destroyers in my system??? I would say, yes, they make noticeable positive improvements, but extreme placement is necessary.

Results were about the same with the Allan Maher units as compared to the Noise Destroyer units. I would give the nod to the Alan Maher units over the Noise Destroyers due to price and slightly better performance. I have placed the Noise Destroyers into my Video System where they have improved that quite nicely.

APL Denon 3910 CD Player
Pass Labs X350.5
Eggleston Works Andra mkII Speaker
Purist Dominus Ferox Rev C Balanced 2M Interconnect
Shunyata Hydra 8 AC filter
Virtual Dynamics Revelation 2.0 Bi-wire Speaker cable
Purist 20th Anniversary Contego Power cord
Virtual Dynamics Revelation 2 Power cord

Associated gear
APL Denon 3910 CD Player
Pass Labs X350.5
Eggleston Works Andra mkII Speaker
Purist Dominus Ferox Rev C Balanced 2M Interconnect
Shunyata Hydra 8 AC filter
Virtual Dynamics Revelation 2.0 Bi-wire Speaker cable
Purist 20th Anniversary Contego Power cord
Virtual Dynamics Revelation 2 Power cord
ozzy

Showing 5 responses by tvad

tvad
9,467 posts
 
Ozzy, which PE model do you have?

I purchased a couple PE and one PE III about a year ago, and I returned them for a refund, much to the chagrin of Alan. According to him, I'm about the only customer to return one of his products.

Later, I purchased an AM Reference Power Center V2, which replaced a Shunyata Hydra 2 and Purist Dominus Ferrox power cord (the RPC V2 has a captive cord). Alan pretty much didn't want to sell to me because of my earlier return (his return policy notwithstanding). But, we came to an agreement, and I essentially decided I would sell the conditioner rather than return it if it didn't work out.

My system sounds the same with the Alan Maher RPC V2 as it did with the Shunyata/Purist combo, and I was able to save some money while adding many more outlets, so the AM RPC V2 has been a good addition, although I can't say I have had an "Ah-Ha!" moment with the AM conditioner.

I can say it does no harm.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
I don't experience the limited dynamics that you describe.

I'd like to hear the "jaw dropping" results others have experienced with the AM products, but I'm generally dubious of anything people describe as "jaw dropping".

I'm sure others have experienced good results. Perhaps I'm fortunate to have good quality power from the wall, as it appears you are as well.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
I tried my PE in every possible configuration as recommended by A. Maher. Top outlet. Bottom outlet. Outlet nearest components. Outlet farthest from components.

Sometimes, a product doesn't shine in a given home/system. It's not always the end user's fault, which seems to be the AM party line.

IMO.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
I once owned a pair of SS monoblock amps that had transformers that would
buzz quite loudly in unison. They would never buzz at the same time of day,
nor would they buzz every day. But, buzz they did.

The manufacturer told me it was not the fault of the amps, and that it was
the fault of my home AC. I had the power company monitor my power for
four weeks, and they said everything was within specifications (I did explain
the problem and that I used high end audio amplifiers). I installed a
commercial grade power filter at my service panel that the filter's
manufacturer said would correct the problem. It didn't.

No other amplifier has had transformers that buzz in my system.

There is probably something with my power that the buzzing amps did not
like, but on the other hand there was something in their build/design that
was uniquely sensitive to the power in my home that caused the transformers
to buzz when transformers in all other amps I have owned or auditioned have
been dead quiet.

So, the moral of the story is that the manufacturer said it was the fault of my
home AC, and I thought it was the fault of the amplifiers. The truth lies
somewhere between...which goes to your point about variables in our
individual home's AC power delivery and why audiophile power filters
sometimes produce quite different results in our systems.

IMO
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Maybe the buyer(s) of your PE filters will contribute some comments here. That'd
be interesting.
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