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ExactPower EP15A

I was thinking of getting one of these after my not so stellar audition of the PS Audio P-500. Guys that have or have had one of these (the latest model)good or bad stories about them? Do you have everything plugged in to it or just front end gear? Break in time? Different power cords? I've heard that Ps Audio tried to buy the patent from ExactPower but they weren't going for it. It EP15A looks a better design all the way around. I was thinking of the World Power Power Wing but it doesn't do anything as far as maintaining voltage from a low or high voltage situation or correcting your 60 hertz signwave. The EP15A will maintain 120 volts at it's output while the incoming voltage drops as much as 86 volts, upon hitting 85 volts the unit shuts down to protect your gear also keeps you a 120 output up to 139 volts and shuts down at 140 volts, doing all this with minamal heat unlike the PS Audio P-500 that was spontanious combustion hot with just a 12% 52 watt load on it. Thanks
jackofspeed
tvad
9,467 posts
 
I'll take a stab at Guido's question and suggest that using cords other than those offering a ground wire with true balanced power conditioners will result in less than optimal performance. In fact, I read this on the website of a manufacturer of balanced power conditioners. Unfortunately, I can't remember which one. The bottom line was that balanced power conditioners rely on an intact ground for the proper functioning of the conditioner.
guidocorona
4,114 posts
 
Grant, this begs the question. . . Why do some makers of chords like Electraglide, Crystal, and possibly Elrod not ground their PCs?
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Scott Hall, owner of Electa Glide Audio, specifically told me he does not ground his cords because he believes they sound better constructed that way.

It's interesting to note that my Denon 3910 universal player does not have a ground, as evidenced by the lack of a third pin on the EIC connector.
nsgarch's avatar
nsgarch
2,517 posts
 
Guido, Tvad (and the manufacturers he refers to) are correct, and you shouldn't use two-wire/two-prong cords with BP units IF the equipment you are using them with is originally designed with/for grounded AC plugs. Primarily for 1.) safety, and 2.) for noise cancellation benefits.

That said, I am using some two-prong equipment (tuner and cassette deck) plugged into my BP unit and they seem to work OK. I have wondered if I should rewire those units with a chassis ground to a three-prong plug, but it's a question I've yet to ask ExactPower. So if anyone has more info on this particular question, I'd be interest to know it.
babybear's avatar
babybear
105 posts
 
Thanks for all of the info. It does sound like the SP15A is defintely worth trying with the only caveat being that I use an Electraglide Epiphany on my CDP. Nsgarch/Hassel have you noticed any sonic changes to the sound of either the EP15A or SP15A depending on which power cord is powering either of those units (from wall to EP15A or from EP15A to Sp15A)?
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