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Question
Why did you resign the PS Audio agency if you were selling at least 36 Power Plant premiers a year – a lost income of around £67k?
Answer
The answer you seek (and a lot more besides) can be found at the following links:
http://www.psaudio.com/ps/forum/viewthread/457/
http://www.psaudio.com/ps/forum/viewthread/494/
http://www.psaudio.com/ps/forum/viewthread/513/
http://www.psaudio.com/ps/forum/viewthread/553/
http://www.psaudio.com/ps/forum/viewthread/545/
http://www.psaudio.com/ps/forum/viewthread/514/
http://www.psaudio.com/ps/forum/viewthread/584/
http://www.psaudio.com/ps/forum/viewthread/599/
Question
With my PS Audio Power Plant Premier, would I be wise to use the PS Audio power cables?
Answer
Candidly, although very successful with the PS Audio PPP, (I resigned the agency in February 2009 due to unacceptable reliability on the PPP units: http://www.psaudio.com/ps/forum/viewthread/457/) with literally scores of delighted customers, I've not been happy with the PS Audio power cords. There are two primary reasons and they have nothing to do with the sonic properties of them.
First, these are physically very heavy cables indeed and a number of trial customers have expressed concern that the sheer weight is causing their IEC input connectors on the rear of the equipment to come loose. I've experienced this first hand myself.
Secondly, you may not be aware but the current PS Audio power cords have heavy-duty US mains plugs moulded on. Thus in the UK this requires an equally heavy-duty Main conversion block to plug direct into the UK wall socket. I feel this to be both unsightly and counterintuitive.
My understanding is that I'm not alone re this. Ideally one would hope that given the tremendous sales of PPP units in the UK (not just from me) that the makers would supply power cords with UK wall-plug termination. However comparatively speaking the UK for this specific product is a small market and productions runs are in multiples of 1000s.
The power cord itself is so thick that as far as we know, no UK mains plug can accommodate it.
All in all and for practical reasons, this is a non-starter.
Without exception, all of my PPP owners use Damiel power cords.
Many feel that these offer terrific value.
To give some idea re owner feedback, albeit on the tuned version for STAX energisers (these are known as Cassiel) please click here: http://www.stereonow.co.uk/cassiel.html
Incidentally, due to the nature of the construction of Damiel power cords, any improvements are immediate. Yes, these are progressively refined as they break-in. However if there isn't an immediate improvement in your system, then return them right away for a no questions-asked full refund.
The refund includes refunding the return carriage to me.
Can't say fairer than that, I don't think. I'm Always open to suggestions though.
Thank you for your interest.
Question
I am currently using a ps audio gcph highly modified by the current and original designer peter cullen (cullencircuits.com) - how does the base model compare with the art audio and manley phono stages which also have built in volume control. I compared the modded gcph versus a brinkmann fein and the gcph was quite a way ahead. Interested to hear your thoughts.
Answer
You pose a very difficult question. As you probably know if you've read my pieces through the years that I am very reluctant to make comments on items unless I have had personal and in-depth experience of that item or situation. I feel that conjecture masquerading as fact is one of the poorer aspects of our industry. The point being that I have not had direct experience of your modified unit. The only constructive thing I can say, given this, is that to date everyone who has heard the Manley Steelhead, which I have on permanent demonstration here, feels that it represents a step change in vinyl reproduction performance. Certainly it is the most musically compelling phono stage I have ever heard or owned. But then again, at the current RRP, it should be. £6,750 inc vat