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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
128x128ozzy

Showing 9 responses by sherod

sherod
1,690 posts
 
Okay Clio09, the weekend has passed and I'm "chomping on the bit" waiting for your impressions. By the way, I recall reading that you had your video gear plugged into an Electroclear QRT. I also had a single QRT-1 in an outlet and I found that my system sounds so much better with the QRT unplugged. It somehow clashed with what the PE was doing to the circuit. The PE is sufficient by itself to my ears. I just ordered another one to experiment with a 2nd unit in the circuit.
sherod
1,690 posts
 
Nice review, Ozzy. Supposedly,after the PE is placed in an outlet, it takes up to 10 days to fully break in that particular outlet. I'm confused a bit as to how the PE works. I initially thought that the PE had to break in itself, but now I read where Alan's wife says that the PE doesn't break in but the outlet circuit which the PE is plugged into does. Fortunately, according to a follow-up by Alan himself, after 15 min. in whatever outlet you choose, you'll know whether you like it there or not, so you don't have to wait out the 10 day break-in period to decide, unlike cables, etc. I also have found the PE to sound the best in an outlet which is in the same circuit, but further away from the outlets where my system is actually plugged into. I am contemplating getting another PE to hear if there are indeed further benefits. So far, I'm really enjoying the one only PE in the room. if anything, my bedroom system on the other side of the wall could probably use a PE. One thing that I've found is that the Electroclear QRT-1 and the PE don't like each other. The PE is far superior. In fact, I have removed the Electroclear completely. Anyone want an Electroclear QRT-1 dirt cheap?
sherod
1,690 posts
 
Ozzy,
Have you tried taking the Hydra 8 out of the circuit and experimenting with the PE by itself? That would be an interesting experiment.
sherod
1,690 posts
 
Very interesting. You must have very clean power coming into those dedicated lines.
sherod
1,690 posts
 
Ozzy, having your own transformer will make a huge difference vs. several homes or an entire block sharing one. Of course, your fridge,etc. can add some noise to the equation but your dedicated stereo lines is helping you a lot in achieving a cleaner signal. I envy you, man.
sherod
1,690 posts
 
Clio09, I'm looking forward to hearing your impressions.
sherod
1,690 posts
 
The Alan Maher PE (Power Enhancer) needs to be placed very precisely throughout your home. They are particularly sensitive in the series mode( that is, before your system power). If in parallel mode( after your system), they might or might not make a difference). See Alan's post above for more info. Remember to take the adequate time required after insertion of your PE's to get their full measure.

sherod
1,690 posts
 
"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."

Quite possible. There are so many variables in one's own home AC power network as well as in their system. Thank goodness we have our own ears to help us decide what sounds good and what doesn't.
sherod
1,690 posts
 
Ozzy,
I don't doubt you that the PE devices didn't work out in your system. I just read your review, though, and initially you appeared to have liked them in your system. As Tvad stated, what works in someone's system might not work in another's. Additionally, for those who still use the AM PE in their system, I have found that two in series is sufficient. I found a bright-sounding outlet in the back bedroom close to the breaker box for one unit and the other is plugged into the same outlet of my monoblocs in the main listening room. This seems to give me the clearest and most dynamic sound. I recently found that although one plugged after the system( parallel) initially adds some warmth, however, the overall sound became closed in and lifeless. Alan warned that this could happen. So as a result, my main system is complete with only the two in series only. YMMV (O:
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