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Synergistic Research Powercell 12UEF

I've just taken delivery of a pair of these latest models from SR and as one of the early customers and given the interest in SR graphene technology I thought I would share some first impressions. The 12UEFs (the glass top model) replace a pair of 10UEFs in my system. One powers the sources (phono, preamp, turntable and my 4 part DCS stack) while the other powers my two monoblocks. I had been very pleased with the 10UEFs and have several years experience with them finding that they did a good job of getting out of the way and letting each component perform.

Anyway after a day or so of listening (so given past SR black experience expect more burn in) I am surprised to relate that the impact of the 12UEFs is almost transformative. The best way of describing the effect is to say that with the 12s its as if a) all the musicians are now performing together in the same room and b) you are in the room with them. Across an array of my test discs I found the same effect. The normal indicators of frequency extreme performance, dynamics etc all somehow seem irrelevant. A couple of examples. On "Bye Bye Blackbird" by Nancy Harms yes the bass is very clear but also superbly dimensioned, this then becomes a busy and congested recording as the full band enters but with the 12UEFs it's easy to sort the parts out and hear all of the musicians playing off one another. Another simple recording is Canen "I've got a guy in Kalamazoo" -- this is almost a mono recording and frankly I thought it sounded a bit muffled but with the 12UEFs again everyone is playing together, you can't help your toes from tapping and really engage with the bass players moves

One odd manifestation of the effect of these components is with any strong central vocal when you move your head forward and back it seems as if you are in the room with the vocalist and are moving away and towards him or her -- all the other instruments stay relatively in proportion and it's as if you can walk around the room

I can only surmise that by taking away low level noise from the power supply the 12UEFs are letting through more of the recorded acoustic - others have noted similar effects with other SR Atmosphere and black series components

Anyway for those already using SR Powercells or in the market for some sort of conditioner I can highly recommend them
128x128folkfreak
richfield_hunter
68 posts
 
It is very well regarded and sounds fantastic. The prices dealers were offering to upgrade to the new unit made this a no brainier. I will provide an update in a few weeks

debjit_g
247 posts
 
@richfield_hunter

I am very much interested in your review. I have the 10 UEF w/ FEQ and wondering how much better is the 12 UEF. Its also great that you are able to compare the AQ 7000 along with it, which is a great product. The newly introduced Shunyata Denali also seems like a great product and many favored the Denali to the AQ 7000.

Is there a ongoing trade-in program going on to exchange 10 UEF with the 12 UEF ?
folkfreak's avatar
folkfreak OP
1,349 posts
 
I am not aware of a formal trade up program but my long term dealer was able to give me a good trade in on my old UEFs.

 I've personally not actually directly compared the UEFs with the AQ 7000 but did find that the upgrade from 10UEF to 12 UEF (the glass top model at least) was transformative bringing an entirely new and improved presentation to the complete system. I have found it beneficial to damp/cover the top plates, the flickering blue LED is very objectionable.

The Denali also looks like a good option and in particular I like the look of the supports for heavy AC plugs it has -- the SR products still suffer from a lack of support and I need to resort to shims to hold in my very heavy original Galileo LE plugs - oh well
debjit_g
247 posts
 
@folkfreak - thanks for your valuable feedback. I have a pair of nc500 based monoblock and found the 10 UEF to limit its dynamics until I went straight to the wall. I only connect the front ends to the 10 UEF now but I have found chaining an Audience a6R-TSSD after the 10 UEF brings some more improvements in terms of reducing digital hash and smoothness.

However, I am reading the Denali user feedback and lot of folks whoes opinion I value has claimed that its the lowest noise floor they have heard in their system but I haven't found anyone comparing it to SR products yet.
richfield_hunter
68 posts
 
First of all I only have my fron end gear plugged into the power conditioners during this comparison. I have had some time to directly compare the AQ Niagara 7000 to the new SR UEF12.  First of all the UEF 12 is a huge step up over the UEF10 in inner detail, realism, more holographic. But so is the Niagara over the 10.  The AQ and SR 12 are quite similar in transparency quality of timbre and soundstage. However the SR has better bass definition and bass weight than the AQ. In my system the AQ has a hum to it when my ARC Ref 10 is plugged into it. With the SR dead silence. I just got back from RMAF where AQ had Vanderstten Sevens and the Vandy amps plugged into the AQ and Richard Vandersteen suggested that was a step up in performance compared to into the wall. I'm going to give it a try. More to follow. 

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