PS Audio PowerPlant 12 Review (AC Regenerator)

[antcollinet]

I am researching how to build a system from scratch.

OK

Here is where to spend your money:

Speakers.
Amplification with sufficient power (depends on your speaker efficiency, and your listening distance.

Pretty much everything else can be audibly perfect at low cost. Think wiim range for streamers, and if you need a separate DAC you don't really need to pay more than around £$250. Though with the Wiim pro plus, or the Wiim ultra you don't really need one.

One other thing to consider would be DSP for room correction - this can make a big improvement to the sound quality. Wiim devices can (to a certain extent) do this also.


Where not to spend your money:

Power generators and similar
Cables - beyond the basics of being robust enough, and (for speaker cables) with sufficient cross sectional area. If you are spending more than around £$20 on a cable, you are probably spending too much.
Expensive digital electronics (streamers, DACs etc). Pay for the features you need, but not for sound quality - which is a solved problem even at the low priced end of the market.

 

[VicMax]

Any proof?

Direct experience!
There are frequent voltage jumps, micro-cuts every day, and voltage variations.
I work a lot on a computer and I was forced to buy a UPS to protect my computer which cut a lot. Now, I have no more problems because either the micro-cuts do not affect it anymore or it shuts down properly automatically before the UPS has no more battery.

 

[VicMax]

OK

Here is where to spend your money:

Speakers.
Amplification with sufficient power (depends on your speaker efficiency, and your listening distance.

Pretty much everything else can be audibly perfect at low cost. Think wiim range for streamers, and if you need a separate DAC you don't really need to pay more than around £$250. Though with the Wiim pro plus, or the Wiim ultra you don't really need one.

One other thing to consider would be DSP for room correction - this can make a big improvement to the sound quality. Wiim devices can (to a certain extent) do this also.


Where not to spend your money:

Power generators and similar
Cables - beyond the basics of being robust enough, and (for speaker cables) with sufficient cross sectional area. If you are spending more than around £$20 on a cable, you are probably spending too much.
Expensive digital electronics (streamers, DACs etc). Pay for the features you need, but not for sound quality - which is a solved problem even at the low priced end of the market.

What cable gauge do you recommand for speaker cable ? AWG12 or AWG10 ?

 

[Mr. Widget]

What cable gauge do you recommand for speaker cable ? AWG12 or AWG10 ?

Depends on length. 14 ga or 12 ga is typically fine. You would only need 10 ga for 4 ohm speakers that are a good distance from your amp.

4 ohm speakers have twice the theoretical current draw so they require heavier cables. That said, most speakers have wildly fluctuating impedances so even that rule can be taken with a grain of salt.

 

[antcollinet]

What cable gauge do you recommand for speaker cable ? AWG12 or AWG10 ?

I use 12 - but even that is overkill. 14 would also be fine, unless you are running very long lengths.

I was forced to buy a UPS to protect my computer

A UPS would also work fine to protect your audio gear if that is genuinely needed. Power regeneration devices are expensive and un-necessary

 

[VicMax]

Depends on length. 14 ga or 12 ga is typically fine. You would only need 10 ga for 4 ohm speakers that are a good distance from your amp.

I read somewhere that you need a larger diameter cable to reduce resistance and get better sound. That's why I wrote AWG10.

 

[Mr. Widget]

I read somewhere that you need a larger diameter cable to reduce resistance and get better sound. That's why I wrote AWG10.

And that was true when back in the late 60s stereo shops would give away 24 ga speaker wire... 14 gauge is almost always going to maximize your sonic performance.

Again distance is part of the equation. If you need to run 30' or more of cable then 12 ga starts to make sense.

 

[JustJones]

Direct experience!
There are frequent voltage jumps, micro-cuts every day, and voltage variations.
I work a lot on a computer and I was forced to buy a UPS to protect my computer which cut a lot. Now, I have no more problems because either the micro-cuts do not affect it anymore or it shuts down properly automatically before the UPS has no more battery.

I think you could use a generator not a regenerator or something like your UPS to help with soft shut down. If power is that lousy coming in a regenerator isn't going to help.

 

[Doodski]

There are frequent voltage jumps, micro-cuts every day, and voltage variations.

If they occur in your region that does not mean all of Canada is faulty... The majority of the country has stable power.

 

[VicMax]

And that was true when back in the late 60s stereo shops would give away 24 ga speaker wire... 14 gauge is almost always going to maximize your sonic performance.

You mean that with AWG14 the sound is better than with AWG12 ?

 

[Mr. Widget]

You mean that with AWG14 the sound is better than with AWG12 ?

No, what I mean is that as long as the resistance isn't causing such a voltage drop that you are wasting power within the cables or the resistance isn't affecting the loudspeaker's impedance than there will be zero audible difference between cables.

 

[VicMax]

If they occur in your region that does not mean all of Canada is faulty... The majority of the country has stable power.

I didn't said that Canada is faulty: mention that in Canada, as opposed to the United States, the power quality is not good.

 

[Mr. Widget]

I didn't said that Canada is faulty: mention that in Canada, as opposed to the United States, the power quality is not good.

I used to live in an older commercial area in San Francisco. Our power was terrible, regular brown outs followed by 15% over voltage. So, yes your power can be a problem, but that is highly unusual. Even there my system sounded fine.

 

[C. Cook]

Sorry, but I'm new here, and I don't know anything about audio and electronics.

You came to the right place. Companies like PS Audio prey on people who don't know much about that kind of product. You'll get some good advice here.

 

[Mr. Widget]

You mean that with AWG14 the sound is better than with AWG12 ?

The bottom line is that there is an incredible amount of absolute BS spread on the internet and even by manufacturers of some of the audiophile oriented equipment and accessories.

On this site, people generally try to focus on the science behind the sound and what actually does affect sonic performance as opposed to regurgitating the same BS that gets repeated over and over.

 

[Doodski]

In Canada, electricity is of very poor quality,

Looks like you exagerated to me.

I didn't said that Canada is faulty: mention that in Canada, as opposed to the United States, the power quality is not good.

You persist in blaming Canada. Have you considered that Canada sells heaps of electricity power to the USA and is tied in 4 or 5 lines to the USA grid for bi-directional power sharing. The standard is 60 Hz at 120V and it is kept to a standard and all your exaggerating and name calling (Canada) will not change that.

 

[blucupp]

I just watch the PS audio videos on YT to fall asleep. That elderly man’s voice is so soothing and relaxing.

He has never met a problem he couldn’t solve with a little bit of elbow grease and duct tape.

 

[Chrispy]

I just watch the PS audio videos on YT to fall asleep. That elderly man’s voice is so soothing and relaxing.

He has never met a problem he couldn’t solve with a little bit of elbow grease and duct tape.

LOL

 

[Steve Dallas]

I just watch the PS audio videos on YT to fall asleep. That elderly man’s voice is so soothing and relaxing.

He has never met a problem he couldn’t solve with a little bit of elbow grease and duct tape.

And money. Lots and lots of your money.

 

[voodooless]

There are frequent voltage jumps, micro-cuts every day, and voltage variations.
I work a lot on a computer and I was forced to buy a UPS to protect my computer which cut a lot. Now, I have no more problems because either the micro-cuts do not affect it anymore or it shuts down properly automatically before the UPS has no more battery.

For this, you need a UPS. Get one with enough power for all the components, and make sure it’s pure sine and an online UPS. If it’s for mostly micro cuts, you don’t need large batteries, so this doesn’t even have to be super expensive. Just stay away from any UPS products that primarily mention audio. Those will probably end up costing more and offer less.

And contact your power company about the crap service they deliver!