PS Audio Ultimate Outlet Review

[Recluse-Animator]

"I would never use shielded cables anywhere near my equipment. It restricts the sound. It just ( Makes fart sound with his mouth ). Don't do it. You don't want it"
"Power cables should be shielded, but only at one end and that's at the wall socket end"

And then he starts to talk about Ray Kimber from Kimber cables.
There was a family who's house burn down and Ray send them a new TV to easy the pain.
"He doesn't look for any kind of recognition"
"Who does this"

I shouldn't watch his videos. It's like watching those shopping channels. I can almost feel my brain cells die.

 

[Palladium]

You aren't testing it right...you gotta hook it to a gold-plated substation transformer.

 

[RayDunzl]

My mind has gone to a dark place thinking it just may have been modified specifically for you.

Personally knowing who sent it, I'd give a 0% chance for that scenario.

I don't know if it (long ago) was purchased new or used.

I do have to assume it was in use during at least part of the time he owned it.

It could have attracted cat pee, but beyond that, I'd doubt any modification on his part.

He has better things to do, like Shut Up and Play His Guitar.

 

[AdamG247]

Personally knowing who sent it, I'd give a 0% chance for that scenario.

I don't know if it (long ago) was purchased new or used.

I do have to assume it was in use during at least part of the time he owned it.

It could have attracted cat pee, but beyond that, I'd doubt any modification on his part.

He has better things to do, like Shut Up and Play His Guitar.

View attachment 230661

Good point and something I overlooked. Thank you for the correction. I deleted my post.

 

[amirm]

Member has been very apologetic and quite sincere. I have zero doubts about his intentions. I do appreciate the warnings though and is something I will keep in mind in the future. FYI the unit has been shipped to its owner.

 

[martin900]

Should've shipped it back to PS Audio

 

[fpitas]

Should've shipped it back to PS Audio

They'd just resell it

 

[EarlessOldMan]

I represented manufacturers in many lawsuits involving failures, or alleged failures, of electrical appliances--typically larger appliances. Any reasonable manufacturer will understand that a product will eventually fail. Moreover, some products will fail earlier in their designed lives than the manufacturer intends (typically because of a defect, not in design, but in manufacturing).

For decades, responsible manufacturers have designed electrical products to ensure that their products will fail safely. They typically achieve such designs by including one-shot devices (thermal fuses). Some products include multiple one-shot devices to ensure that they will fail safely.

The manufacturers with whom I worked all designed their products to meet (and, generally, exceed) applicable ANSI/UL/CSA standards. I suspect that the following standards might apply to this product: UL 1283, Standard for Electromagnetic Interference Filters; UL 1363, Relocatable Power Taps; and UL 1449, Transient Voltage Surge Suppressors.

 

[fpitas]

I represented manufacturers in many lawsuits involving failures, or alleged failures, of electrical appliances--typically larger appliances. Any reasonable manufacturer will understand that a product will eventually fail. Moreover, some products will fail earlier in their designed lives than the manufacturer intends (typically because of a defect, not in design, but in manufacturing).

For decades, responsible manufacturers have designed electrical products to ensure that their products will fail safely. They typically achieve such designs by including one-shot devices (thermal fuses). Some products include multiple one-shot devices to ensure that they will fail safely.

The manufacturers with whom I worked all designed their products to meet (and, generally, exceed) applicable ANSI/UL/CSA standards. I suspect that the following standards might apply to this product: UL 1283, Standard for Electromagnetic Interference Filters; UL 1363, Relocatable Power Taps; and UL 1449, Transient Voltage Surge Suppressors.

You would think PS Audio would be falling all over themselves trying to figure out what goes on with this example. Like, get it back and study it.

 

[EarlessOldMan]

If I were working with the company, I'd be thinking about its obligations under Section 15(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Act, 15 U.S.C. sec. 2064.

I'm not stating that the company has any such obligation at this time. I'm stating only that, if I were advising the company, I would want to review available information; form an opinion as to its obligations, if any, under that statute; and inform the company of my conclusions.

15 U.S. Code § 2064 - Substantial product hazards

www.law.cornell.edu

 

[Doodski]

If I were working with the company, I'd be thinking about its obligations under Section 15(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Act, 15 U.S.C. sec. 2064.

I'm not stating that the company has any such obligation at this time. I'm stating only that, if I were advising the company, I would want to review available information; form an opinion as to its obligations, if any, under that statute; and inform the company of my conclusions.

15 U.S. Code § 2064 - Substantial product hazards

www.law.cornell.edu

Thats's some pretty serious stuff. As it should be. A corporation decides to do business in <Select your country.> and they want all the protection that said country provides as well as the marketplace access then they should be responsible to that country.

15 U.S. Code § 2064 - Substantial product hazards

www.law.cornell.edu

 

[Mandatrix]

nothing to say about issues with this unit, however it seems to me that PSAudio products are not so loved here.

 

[fpitas]

nothing to say about issues with this unit, however it seems to me that PSAudio products are not so loved here.

They simply put a filter in a box here, but screwed the job up dangerously. Not that cost would excuse anything, but it's also expensive. I'm not familiar with their advertising etc. but evidently, they purport to be super gurus of the esoteric. They haven't bothered to reply to this thread, for better or worse. Not a pretty picture.

 

[BDWoody]

nothing to say about issues with this unit, however it seems to me that PSAudio products are not so loved here.

What's to love?

 

[Palladium]

nothing to say about issues with this unit, however it seems to me that PSAudio products are not so loved here.

Ah yes PSAudio, a well-established 100% non-profit charitable organization.

 

[MaxBuck]

PS Audio makes some demonstrably good gear. Unfortunately, they also make some useless and even dangerous stuff. Not a good corporate situation IMO.

 

[paulraphael]

Looking at the standards for these, back prior to 2005 it was allowed to have an MOV directly connected to the safety ground from the line. It no longer is allowed. You have to have fuses or some other combination of devices between the 3rd pin safety ground and line voltage. PS Audio wasn't unique in this, as I've opened a few similar (though cheaper) devices and back then it usually was a trio of MOV's connecting line, neutral and ground together.

Is there any simple way to check for this faulty design? I have a couple of very old surge suppressors that I've kept because they're a good brand (Isobar) and seem unusually solidly made. Is this a mistake?

 

[Blumlein 88]

Is there any simple way to check for this faulty design? I have a couple of very old surge suppressors that I've kept because they're a good brand (Isobar) and seem unusually solidly made. Is this a mistake?

Klein Tools Receptacle Tester RT110 - The Home Depot

Klein Tools RT110 Receptacle Tester detects the most common wiring problems in standard receptacles. Conditions indicated: wiring correct, open ground, reverse electrical outlet, open hot, open neutral,

www.homedepot.com

One of these Receptacle testers will easily and safely let you know if they have developed a fault.

You also can get a fancier version that shows voltage as well as faults plus tests GFCI outlets. Either is available at big box hardware stores as well as online.

Klein Tools GFCI Electrical Outlet Tester with LCD RT250 - The Home Depot

The RT250 is an electrical receptacle tester that tests the wiring conditions at an electrical outlet and inspects GFCI devices. The LCD displays the voltage, identifies the wiring fault, and the time

www.homedepot.com

This of course doesn't tell you how they are designed. So checking them periodically would be a good idea if you keep them.

 

[egellings]

I liked my job. What I hated was having to get up at 6AM for it, and then spending 45 minutes getting there, covering all of 8 miles, stuck not moving in jammed traffic for most of the ride. Playing beat-the-clock while doing that was a drag. Coming home was not quite as bad because at least the beat-the-clock component was no longer there.

 

[DonR]

nothing to say about issues with this unit, however it seems to me that PSAudio products are not so loved here.

I think it has a lot to do with some of the dubious claims made by the company which do not hold up when the products are put under scrutiny. Personally, I think this is not the worst of their products given its age although such products do nothing to improve sound quality in most situations.

Is there any simple way to check for this faulty design? I have a couple of very old surge suppressors that I've kept because they're a good brand (Isobar) and seem unusually solidly made. Is this a mistake?

If it's more than 10 years old, then the MOVs may have degraded sufficiently to require replacement. You need to test for ground leakage as @Blumlein 88 suggested.