http://www.psaudio.com/ps Frequently asked questions and more, all for audiophiles. en paul@psaudio.com Copyright 2009 2009-04-23T23:19:13+00:00 http://www.psaudio.com/ps/knowledge/high-definition-audio-and-your-system/ http://www.psaudio.com/ps/knowledge/high-definition-audio-and-your-system/#When:22:19:13Z High Definition audio will someday be all you can purchase when you go to buy music and thank goodness for that.  Whether you listen to vinyl or CD you are not enjoying the openness and resolution available on the original master tape.  In fact, most of us have never heard a master tape or a master digital recording.  Vinyl lovers have to tolerate the innacuaracies of their cartridges (especially moving coil cartridges which exagerate the top end) and phono preamplifiers, as well as digital audio listeners, have had to tolerate truncated resolutions and bit rates when the master tapes are forced into the low sample and bit rates required by CD’s. Not until the advent of PS Audio’s PerfectWave Transport could we  really enjoy all the benefits of listening to bit-for-bit perfect copies of the original master tapes of these recordings.  But not everyone can own a PerfectWave Transport and PerfectWave DAC so how do "the rest of us" get a taste for High Definition audio?  Through a computer.  No, it’s not the best source and never will be.  But it’s an excellent way to get started and hear the difference of what you’ve been missing.  This 8 minute video will guide you through the principals of getting High Definition audio into and out of your computer. What’s not mentioned in this video is the software requirements for playing the various formats that High Definition audio comes in, such as FLAC , AIFF , AAC and WAV .  Software like the popular Monkey’s Audio are the tools of choice and you can find plenty of info on the PS Learning center’s Audiopedia .  We will have further videos and more information available through the PS Learning Center to help guide you through the often confusing world of computer audio.  For those of you with the PerfectWave Transport in hand, no worries.  All you need to do is simply place the High Definition audio disc in your PWT and hit play. 2009-04-23T22:19:13+00:00 http://www.psaudio.com/ps/knowledge/soloist-is-built-to-20-amp-why-is-it-rated-to15/ http://www.psaudio.com/ps/knowledge/soloist-is-built-to-20-amp-why-is-it-rated-to15/#When:02:13:11Z It is absolutely OK to use the Soloist on a 20 amp circuit as long as it is a dedicated line.  In other words, make sure the only thing on the line if the Soloist if you wish to comply with the codes.  The current isn’t limited by the filtering circuitry. The 15A rating has more to do with the National Electric Code. The code allows several receptacles to be connected to a single circuit breaker, thus they will not allow any single device to draw the entire load. Some current has to be reserved for other devices plugged into the same circuit, so any one device can only draw 80% of the total. Since the Soloist is considered a power conditioner appliance, it is rated differently from a plain receptacle, and the current specified is for the load rating not the circuit rating. A receptacle on a 20A circuit would be allowed to have 16A (80%) maximum load connected to it. Honestly we thought a 16A label would cause even more confusion than 15A so we specified it as 15A. Hope this answers your question. Enjoy your soloists! 2009-02-03T02:13:11+00:00 http://www.psaudio.com/ps/knowledge/doesnt-multiwave-add-harmonics-that-the-ppp-gets-rid-of/ http://www.psaudio.com/ps/knowledge/doesnt-multiwave-add-harmonics-that-the-ppp-gets-rid-of/#When:15:53:29Z We place a THD analyzer on the front panel of the Power Plant Premier (PPP) to show the THD levels on the line.  Their elimination is important to good performance and all the engineering that goes into the PPP is designed to eliminate harmonics.  When you engage the MultiWave feature, a bit of third harmonics is added top the sine wave on the output.  This added third harmonic increases the charging time for equipment and improves the performance.  So if we went to all the trouble of building a THD analyzer on the front panel to show how the PPP eliminates harmonics, why add them back in with MultiWave? The answer lies in a little understanding.  The harmonics we work so hard to get rid of are not, in themselves, a problem.  What causes the harmonics in the first place is.  When the AC sine wave is "flat topped" meaning the peak of the AC sine wave has been cut off by too many users on the AC line (a common problem) this causes harmonics and we measure them and display it for you. To fix this problem, we add the missing energy back into the AC and replace the flat top sine wave with a perfect form that is harmonic free.  So it isn’t the harmonics generated that are bad, they are just an indication of the problem of flat topping.  The real problem is the missing energy used to charge your equipment - which the PPP handles by rebuilding new power. Now, with MultiWave, we actually create more energy by extending the charging time of the peak of the sine wave once we replace the missing energy.  We do this by adding in a bit of pure third harmonic - but the key here is it’s full energy - there’s nothing missing in the sine wave. The flat topping we were concerned with is now replaced with the missing energy, and the charging time for the equipment has been extended. The peak of the sine wave is where most of our equipment draws its power and when that voltage is missing, the average level going into our power amplifiers or connected equipment is lower, thus we have both higher ripple current (more noise) and lower overall volts. So where does the energy we add back into the sine wave come from? Because we are building new AC from DC, we store the needed energy in big power supply capacitors in the PPP.  When we build the new sine wave, we draw the energy from those capacitors to feed the connected equipment what it wants.  This can be rather extreme and in some cases as we need to deliver up to 50 amps!  That’s a big challenge for any piece of equipment and it’s one of the reasons the PPP is tough to design and build. Compare all that to a power conditioner - which cannot store any energy at all - and you quickly see the advantages of the PPP.  Plus, we’re only talking about flat topping.  Remember, one of the bigger problems with power amps is when they draw current to reproduce loud dynamics through your speakers, the whole AC line voltage can drop and often does. Thus if you were to look at the AC line voltage feeding a power amplifier with a scope you’d actually see the music on the line in the form of a dynamic voltage drop.  The fact that the PPP provides fully regulated voltage on an instantaneous (dynamic) basis is one of its main benefits - and even a bigger one that correcting the flat topping. 2009-01-31T15:53:29+00:00 http://www.psaudio.com/ps/knowledge/the-difference-between-a-power-plant-and-a-power-conditioner/ http://www.psaudio.com/ps/knowledge/the-difference-between-a-power-plant-and-a-power-conditioner/#When:20:02:34Z Very simply, a power conditioner fliters a small amount of high frequency noise on the AC line while a Power Plant generates new power free of any noise or problems. The easiest way to think about the difference between a power conditioner and a Power Plant is using a water filter as an example. A simple water filter is capable of removing some of the dirt found in water.  Simple water filters are not capable of turning dirty contaminated water into pure clean water.  To convert dirty, contaminated water into pure and clean drinking water, it is necessary to first boil the water and convert it to steam; then reversing the process, convert the steam back to water leaving all the contaminants behind. In the same way, a Power Plant converts the AC to pure DC, then back again to pure AC leaving any problems behind. A power conditioner cannot perform these functions and can only have a minor improvement on the AC power.  The basic problems in all power lines remain with a power conditioner: unstable voltage, dynamic loss, distortion, noise etc. 2008-12-26T20:02:34+00:00 http://www.psaudio.com/ps/knowledge/cloud-computing-and-powerplay/ http://www.psaudio.com/ps/knowledge/cloud-computing-and-powerplay/#When:17:05:52Z The PowerPlay™ web accessible power conditioners, as well as the PowerPack™ UPS , use ultra modern Cloud Computing to manage, control and communicate with every PowerPlay unit in the field. Cloud Computing is fundamentally different than the way all other web and network accessible power conditioners work. A tradional network accessible power conditioner, like those from Panamax™, APC™ and Richard Gray™, rely on a built in web page for each power conditioner in the field.  All the control, features and functions available to the power conditioner or UPS are embedded into the unit’s inernal web page. To communicate and control the power conditioner or UPS in this classic scheme, a fixed or static IP address is required and the router must be configured to open the correct port to access the internal web page in the power conditioner or UPS.  To communicate, the installer or dealer must enter in the specific IP address of the equipment.  This creates a direct link to the unit’s internal web page, through the assigned port, which appears on the client’s browser and the unit can be controlled.  In some cases, it is necessary to install additional control software on the accessing client for this system to work. PS Audio’s PowerPlay line of web accessible power conditioners relies on a far superior system known as Cloud Computing.  In this system, an internet connected remote server (PS GlobalNet™), operated by PS Audio, has all the software and communication access located in the central server.  The power conditioners are controlled by Global Net rather than their internal web pages.  Access to the power conditioners does not require a fixed or static IP address and can be controlled from any web browser anywhere in the world. The advantages of GlobalNet for this system are many: No static or fixed IP required Location of the power conditioner can be changed at any time without notification No software required Unlimited control levels are achieved due to the power of the server Not limited to an internal web page Updates to both equipment and the Cloud happen instantly Power quality data accessible on the Cloud for years 2008-12-26T17:05:52+00:00 http://www.psaudio.com/ps/knowledge/are-the-panamax-apc-and-rgpc-network-products-similar/ http://www.psaudio.com/ps/knowledge/are-the-panamax-apc-and-rgpc-network-products-similar/#When:15:24:06Z Similar yes, but ceratinly not the same.  The network accessible power conditioners from Panamax™, APC™ and Richard Gray™ differ from the PS Audio PowerPlay ™ series in several major ways. Network setup.   All three units from these other manufacturers require a static IP to access them over the web.  A static IP is a fixed and unique web address that must be preordered, maintained and paid for on a monthly basis over the life of the service.  Once installed and activated, installers must also setup these devices with a specific port setting and other network complications.  Should the client move, this must be redone from the beginning. Web access and control.   Once these units are setup, the dealer or installer must record the IP address and maintain a record of the address in order to access and control the power conditioner.  If the installer is on the road and receives a request for service, it can be very difficult (impossible actually without the IP address)  to access the customer’s power conditioner from the field. Limited control features.   These three units have limited control features that allow simple reboot and control over zones, input naming (in some cases) and minimal performance readings. PowerPlay solves the problem.   The PowerPlay units are entirely different.  PowerPlay requires no static IP , no port setting, no network configuration whatsoever. Instead, PowerPlay utilizes GlobalNet™ Cloud Computing to solve this problem. Any internet accessible connection will be perfect for PowerPlay.  Just plug it in, register the unit, and you are done.  Everything is completely transparent to the installer and the user. The PowerPLay units are registered under the customer’s name and address and control of their unit is accessed easily by name over any web enabled browser.  Installers in the field can respond to a customer request for service using their iPhone, Blackberry or any web enables public terminal.  The only information required is the customer’s name and the installers login password. Once connected, PowerPlay offers a wealth of user interface options including all the basic reboot and zone management features along with IR commands, full measurement and records of power line events by date, intelligent UPS control by priority, auto reboot ping feature, green scheduling of equipment shutdown and power up, email and text alerts. PowerPlay is a full featured, easy to connect system that requires no network setup whatsoever. 2008-12-26T15:24:06+00:00 http://www.psaudio.com/ps/knowledge/whats-the-advantage-of-a-soloist/ http://www.psaudio.com/ps/knowledge/whats-the-advantage-of-a-soloist/#When:14:55:31Z One major advantage of the Soloist in-wall power conditioner is the lack of a power cord.  All power conditioners, regardless of their design, require an extra power cord to connect them to the AC power source. In many cases, this power cord becomes a limiting factor in a high end AV system unless you choose one that is up to the task; which can be expensive. By placing the Soloist in the wall, you start to build a solid AC power foundation for your system and place the protection and the first stage cleaning where it belongs; in the wall. If you are using the Soloist in partnership with a television of any type, especially on-wall mounted plasma or LCD or ceiling mounted projectors, the benefits are enormous.  Protection from surges and spikes, achieving a better picture through AC cleaning and all without the degradation and clutter of an additional power cable. 2008-12-26T14:55:31+00:00 http://www.psaudio.com/ps/knowledge/where-do-surges-and-spikes-come-from/ http://www.psaudio.com/ps/knowledge/where-do-surges-and-spikes-come-from/#When:14:50:46Z If you have money invested in AV equipment, you should be concerned about protecting it from surges and spikes generated both outside and inside your home.  No one is immune, even if you have whole house surge protection. A common misconception is that we need surge and spike protection for our equipment to protect us from events that happen outside our home, like a lightning strike.  Those of us that live in areas of the country that do not experience lightning strikes are probably safe.  Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, the biggest generator of surges and spikes is right inside your home and no one is safe from it. This is one of the biggest reasons why whole house surge protection isn’t effective for protecting our equipment. Here are the facts. A small percentage of surges originate outside a house from nearby lightning strikes, which couple surges into nearby power wires.  This is the rarest of events Normal utility operations can cause electrical disturbances Perhaps the most common external surge source is when power is interrupted for any reason - a tree falling on wires, a car hitting a pole, wind damage, utility repairs, etc. Wires conducting electricity create a magnetic field. When power is interrupted, the magnetic field collapses, inducing large voltages in the wires. A 12-volt spark coil relies on this principle to generate many thousands of volts to fire spark plugs. 80% of surges come from within the home are generated every time equipment cycles on and off.  This is by far the biggest culprit. Internal surge levels are related to the magnitude of current being interrupted and the length of wire from the power coming into our homes. The longer the wire and the higher the current, the bigger the surge generated when the power is interrupted. A classic example is a coffee pot located far from where the power enters your home. Every time the heater kicks on and off to maintain the coffee temperature, significant surges are generated that can affect connected equipment. It should be obvious that a coffee pot cycling on and off several times an hour is a much more frequent event than a tree falling on the power wires, or a lightning storm. These are the reasons where specific surge and spike protection are necessary.  Products that protect our equipment, such as the PS Soloist in-wall device , the Duet and Quintet in-line power devices as well as the Power Plant Premier, are important elements in our AV chain. It probably does not make sense to leave thousands of dollars of AV equipment unprotected when the biggest source of trouble is right in your home. 2008-12-26T14:50:46+00:00 http://www.psaudio.com/ps/knowledge/why-do-transformers-hum/ http://www.psaudio.com/ps/knowledge/why-do-transformers-hum/#When:21:01:04Z Transformers hum because their laminations and windings rattle mechanically.  This is best known as mechanical hum.  This can be caused by several things, including poor construction and poor AC power conditions or both. If your equipment has a noisy transformer, you’ve probably also noticed that it’s intensity varies depending on the time of day, sometimes even the time of month. The reason it varies is due, in large part, to the quality of the AC line voltage and how much DC is on it. Why do transformers hum? The short and simple answer is that many times, transformers hum because of an effect known as ‘lamination rattle’ or ‘winding rattle’ caused by DC voltage on the line. ‘Lam’ or ‘winding’ rattle occurs in all transformers to some degree, that degree being related to the quality of the transformer and the quality of the line voltage. One of the problems we find on the AC line is when there’s an unwanted DC component.  DC (like battery voltage) leaks into most AC lines but its level is low enough not to matter.  In some cases, the DC level is high enough to wreak havoc with a power transformer.  When there’s DC on the line, it creates an asymmetrical magnetic field in the transformer which causes greater vibrations of the laminations and windings.  The laminations are ‘pushed’ together in one direction because of the DC. To reduce these noises, transformer manufacturer have several tricks up their sleeves: they can varnish, or use super glue to stick the laminations together so they rattle less, and they can make bigger transformers that don’t have to work so hard, even in the presence of DC. The harder a transformer has to work, the more stress and strain is placed on the laminations. But these measures don’t entirely solve the problem because you need to do that at the source of the problem, the DC on the line. Why this is bad ? When a transformer hums, it is actually physically vibrating or shaking inside of the chassis. This, in turn, shakes and vibrates everything else inside the chassis. Many components in the chassis are sensitive to vibrations, including tubes and capacitors. In an even moderate case, this vibration can effect sound and picture quality as many of these internal components are microphonic and reproduce the humming into the audio or video signal. Certainly the worst problem is the humming noise your equipment makes.  It’s downright irritating, especially if you’re sitting in close proximity to the humming equipment. So, what can we do? It’s best to fix the problem at the source.  Regardless of how well a transformer is made it’s best to keep the DC out of it.  Transformers with DC on them have core saturation problems, some amount of mechanical noise and lowered efficiency. The Humbuster III lowers DC on the line and in most cases eliminates hum in transformers and, at the same time, helps the system to sound better. 2008-12-19T21:01:04+00:00 http://www.psaudio.com/ps/knowledge/what-happens-if-i-use-multiple-noise-harvesters/ http://www.psaudio.com/ps/knowledge/what-happens-if-i-use-multiple-noise-harvesters/#When:03:01:24Z Lower noise to put it simply.  The NH is a parallel device which means it is not in the path of the AC power.  Rather, a NH works across the line, drawing energy only at around 10kHz and above where the majority of AC line noise from dimmers, cell phones and appliances live.  This noise power the lightn inside the NH and by doing so, the noise amplitude (amount) is reduced by the number of parallel Noise Harvesters at any one point. Two Harvesters reduces the line noise in half, four Harvesters in half again, etc.  If you have serious line noise you wish to eliminate for ever, or even bothersome hum you can’t eliminate, try more than one Harvester to fix the problem. Using a Juice bar II extender, you can add up to 8 Harvesters at any one location for significant noise reduction. 2008-12-16T03:01:24+00:00