The Sound
Contents
Let’s make it clear right away that a filter must fit into a system. A filter is not a “one size fits all” product. Just as much as a speaker must fit an amplifier (and vice versa), a filter must also be able to work with the devices connected to it.
To make it even more complex, it is also situation dependent. In some homes a filter is a must, in others not. Alpha Audio is located in the Record Industry building in Haarlem. There are a lot of heavy machinery there. Although these are connected to a completely different phase and everything is insulated with very heavy transformers, we still see some flattening of the tops and the average distortion is about 1.6 to 1.7%. Not dramatic, but not top notch either. Add to that some LED lighting and a sensitive system will show that the energy is not top quality.
The Plixir Elite BAC1000e
We used the Plixir-filter mainly on the Sonnet Pasithea dac which we also used as a preamp most of the time. So directly on the Pass Labs X150.8. This results in an unprecedented transparent as well as musical chain. Colleague Geoffrey also runs practically only ‘direct’ with the Morpheus. Unless of course the MOON is in the chain. There is already a preamp in there. However, we agree that the Pasithea is a very fine dac ánd pre-amp.
The Sonnet shows well the differences between directly in the wall and the Plixir in the chain. There is simply more ‘blackness’ with the Plixir. The midrange also gets a bit more roundness, which again results in more space in the imaging. Everything feels a bit more loose and richer in sound.
Comparing it to the Yeti Reference 1000 that we also have on hand, the Plixir feels a bit warmer and richer in the midrange and low end, and the Yeti brings a bit more air and scale (a bit bigger). Of course, what you’re looking for depends on taste and the balance of your system. Both filters bring a good audible improvement over directly into the wall.
Looks very similar to the old isotek Qube that use to have.