The Puritan Sound
Contents
A filter really has to fit into a system. This is because there is direct interaction between the device and the filter. Therefore, we always strongly recommend trying a filter at home in your own system.
Match?
In our system, the match with the Puritan PSM 156 is not ideal if we are honest. The midrange is a bit harsh and sharp. Also, we still hear some unrest when we switch the Sonnet Pasithea from the IKEA distribution block (connected directly to the wall socket) to the Puritan PSM 156.
Of course there are things that improve. There is certainly a bit more calmness, but the stereo image also gets a bit smaller ánd an some harshness remains audible. This is clearly audible with A Perfect Circle where sometimes the ‘S’-sounds come in hard. That normally does not happen in our system.
If we then go to the – much more expensive! – YETI Reference 1000, we hear that everything clicks together again. The calmness is back, the stereo image grows and the midbass is also back where it belongs. In short: the balance is simply better. Then again: it should be, of course.
Now we have previously tested the Puritan PSM 156. And namely in Yung’s “retro-system” in the Nieuwplaatz studio. There the Puritan certainly did not score badly, but it is fair to say that the Isotek Aquarius V5 (2500 Euro) scored better and also the Isotek Syncro with Gemini (Around 1000 Euro) was a bit more musical.
However, the effect in the retro-system was quite different from the Alpha Audio reference system. In the retro-setup the Puritan smeared a bit more. In the reference setup, on the contrary, it becomes a bit glassy and restless. So you see. It is very difficult to predict the interaction.
Now we also have to say that we don’t always have these big differences. The Isoteks are a bit more predictable in character. The Audioquest products ditto. How that is possible, is hard to say. (By the way, we rarely move the Yetis, so we don’t know how they react.)
Brief comparison?
Altogether, this Puritan – with the Ultimate Power Cord – costs 2,500 Euros. That’s equal to an Aquarius V5 and equal to the Yeti Standard 1000 watts. Both the Aquarius and the Yeti perform better in our system. They are more predictable, also bring calmness and do not lapse into sharpness or agitation.
As mentioned, it may just be a mismatch…. but it is also something to consider.
Slightly off topic, but has anyone had any burning in experience? After nearly 17 months my listening room is finally done. All my new products such as Furutech Rhodium forks, Rhodium plugs and Synergistic research are ca 60 hours on burn in. Everything sound shit, thin, and very bright. Also my system had been switched of for 17 months. I’ve heard the Rhodium burn in period can be very tough psychologically.
Was this a new unit or was it a show model/already used unit? I ask this because this puritan does need a lot of hours for it to be broken into. If you test a new unit vs a already used one you can clearly hear major changes on both. By this review it does look like this puritan can produce very mixed results depending on the setup. On my case, i’ve prefered the puritan to conditioners up to 6K, including two much more expensive isotek models.
This unit smokes my relatively expensive Furman.
Interesting review/measurements. I’ve had very good experiences with Puritan conditioners across the board. I’ve found they improve with an outboard ground—I use their CityGround since I live in a condo. The ground is inexpensive enough that I consider it a mandatory part of the system. It makes a difference—it would be interesting for you to use their ground and see if it resolves your issues.
Hello,
You say “reclocker / ref-clock are not useful, because they need to stabilise”.
Could you explain?
Thank you
Jacques