Which cascade unit(s) is most important for isolation?

General
1

I have 2 HRS m3x2 isolation bases. Which of the cascade units should I use these 2 for? My cascade should arrive by end of next week!!!

2

@Solecky congratulations! Looking forward to hearing about it when you get everything settled in. Chassis priority for treatment and for power would be as follows:
The Analog Converter > The Cascade Powerbase > The Cascade Digital Director

The Analog converter is where all the magic happens and it should receive your full attention.

3 Likes
3

Perfect thx!

4

Daniel, thanks for your feedback. If you had 4 dedicated circuits on separate breakers but only one power conditioner, which scenario do you believe would result in the best sound?

  1. amp>wall, DD+power base > power conditioner that offers isolated plugs (shunyata denali)

  2. amp>wall, DD>wall, power base > power conditioner that offers isolated plugs

Just wondering how susceptible or immune the DD is to noise on an unconditioned circuit?

Thanks,
Blake

5

Hmmmmm, I would leave the DD on it’s own circuit entirely with or without any power conditioning. We literally have ours on an extension cord at the moment… running into another side of the room. That would be better if possible than sharing a power conditioner with the Analog converter. Of course, you will need to listen to verify either way!

1 Like
6

Thanks, Daniel. This is an easy enough test. Just wasn’t sure where in the hierarchy of components that are sensitive to noise on the AC line, whether a DD was at the top, bottom or somewhere in between.

2 Likes
7

It seems that for the DD you’re more concerned about how it can “pollute” the electricity (flow out) than the power quality feeding it (flow in), unlike the DAC PowerBase where it’s exactly the opposite. Isn’t it?

Since a few weeks I’m using a Gryphon PowerZone 3.10, not a conditioner at all, something completely different from any PS Audio or Puritan device ever tried before. Both the Reference PowerBase and the S202 amp are plugged into the PZ3. Great results indeed without any restriction in current flows or dynamics (it’s completely passive and doesn’t apply filtration by capacitors and things like that). Consider it like a “power purifier” that brings only pros without any cons, realism + naturalness + detail + relaxation. It adds nothing, it alters nothing, it just let the sound become cleaner and lifelike.

I also star grounded to the PZ both the DAC and the Amp via their own ground lugs, hearing even further quietness (and turning dead silent the subtle mechanical noise from the amp transformer).

Then I also added a Schnerzinger Grid Protector to the equation which simply improved the wonderful job already done by the PZ3, enhancing exactly the same sound qualities. It’s simply acting as a PZ3 boost tool, making music so realistic and engaging like never before.

Gryphon guarantees that the PZ3 sockets are well isolated one from each other to avoid cross contamination.

At this point I’m wondering if it’s worth plugging my upcoming Reference DD into the PZ3 (hoping it can bring its magic also to the DD itself) or into a separate wall socket on a dedicated line (to avoid unwanted pollution of the electrical environment so wonderfully cleaned by PZ3 + Grid Protector combo devices).

I will try both the connections of course, to find out what I like more sonically speaking.

I also invested in an insanely expensive power cord for the upcoming DD (the same STEALTH Cloude Grande model that I love to power the DAC) and I’m wondering if I made a good choice at this point!

1 Like
8

Luca,

Please continue to keep us updated. It appears you will be doing extensive testing, we appreciate the research.

As long as you are having fun, these are all good choices :wink:

1 Like