GigaWatt PF-2 & LC-2 MkII
Power strip
might look as one of the least important or controversial parts in the highend
audio system. Yet, by just looking into any serious audiophile system or spending
few minutes talking with even non hard-core audiophiles you’ll might quickly
change your mind.
Power strip
role might not have the sophistication of some other high-end separates, but
one shouldn’t skip its basic and important role. There are many schools when it
comes to even basic filtering of electricity and they can go arguing for
lifetime. Some will go all the way and avoid any filtering while others embrace
their active or passive role.
PF-2 is
placed between power strip and power conditioning in the GigaWatt product line.
This makes it a unique product that resembles some of the filtering techniques
of their power conditioners product line. Company wanted to bring down from
their upper echelon some of the attributes like effectiveness, efficiency and
sound improvement.
Meet elegant bulkiness
There is no
doubt where GigaWatt PF-2 was aiming when you first encounter it. Massive
appearance and high-end look capture your sight and audiophile emotions
instantly. Right proportions and elegant bulkiness makes PF-2 a unique power strip
even before going into the sound attributes. As I respect well-designed and
priced audio products I also admire and embrace products, which sparks our
emotions and high-end aesthetics. PF-2 all metal black dust painted enclosure
radiate with momentum elegance.
It’s
interesting, that GigaWatt uses copper and nickel free connectors. They
believe, that those materials interfere with the voltage drops and resistance.
Strong silver coating on connectors acts as a protector of drastic impedance
drops.
PF-2 double
chassis enclosure is made of metal to create a closed shield, which avoids any RFI
noise imprints. Like already mentioned PF-2 is not just a simple power strip.
It incorporates passive filtering and everything under the hood seems oversized
and built to the best specs.
GigaWatt
PF-2 unique feature is blue LED, that signalizes proper power line polarity.
This LED comes active with possible grounding problems.
As a
standard GigaWatt supply PF-2 with 1,5 m LC-2 MkII power cable. This combo has
proven to work well balanced.
Power striping
Does such
thing, as perfect reasoning exists within high-end? For sure! As we grow older
and hopefully wiser, our understanding and perception of things audio are
changing. Not always for good, but that must be a self-observation and a thing
of personal importance. It’s hard to be self-proclaimed audio guru when it
comes to the people funds and the way they spend it. How much anyone spend and
for what it’s the domain of any given audiophiles and high-ender. Thanks God
for every option high-end market is offering. There are vast choices to be made
in all directions. You can get as nuts or as stingy and reasonable as you want.
Globalization brought us both positive and negative trends. There are already
clear distinctions and straightforward camps as a result of worldwide economy
and production spreading across the globe. Me, myself and I have a bit of
biased view when it comes down to this. We might be enjoying the first
excitement of things cheaper and more affordable, but at the long run it’s
killing the major business and audio culture. People and audiophiles for that
sake tend to miss out some basic facts. We so quickly forgot about industrial
culture and what it brings to the table. Technical support, heritage, investing
money back into new products, specifically created jobs etc. Quality and
perception in hi-fi and high-end drastically changed from so called golden
80’s. We seem to quickly embrace everything so quickly without reasonable take
back or second thoughts about things at larger scale. I do believe there is
such a thing as consumer and manufacturer culture.
I’m first
one to embrace the advancement of technology, but not by all cost and means.
These is why I’ll always strongly support people and companies, that work hard
by investing their knowledge, time and money into creating products that
symbolize great value, offer customer support for years to come and design
products that you feel like proud of.
GigaWatt
works in the direction. Company motto makes you feel in the right way. Well
designed product, knowhow, long term plans, reliable products and design that
gives you a sense of quality and right norms.
An active passive role
GIgaWatt
PF-2 insertion in my active system shook some of my fundamental views about
basic electronic filtering and its role for the balanced audio system. Even
twenty some years ago we always started our audio system with off the shelf
power strips. At least you would try to get some military or high-tech
professional medicine laboratory based power strips. The importance of basic
simple rules and laws we didn't even bring into discussion back then. They were
ad hoc. Lot of things changed through years. Everything advanced in some or
another way, but primal role and effectiveness of connectivity and distribution
of power is still the same. We might get the ability to reach out for better
parts and some exotic materials, but at the end of the day quality and break
down logic is still unchanged.
GIgaWatt
PF-2 first remarkable thing is a polarity check. When right, blue led is your
positive signal. These also act as a signalizing method of any problem with the
grounding. Not all houses and apartments are building up to the higher standard
of grounding. I’ve seen some life hazarding house wiring, which had nothing to
do with audio standards, but more with stupefying build quality. Be insightful
when you’re dealing with your electricity. It might do all the difference and
even save you J.
When you
take as much efforts and funs as GigaWatt’s Adam Szubert did for custom made
Shucko plugs used in PF-2 you’ll not just to create something, that would just
pass the ordinary status.
In the
matter of pureness of audio signal some of the hard-core audiophiles wants to
strictly avoid the filtering of any kind like plague. When we come down to the
real life high-end situation it’s a matter of many things combined and not just
a matter of specific opinion. First of all PF-2 is covered by 250.000 &
insurance for the way it’s build if it comes to the power surges. This should
cover the stingy side of certain audiophiles J. Secondly, it’s always a vision of
the design principle and performance of power amplifier, preamplifiers etc. on
which they’re based. Even some of the best audio designer will admit, that
there can be some benefits from passive filtering. There is no doubt about the
importance of build in power section regardless of functionality of component.
Different audio designers approach them in various ways. Some would strongly
suggest to avoid anything between you power line and their components, while
other like mentioned above will nod in agreement to at least trying them out.
Synergy and practical use are the real keys here. When going so far and
investing so much money for you bellowed highend audio system, there should be
no mental restraints. You should at least try to insert device such as GIgaWatt
PF-2 into your audio rig and compare it’s role of the absence.
There could
be only one set of rules here. No audio imprint of device; in this case power
strip. Can subtle changes happen evidently…?
Having
Mactone MH-300B, Gryphon Atilla, Aaron XX, Lamm LL2 and quite few other
components connected to the GigaWatt power strip my listening notes were
extending a favorable red line conclusions or better to say righteous
observations.
My embraced
time period for any component under the scope is at least 300 hours. As written
many times in my reviews, you’ll notice any dramatic or subtle change instantly
if you’re long enough into this high-end quest. If you cannot spot the
difference, don’t even bother creating statements, or they will come and chase
you after a while. Efficient burn in will let the component resolve anything
needed in the given time frame. You can safely track your listening notes and
declare final findings with needed boldness.
Any
positive remark of AC filtering would bring out a completeness of the whole
audio spectrum. Filtering should act at least on this level with some
noticeable results in the service of music.
GIgaWatt
PF-2 took a noticeable role affecting my gears differently. We all know how any
subtle changes affects the performance of MC cartridges and for that sake the
accompanied phono preamplifiers. My Tom Evans and Zyx Omega X cartridge combination
always felt like F1 with it’s impact and speed. Power striping Tom Evans with
PF-2 resulted in an even subtler and additional bit of harsh free audio
reproduction. Analog replay is such a complex thing, that even slightest change
would add or distract the sound coming from the black grooves. PF-2 took away a
certain edges of harshness that appeared on some vinyl. I’m guessing this is
the way PF-2 effected the sound of solid state in general as my listening notes
implied the similar results in Gryphon Atilla. Atilla is different at nature.
It’s a warm sounding Gryphon amp. Completely different in character then its
bigger brother Gryhpon Diablo. Diablo is more open, even a bit too much for a
certain systems.
I recall
from my notes that the warmness become less pronounced when inserted into
GigaWatt PF-2. Some of the attacks that notably shaped a bit harsh definition
projected with less grain and edginess. The broad territory of natural and grain
free. Lens analogy would come handy here.
Mactone
MH-300B is and exceptionally well designed amplifier. Being tube based, there
is always some more noise comparing to the solid state. Under the safeness and
passive filtering of PF-2, some of that noise floor was brought down. These
actively helped with lowering down the volume of already high gain mastery from
Lamm LL2. Jointly these brought out articulation and timbre even more
palatable. Yes, little nuances and late night listening notes. Joy and the
absence of short life attention span. Sometimes audiophiles expect miracles and
magic. Better to work harder J. You simply train yourself to
notice the differences. And with enough mileage and undisturbed listening time
it became a habit, which works favorable towards yours gain.
Where it all comes
It’s great
to have and European company stepping out in front with a product like PF-2.
Acting as passive filter, power strip, surge protector and polarity makes this
a objective stand out.
I love the
looks, the feel and most importantly what it does and how it behaves within the
system. There is always a matter of synergy, but GigaWatt PF-2 impact was on
different, but equal level with both solid state and tube based audio
components. Addition to the both of the worlds.
Lamm LL2 is
a preamplifier without typical tube sound imprint. It’s always a reliable test
for me to see how any given product under the test will reflect with Lamm. GigaWatt
PF-2 brought out and highlighted the right little devils that added to the LL2
blackness and correctness. Not a subtle change. A stepping stone difference.
Everything
combined; GigaWatt PF-2 sets up the standard in its own way. Try find a product
like these under one box and with a premium feeling at present the market. Very
refined product and a reflection of Adam Szubert passion and knowledge.
At the end
of the day, all that matters in high-end audio lies in the way that any given
gear connects you deeper into music. A viable proof in the service of the
music? Additional pleaser of aesthetics urges and needs? For me GigaWatt PF-2
covers both fronts in a grand style.
I’m looking
forward to dive deeper into the GigaWatt product universe in not so distant
future.
Recommended!
Matej Isak Mono and Stereo ultra high end audio magazine All rights reserved, 2012 www.monoandstereo.com