Intro
Contents
We no longer need to convince the loyal Alpha reader of the significance of clean power and its positive effects on audio reproduction. Clean power renders clean sound; a lower noise floor (quiet is really quiet) and that means gains in spatial reproduction, detail and other things that can make listening a fine experience. We test the Isotek Syncro Uni EVO3.
Now, there are several culprits in the power chain that can negatively affect playback quality. One of them is direct current, or DC. For several years, Isotek has had the Syncro Uni on the market, which ensures that the influence of direct current does not affect the sound. Hearing is believing, so we tested this for you.
A German engineering trade magazine aptly describes the problem:
Der saubere Wechselstrom vom Energieversorger kommt nämlich ziemlich dreckig aus unserer Steckdose
(The clean switch-mode electricity from the energy supplier comes out of our sockets quite miserable).
And so it is. Heavy power consumers of energy (heavy industry, server rooms, big motor drives) and solar panels with inverters are just a few examples of polluters. In your home, mobile device chargers and other switching power supplies cause trouble, not to mention data transmission through your home power network: powerlan and also PoE (Power over Ethernet) is not recommended for your audio system.
Lower voltage potential
The sine wave of alternating current ideally exhibits a nice undulation above and below the zero line; you probably remember this from high school maths. Disturbance of the alternating current network by direct current causes the sine wave to distort. This is visible by flattening the sine wave, among other things. And that has the effect of causing, for example, toroidal power supplies to hum. And that very unwanted magnetic field is created (also saturation of the core). There are more consequences, but let’s summarise it as: the power supply of a device is not working optimally. And that is audible. Note: this only makes sense with linear power supplies. A switching power supply does not actually suffer from this.
Icing on the cake
Now all this sounds like your life is incomplete without a €600 DC filter. Of course, these are nuances and everything has to be seen in proportion. A Sonos speaker is not going to sound better with the Syncro Uni and even if it did, that’s not the target audience.
Clean power is the icing on the cake. You already have a nice music system and are looking to optimise it without replacing components. Tackling the power chain is then a good idea because it will make the quality of the equipment even better. As we wrote earlier; spaciousness in playback, placement and detail.
Educational review. Well done. Questions: 1. Are product model names typically consistent between EU and US? On their US site, I do not see the Syncro or Synchro either as active or retired. Today only Gemini / Nova / Titan One in increasing order of performance; 2. Can one anticipate that a tool like this will improve sound qualities regardless of size or cost? If so, when would you make the purchase: anytime or after you have some post-setup time listening? 3. Would you ever place this upstream from the amp? I am guessing it depends on the amp and the impact, right? 4. With a Class D amp in play, what would be the impact on the need for one of these?
And for Gene, for what it’s worth, I see IsoTek includes their Premier Power cable with all units. Thx in advance.
This sounds like a good addition. However, something not mentioned in the review is the need for an additional power cord for each Uni used. That can easily add up to a lot of money for anyone using decent or better quality aftermarket power cords, who wants to maintain the same level.
Isotek sells those cables from very affordable prices on. But you can grab one lying at home if you like. We did use an EVO3 Initial (their entry level cable) between the wall socket and the Syncro and a no name power block from a DIY shop (nothing ‘audio’ grade) out of the Syncro and plugged the power cables from the Rega Planet and the Weiss into that power block.