Art Dudley Listening

Listening #187: Shindo Mr. T

Art Dudley  |  Jun 19, 2018

In the rural home in Cherry Valley, NY that my family and I inhabited from 2003 to 2017, we had dirty water but clean electricity. Evidence of the latter was seen in the results of tests performed by a technician from the local utility, National Grid—I told him I intended to do commercial sound recording on site, which was close enough to the truth that I considered my sin venal rather than mortal—and heard in the sound of my playback system, which rejected as superfluous or worse all of the AC-conditioning products I tried there. As for that, keep in mind that the purification of power, unlike the education of human beings, can be taken only so far before additional benefits cease to accrue—not that that has stifled the commercial efforts of those power conditioner manufacturers who promised perfect products yesterday and even perfecter ones today.

Now I live in New York's capital, Albany, a city of 100,000 surrounded by suburbs and comparably sized cities that, taken together, bring the region's population to 1.17 million. Here the water comes from a reservoir, and is pre-oxidized, disinfected, and filtered before it gets to my house. For the first time in 15 years, shirts and socks and towels that were white when purchased remain so after multiple washings. I don't ever want to go back to well water.

But my power here is not so clean—something that became apparent when I noticed that my system sounds better at some times of day than at others. (Obviously, if my system merely sounded better at some times of year than at others, the distinctions would be astrological in origin.) So I set about pre-oxidizing, disinfecting, and filtering my household AC.

Isolationism
I began with the Shindo Laboratory Mr. T ($2200)—a logical enough choice, given that my preamplifier and amplifier are also from Shindo. Like Naim Audio's Armageddon turntable power supply before it, Shindo's sole power-conditioning product is an isolation transformer, a category of product common in industrial settings and product-testing facilities. The simplest and arguably most common sort of isolation transformer is one in which incoming AC current is applied to a primary coil, with a secondary coil attached to one or more AC outlets; the turns ratio between the two coils is 1 to 1, thus ensuring that x number of volts in will result in the same number out. Of course that never quite happens, owing to various insertion losses; in particular, transformer windings can always be counted on to try to vibrate, thus turning at least a small portion of the electrical input into heat and/or mechanical noise. AC is sent from the primary to the secondary coil by means of electromagnetic induction—the operating principle of any sort of transformer.

The object for such a transformer would be complete electrical isolation of one or more AC-powered devices from a generator or public utility, typically in an effort to protect the former from possible ground faults in the latter—or, where such dangers exist, from DC. And though it's a matter of debate among engineers, it's reasonable to expect an isolation transformer to offer a degree of protection from some types of power surges caused by lightning, which is predominantly DC.

But with the addition of electrostatic screening, and by cannily optimizing the density and mass of the transformer's magnetic core to favor certain frequency ranges—all other things being equal, high frequencies will exert on a large core less magnetizing current than lower frequencies—an isolation transformer can be configured more or less exclusively as a blocker of AC noise. Fans of David Cronenberg's remake of The Fly will see a parallel to protagonist Seth Brundle's efforts, early in the film, to filter out impurities by means of teleportation.

Shindo Laboratory's Mr. T is an isolation transformer of the noise-reducing sort, as opposed to the sort designed solely for safety; indeed, unlike transformers built primarily for galvanic isolation, the ground tab on the Mr. T's AC inlet is wired to the ground tabs of its six AC outlets. (Then again, that's irrelevant in light of the fact that the power cords supplied with all Shindo products, including the Mr. T, have plugs with just two prongs: one for live, one for neutral, nothing for ground.)

718listen.tbac.jpg

Inside the Mr. T is a massive Haruna Denki transformer. Its width and height barely fit inside Shindo's steel enclosure, which measures 6.25" wide by 6" high. The box's 9" depth leaves just enough room for the front panel's power switch and LED power indicator; the rear panel's chunky Meikosha AC outlets, plus nondescript IEC socket and fuse holder; and the necessary hookup wiring. The case is beautifully finished, inside and out, in Shindo's trademark shade of green, and it's solidly built—its removable top, damped with a rubber-like pad, is held in place with 10 machine screws, the holes for which line up perfectly with those on the main enclosure.

T for Tidy
The Mr. T arrived from Shindo's Tokyo workshop just days before I left for this year's Montreal Audio Fest—it would be days before I could try it in my system. That was just as well: At the show, I spoke with Luna Cables' Danny Labrecque, who also sells Shindo products through his retail operation, Phonographe. Labrecque described being especially impressed by the Mr. T's positive effects on the sounds of turntables, so I decided to start my listening tests by using the Shindo supply on just my Garrard 301 turntable (it has an AC motor) and, for the time being, leaving the rest of my system plugged into my AVOptions power strip.

The audible results of doing so were pronounced, and all in the Mr. T's favor. The first record I tried was the Jacques Loussier Trio's Play Bach Vol.4 (mono LP, London LL 3365): I gave it a quick listen without the Shindo supply, and noted that Pierre Michelot's double-bass lines were richly colored but appropriately taut, and the music had a fine sense of swing. Already, I was impressed.

But when I put the Mr. T between my household AC and my Garrard 301, tempos seemed quicker—although pitches were unchanged—and lines of notes had more momentum; for lack of a better word, the music became more sprightly. Drummer Christian Garros's brushed snare now had more snap, and Michelot's bass sounded deeper, and even more taut. More to the point: With my Garrard plugged into the Mr. T, the music was distinctly more engaging. I was now very impressed.

As long as my EMT OFD 15 mono pickup head was in the system, I tried my very clean copy of the Rolling Stones' eponymous UK debut (mono LP, Decca LK 4605)—and, because it was easy to do, I began once again by plugging the Garrard directly into my power strip. Again, the music sounded great—especially the young group's take on Slim Harpo's "I'm a King Bee," propelled by Brian Jones's steady acoustic rhythm guitar and Bill Wyman's deft bass line. The sound was clear and a little crisp, and the music was lots of fun.

Yet with the Mr. T back in play, it was Jones's and Wyman's instruments that benefited most: the guitar was even steadier and more propulsive, and the electric bass was fuller and, as my listening notes say, pound-ier. And in the Stones' no-less-fine performance of Rufus Thomas's wonderfully smutty "Walking the Dog"—something I didn't quite appreciate at age 10, when I first bought the US version of this album—the whistling near the end of each chorus was, I swear, clearer and stronger.

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ARTICLE CONTENTS

COMMENTS
Ortofan's picture
Submitted by Ortofan on June 19, 2018 - 7:01pm

... the Mr. T and a more prosaic industrial-grade device, such as the Tripp Lite Isolator IS1000:
https://www.tripplite.com/isolator-series-120v-1000w-isolation-transformer-based-power-conditioner-4-outlets~IS1000

The Tripp Lite unit is available for about one-tenth the price of the Shindo product:
http://www.provantage.com/tripp-lite-is1000~7TRPC00H.htm

If that's too cheap, there's an 1800W "medical grade" version available that is still about one-third the price of the Shindo:
https://www.tripplite.com/isolator-series-120v-1800w-ul60601-1-medical-grade-isolation-transformer-6-hospital-grade-outlets~IS1800HG

Have the Amazon drone drop one off at your house:
https://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-IS1800HG-Isolation-Transformer/dp/B00008N6S7

Jason Victor Serinus's picture
Submitted by Jason Victor Serinus on June 20, 2018 - 12:23pm

Vince Galbo of MSB, who has guided me on power distribution / filtering, uses one of the Tripp Lite models in certain places in his set-up. However, it is heavily modified to, among other things, accept an after market power cable. As issued, the Tripp Lite's power cord is captive. This, of course, will mean naught to those who steadfastly deny that power cables make a difference. But to those of us who let our ears guide as, the Tripp Lite's captive power cable is a distinct disadvantage.

I have not heard either unit, and cannot comment on their sound.

Ortofan's picture
Submitted by Ortofan on June 19, 2018 - 8:33pm

... Tripp Lite unit modified to incorporate an IEC connector that would facilitate convenient swapping of power cords, should such an activity form a vital part of your listening regimen.

Perhaps the stock Tripp Lite unit will make a sufficient improvement that the need to obsess over the captive power cord will become superfluous.

Maybe Tripp Lite is missing an opportunity by not offering an "audiophile" grade unit equipped with Furutech cables and connectors, for example. That would leave you to fret over the type of wire used to wind the transformer and whether or not the enclosure should be copper plated.

JoeinNC's picture
Submitted by JoeinNC on June 20, 2018 - 5:03am

“This, of course, will mean naught to those who steadfastly deny that power cables make a difference. But to those of us who let our ears guide as (sic), the Tripp Lite's captive power cable is a distinct disadvantage.”

Why do you assume that those who deny power cables make a difference are not also letting their ears guide them? You say you hear a difference so you are correct, while they hear no difference and they are wrong? Why is your opinion valid, and the skeptic’s is not? Is your hearing or perception more accurate or “correct?”

“I have not heard either unit, and cannot comment further.”

You admit you have not heard it, yet you say that the capacitive power cable of the Tripp Lite puts it at a “distinct disadvantage.” If you truly do let your ears guide you, how do you know?

Your assertions seem to be at odds.

dalethorn's picture
Submitted by dalethorn on June 20, 2018 - 6:32am

"Why do you assume that those who deny power cables make a difference are not also letting their ears guide them?"

If the power device manufacturer decides for whatever reason to not provide the option to substitute cables, they of course are perfectly fine to do that. If competitors are allowing the option, then there's a risk of losing sales because of the "no option" design.

You could ask them why no option, and maybe they would say it's more expensive to provide the option, and they decided not to because they wouldn't make up for the extra expense with more sales. Or maybe they would tell you something different. Who knows?

As a general rule, providing for different cable options follows the "component" logic of audiophile design, but it probably isn't as common among power boxes as it is with other components. It does seem like an important thing to mention in a review.

spacehound's picture
Submitted by spacehound on June 20, 2018 - 7:55am

...to 'strike' at what unqualified audio people call 'objectivists'. Think about it. It's all they've got to justify their existence in a world that science reveals more of by the minute about how all this stuff works. Or doesn't work.

The transformer? They would call me an 'objectivist' but this transformer at least makes sense, unlike many home audio power 'conditioners' at far higher prices.

Some with a fake 'Japanese' name come to mind. But at least that manufacturer has a sense of humour, he names his nonsense cables after snakes :-)

dalethorn's picture
Submitted by dalethorn on June 20, 2018 - 1:57pm

Objectively, the more "science" finds out, the more they find out they don't know. And there's no better place to look than the black box of quantum this-or-that, since what we're dealing with here is quantum effects.

spacehound's picture
Submitted by spacehound on June 20, 2018 - 8:58pm

…..that "what we're dealing with here is quantum effects."

So tell us why you think that or you are posting BS.

dalethorn's picture
Submitted by dalethorn on June 21, 2018 - 3:01am

I'm sure that, as a technical person yourself, you're very well aware of quantum effects in electrical transmission across wires. If not, then you're just making stuff up. The whole point of quantum anything (and everything) is that your simple measurements of resistance and capacitance etc. don't represent quantum effects, which can affect sound. It's simply out of the reach of your stone knives and bearskins.

spacehound's picture
Submitted by spacehound on June 21, 2018 - 11:57am

Though semi-retired I work on the only five true quantum computers in existence.

The word 'quantum' is used far too often by people who know very little about it, often by snake oil cable manufacturers. In fact quantum effects aren't actually 'electrical' or 'electronic' in the accepted sense and they don't involve 'transmission'.

dalethorn's picture
Submitted by dalethorn on June 21, 2018 - 1:00pm

All we really need agree on, despite any legitimate disagreements, is that our ears are more sensitive in some (not most) ways than our measuring devices. Gordon Holt alluded to something like that when he said that while the minimum decibel change we can detect in steady tones is one db, there are ways we can detect 1/2 or less of a db difference in some listening situations.

spacehound's picture
Submitted by spacehound on June 21, 2018 - 1:18pm

...was probably right about that it is irrelevant to instrumentation.

Instruments can detect everything we can detect and are several orders of magnitude better than we are on all of it. And that includes microphones, even though they are 'poor' compared to most other instruments so you may have to use a couple of different sorts simultaneously to achieve those 'several orders' (not that you need to, even one order is ten times better than we are). And all together they will still be smaller than our ears and ear canals so don't lose any phase information.

We make instruments because we CAN'T detect stuff very well :-)

dalethorn's picture
Submitted by dalethorn on June 21, 2018 - 1:38pm

Totally disagree. I trust the reviewers who are trusted by the readers and subscribers here. I do not trust naysayers whose opinions differ on "what cannot be detected". In the end, as Holt readily acknowledged, we'd like to have better tests and test gear, but we still have to rely on our ears to confirm the tests. Without that confirmation, the tests are as meaningless as the content of the atmosphere on Neptune.

spacehound's picture
Submitted by spacehound on June 21, 2018 - 11:57pm

Of course. It's "What you do"

dalethorn's picture
Submitted by dalethorn on June 22, 2018 - 3:31am

Your comment goes straight to your credibility. No information, no credibility. Arguments require information.

jeffdyer's picture
Submitted by jeffdyer on August 8, 2018 - 5:26am

If you think that audible quantum effects will be apparent in 120V AC mains signals, there's really no hope for you.
[flame deleted by John Atkinson]

spacehound's picture
Submitted by spacehound on June 24, 2018 - 5:34pm

Not good enough. Fancy cables may make a difference but do they provide better sound quality?

You have no way of telling as you haven't got a reference - you don't know how it is SUPPOSED to sound.
Sorry, "I personally prefer cable Y to both cable Z and the pre-installed cable" which is all you have, doesn't cut it with anyone except yourself.

So why do you and many others write such drivel?

Herb Reichert's picture
Submitted by Herb Reichert on June 27, 2018 - 4:33pm

I am a reviewer and I am always looking for a reference - something definitive - that will show me how a recording - any recording - is SUPPOSED to sound. Would you please show me one? What do you use for a reference?

do tell

hr

spacehound's picture
Submitted by spacehound on June 27, 2018 - 8:11pm

There isn't a reference we have access to. Live music is useless as our source is a recording so we need to accurately reproduce the studio's messing around with it as that is the 'final intention'.

So what do I do? I use 'industrial grade' equipment (which is far more competently designed and made than most 'specialist' HiFi equipment) to make measurements myself or accept those done by some others, including of course some reviewers. Such as your new boss, Paul Miller, for example as he is known for this stuff.
These measurements are pretty simple, may not measure everything, but what they do measure is much more accurate than the human ear. As for the ear-brain interface, evolution seems to work on a 'keep it simple' basis so I don't think we are missing much. All domestic cats behave much the same so it's likely we do too :-)

Also, and this is important, 'theory'. As a result I never buy DACs that have a ten or twenty dollar 'high street' DAC chip (such as the Sabre series) as their core. Except for cheap portable ones. The Chord Mojo, though not cheap, is way ahead of most others theorywise.
Amplifier 'state of the art' has been as good as it will ever get for twenty years or more, so there is no need to spend a lot of money.
Speakers? A big solid box and some good theory.

Result? dCS Rossini, 600 dollar Yamaha AV receiver used in 'pure direct' two channel mode which switches off all the gimmicks (they are 'state of the amplifier art' and I watch movies with the usual AV gimmicks switched on, though movies are a secondary interest for me) And Tannoy Kensington speakers as they are big, solid, and their near 'point source' dual concentric design is theoretically good.

That's as close as we can currently get to 'accuracy' without hearing the source, and 'high fidelity' is a synonym for accuracy. If I don't like the sound I buy a different recording, which is easy for me as I mostly listen to classical. 'Lively' baroque is my fsvourite, played on the instruments of the time (though I don't insist on that). They should be accurate to the long-dead composer's intention too :-)

I do listen to lots of other stuff too of course but my aim is the same. Recently I have been using a 5000 dollar Naim power amplifier and the volume control on the dCS DAC and it sounds much the same so it's likely that the source as available to me (and you) is not being messed with either way by my equipment. It doesn't seem to have a 'character' (which is all recordings showing similar minor effects such as 'detail' or 'warmth') so hopefully the speakers are ok too.

Herb Reichert's picture
Submitted by Herb Reichert on June 28, 2018 - 5:09am

I am honored and inspired by your answer. Your system seems well-considered (though my personal experience suggests that DACs sound more different than phono cartridges). I am a big fan of the Tannoy Kensington speakers and agree you made a smart brave choice. I suspect the system you describe will let all recordings sound 'as different as possible' which I regard as a supremely positive trait. Best of all I too love Early Music - and if it is played on original instruments - so much the better.

Meanwhile, my personal "Herb reference" is the sound of a violin or piano - along with the harp they are the mmost wideband instruments . The more I hear what (to me) sounds like a real full size piano and a harmonic-rich violin, the happier I become. Thank you again for your considerate answer. hr

Ortofan's picture
Submitted by Ortofan on June 28, 2018 - 12:27pm

... would certainly help provide a valid reference to live sound. My listening room also has a "real full-size" Baldwin piano. Playback of recordings is via a pair of TDL Reference Standard speakers.
http://allegro-sound.com/TDL_Reference_3.pdf

Recordings (IMO) that best capture the sound of the piano include the Malcolm Frager recital of Chopin works on Telarc; various works of Liszt performed by Earl Wild and released in three sets on the Etcetera Label - some of which is also available from Ivory Classics; and several recordings by Valentina Lisitsa on Audiofon, engineered by Peter McGrath.

dalethorn's picture
Submitted by dalethorn on June 28, 2018 - 5:53am

From Spacehound: "Live music is useless as our source is a recording so we need to accurately reproduce the studio's messing around with it as that is the 'final intention'."

I believe this comment tries to evade Gordon Holt's entire premise for Stereophile. From what I know, we have made great strides in playback gear that does get ever closer to "accurately reproducing" the studio sound, or more precisely, the intent of the sound on the record. But live sound, at least for those who believe in it, is the final reference. It doesn't mean that our recorded facsimilies of live sound (if that's what we're attempting) are getting closer to every aspect of the live sound. Some of those aspects may still be out of reach - dunno.

What it means is that there IS such a thing as the sound of music played live in-person, that many audiophiles believe that our systems are at their best when they get as close as possible to that sound (when the intent of the recording is to capture it), and that everything else is secondary. The notion that high fidelity music recording begins with technical manipulation, and not with the microphone capture of live instruments, is absurd.

I don't want to be misrepresented on this as talking apples versus oranges, I just want to make crystal clear the principles that Gordon Holt laid down decades ago - hi-fi begins with the best possible capture of instrument by microphone, and ends with the best possible realization of that sound in the home. Everything in between should serve those ends.

Herb Reichert's picture
Submitted by Herb Reichert on June 28, 2018 - 8:16am

no one will ever "know" what is "on" or hidden in a recording. Even when the master "tapes" are playing in your own home. I used to collect master tapes. Many reels in my collection came directly from the vaults at RCA - AND!! I was playing them back (on a $1,000,000 system) through the exact machines they were recorded on !!! You'd think....all I learned was that there is no such thing as a "master." For me, the original popular issue CD, LP, 45, etc. IS the reference for what a recording is supposed to sound like (and what the artist and producer intended). Therefore, audio playback always comes down to which DAC or phono cartridge someone has chose to use. That is why I personally - as a reviewer and a listener - believe that systems that make pianos sound like REAL pianos (to me) are the most accurate (I hate that word). Like space hound says, you got to have a reference. That is mine. What is yours Dale? respectfully hr

dalethorn's picture
Submitted by dalethorn on June 28, 2018 - 8:32am

I understand what you're getting at. The best I can say, lacking a godlike ability to look down on this from a higher dimension, is that I know what live music sounds like. I want my reproduced sound, of acoustic music at least, to sound like that. You said essentially the same for a grand piano.

The point where I think the other guy went astray, even if slightly, was in suggesting that the playback half of hi-fi is the whole picture to him, and perhaps should be to us as well. I disagree with that concept, at least as I understood it. Even though we typically don't do the recordings, we are involved with that art as a mutually shared interest. From music playing to recording through playback to listening - that's the full picture.

Let me also add something about "shared interest" for illustration. Years ago, many of the driver manuals issued at DMV's would say that driving is a privilege, not a right. Smarter people eventually (in some states at least) modified that to say it's a mutually shared interest rather than purely a privilege or absolute right.

In democratic jurisdictions, there are those who make the laws and those who follow them (which includes those who make them). Such things are not absolutes - you don't grant absolute power to anyone, so there's always the implication that those who make the laws are mindful that it's a process that involves everyone, even though not directly.

Some folks would take the position, and you've seen this, that "The record companies own the music, and they have the right to dictate content and terms ..... blah blah blah." But in the end it's still a shared interest, or they don't survive.

ok's picture
Submitted by ok on June 29, 2018 - 2:59pm

There’s no need for a "reference" since we all know how the real thing sounds like; not everyone has necessarily heard a pipe organ first person but.. you get the idea. Certain hardware can occasionally fool you alright, some other might not – God only knows actual reasons why. Anyway 24/7 all-real performers inside your sweet home can be fatiguing as hell, so many a time a little fake is exactly what one actually needs. Consider also the fact that most visionary musicians and great artists in general tend to work against, not within, all inevitable limitations of their instruments etc and therefore tend to hold little respect for "reality" and its "accurate reproduction".

dalethorn's picture
Submitted by dalethorn on June 28, 2018 - 3:09pm

You're right of course, which is why it's more fun to be a musician than an audiophile critic or reviewer.

Ortofan's picture
Submitted by Ortofan on June 26, 2018 - 11:51am

... JVS review one of the Air-Tight amplifiers that are made with [OMG!] a captive power cord?
http://cdn7.bigcommerce.com/s-6naz0isypk/images/stencil/1024x1024/products/974/5875/12160175-8561-19__81790.1510717501.jpg?c=2

Jason Victor Serinus's picture
Submitted by Jason Victor Serinus on June 28, 2018 - 12:32pm

Hello.

This is Daisy Mae Doven, Mr. Serinus' corresponding secretary. I regret to inform you that Mr. Serinus has become entangled in a mess of aftermarket power cords, and is tied so tight that he cannot come up for air. Should he find his way out of captivity, he will be delighted to entertain a request from Air-Tight for a review.

Have a pleasant day.

Sincerely,
Ms. Doven

Bogolu Haranath's picture
Submitted by Bogolu Haranath on June 20, 2018 - 3:58am

How about a comparison listening test (not blind) between different power conditioners and power generators in different price ranges? ............

spacehound's picture
Submitted by spacehound on June 20, 2018 - 9:59pm

Neither do their advertisers, which are mostly the 'specialist' HiFi manufacturers. Because in most cases (though possibly not this transformer) there is little or no difference between a high-priced 'specialist' piece of gear and something made by (say) Sony.
Because:
1) If you can't hear a difference you can't say one is 'better' than another.
2) If you can hear a difference then as you have no reference to how it is meant to sound you also cannot say which is 'better'. It's just your own personal preference. Which is not related in any way whatsoever to High Fidelity (which means accuracy by definition) or 'sound quality'.

Thus it is impossible to demonstrate that expensive 'specialist' equipment is superior to 'high street' stuff and your advertisers won't like that at all.

So except when a reviewer mentions specific failing, which they sometimes do (see recent AkitikA GT-102 review), and which are useful as they tell us what we might want to avoid or are prepared to live with as the cost is low, detailed reviews are of zero value.

I am not greatly cost limited so bearing in mind my views above what did I end up with?
A 20,000 dollar DAC, speakers costing 14,000 dollars a pair, and a Yamaha AV receiver (almost always used in simple two channel 'direct' mode but powerful and very versatile) costing 600 dollars.
Other than as a customer I have no connection with any of the three manufacturers. I only mention Yamaha specifically as the receiver is a typical 'high street' product.

volvic's picture
Submitted by volvic on June 20, 2018 - 5:02am

Once I started reading the review my mind immediately went to the gedon. The article was so much fun to read that I now want to get another LP12 with a gedon as well as a Mr. T for the rest of my gear.

johnnythunder's picture
Submitted by johnnythunder on June 20, 2018 - 4:05pm

piece of audio equipment. Maybe the best "third party" tweak ever made to support a rival manufacturer (yes, I know Linn and Naim were only semi-rival companies back then.) It just made music on an LP12 flow better and sound riche especially when the tonearm attached to an LP12 was a Naim Aro.

volvic's picture
Submitted by volvic on June 21, 2018 - 3:56am

You speak the truth a great third party ps. There are a few more available and their prices have finally dipped as Linn has introduced the Lingo 4 which is quite an improvement over the original one. But I so want to build another Linn with a geddon, just way too many Hi-Fi projects before this, but oh so tempted to push it to the front of the queue.

Bogolu Haranath's picture
Submitted by Bogolu Haranath on June 20, 2018 - 8:04am

It is "common sense" to provide the audio equipment (at least the audiophile variety) with detachable power cords ........... What is next? ........ "captive" interconnects and speaker wires? :-) ............

brenro's picture
Submitted by brenro on June 20, 2018 - 8:33am

I have all my equipment running through it with the exception of the power amp, which is on a different circuit. My electrical power is a grid tied solar system. There is a very definite change in sound between daylight hours, when my power is coming from solar panels, and night time, when I revert back to commercial power. The solar power is quieter, no mistake about it.

Bogolu Haranath's picture
Submitted by Bogolu Haranath on June 20, 2018 - 9:19am

I hope the coal industry is not reading this :-) ..............

cgh's picture
Submitted by cgh on June 20, 2018 - 10:43am

I have a hydroelectric plant running my audio mains. When we are having low rainfall I revert to nuclear and steam to drive the turbines. It might be the really flimsy shielding I have on my reactor, but I find the hydro creates a much darker and quieter floor. Imaging is really crisp when rainfall or snow melt is high.

brenro's picture
Submitted by brenro on June 20, 2018 - 12:06pm

Superiority complex or what?

cgh's picture
Submitted by cgh on June 20, 2018 - 12:41pm

Just joking around. I don’t really have a hydroelectric or nuclear power plant.

I am lucky to have fairly clean measured power; so no complaints, although I do notice a difference late at night, especially in the winter. I imagine that running off the solar is a bit like the battery powered amps that I’ve heard. Definitely quiet.

I wonder if power conditioners have given isolation a bad reputation as people may conflate the two. I haven’t been very happy with any of the conditioners that I’ve tried (at least in high power applications).

Bogolu Haranath's picture
Submitted by Bogolu Haranath on June 20, 2018 - 12:46pm

Join the (audiophile superiority complex) club .............

hifiluver's picture
Submitted by hifiluver on June 21, 2018 - 2:14am

Apparently setting up a listening room in the middle of an industrial area with 3 phase power supply is awesome.

doug beechwood's picture
Submitted by doug beechwood on June 20, 2018 - 11:27am

Art-

I think you have the 2 Stones covers swapped around.
"Walking the Dog" is not even vaguely "smutty".
However "I'm a King Bee" by Slim Harpo is definitely double entendre, clear as day at the time to this 17 yr old.

Ortofan's picture
Submitted by Ortofan on June 20, 2018 - 11:33am

... if he can put up a windmill, plus a bank of storage batteries in the basement to tide him over on calm days.
Maybe he could sell enough power back to the utility company to finance upgrades for his audio system.

dalethorn's picture
Submitted by dalethorn on June 20, 2018 - 2:01pm

People run their computer systems on relatively small UPS boxes, and if the box were capable of isolating from the mains (mains feeds UPS then UPS separately powers the system), that seems like a possibility.

dc_bruce's picture
Submitted by dc_bruce on June 20, 2018 - 12:51pm

Depending upon the Kw/amp rating (not specified in the review), the price of the Shindo may not be all that outrageous. IIRC, the price of the 20 amp Equi-tech balanced power transformer is in that range. As the long-time owner of one of those Equi-tech units, I am satisfied that it provides real sonic benefits.
That said, the Shindo unit seems much smaller and does not require the winding precision necessary to generate two 60 VAC outputs exactly 180 degrees out of phase with each other -- which is what balanced power is.

I have to admit that Art's claim that the Shindo unit improves the sound of his turntable leaves me puzzled. I have a VPI frequency regenerator (the "SDS"), which makes a subtle improvement in my turntable's sound. But that's because it provides a more accurate and steady 60 cycle power; a transformer is not going to affect the frequency of the AC power supplied to the turntable motor. Maybe the (possibly) lower source impedance of the transformer gives the 'table a more consistent voltage?

ok's picture
Submitted by ok on June 29, 2018 - 2:57pm

"Obviously, if my system merely sounded better at some times of year than at others, the distinctions would be astrological in origin"

ahahahahahaha.. oh man, how I wish I could have thought this first :-}

spacehound's picture
Submitted by spacehound on June 21, 2018 - 12:04pm

Scorpios are known to be sceptical so I don't believe any of it :-)

Bogolu Haranath's picture
Submitted by Bogolu Haranath on June 21, 2018 - 5:39pm

So, Stereophile "conversion therapy" is not working? :-) ..............

spacehound's picture
Submitted by spacehound on June 24, 2018 - 6:12pm

I mean that being a Scorpio, thus sceptical, I don't believe any of this 'Scorpio' nonsense either :-)

As for HiFi magazines, they are totally dependent on advertising revenue from mostly small companies with equally small resources and small expertise, and which probably 99% of people have never heard of. It's not as if listening to music is in any way 'specialist', like for example adults playing with toy slot cars, where one can expect the market to be limited and the manufacturers small or a small and probably underfunded division of something else.

They have an entertainment value, with their constant talk of 'lifted veils' (and every bit of snake oil added is always said to lift the veils further) and other such gibberish for us to laugh at.

Their music 'critiques' may have a certain value, lessened somewhat by their never saying orchestra X, performer Y, or composer Z is absolute rubbish, but that's about it :-)

dalethorn's picture
Submitted by dalethorn on June 24, 2018 - 6:31pm

There are no veils? Everything sounds equally good?

prof's picture
Submitted by prof on June 21, 2018 - 9:22pm

If the purpose of an isolation transformer is to filter out the noise from your mains, I'm not clear on what swapping out its power cable for some "audiophile" power cable is supposed to achieve.

Since (unlike the Tripp-Lite) the Shindo transformer does have an IEC connector, maybe Art could comment on the effect of switching power cables.

windansea's picture
Submitted by windansea on June 22, 2018 - 12:18am

Always enjoy Art's writing, but this review could be more helpful by comparing the Mr T against a cheap Tripp Lite isolation transformer, or the more expensive PS Audio sine wave regenerator, which supposedly goes beyond power conditioners. Below are some relevant Amazon reviews on Tripp Lite models costing $100-$200:

I'll rate the product rather than the shipping because it arrived with dented feet. It's a 25 pound brick, please package the damn thing appropriately! WTF.

My review reflects the use of this product in an audio system. Many people apparently are using it for this purpose. I read the reviews and tried it out. My system is minimal, but solid. I'm running a Vinyl Nirvana 160 Super with a copper Ortofon. My amp is a swissonor VSOP driving Rhethm Maargas. I am reluctant to drop coin on frivolous stuff. It's sitting on an IKEA Lack end table which is actually great for audio equipment. My cables are good but not name brand.

It arrived and I was angry. But, it is damn heavy. So I twisted back the metal and place thick felt pads on the corners. My system was reconfigured for it, so I just had to connect stuff. I had played the recent Paul McCartney box and the first record was sitting on the turntable. Holy sh@t! I could hear the difference immediately.

Others have stated that the background floor became blacker, less apparent, whatever you want to call it... Yes. Also, the music was livelier and additional detail was apparent. I judge audio products for how they work in my system in my room. Your mileage may vary... I may move up to the 1000W when I have some extra cash.

I'm playing Wilco right now and can likewise hear the difference in background detail. I'm never spending over a thousand on a power conditioner, but definitely recommend this as a solution to the similarly pragmatic.
...........................................

I purchased this to eliminate EMI/RFI line noise in the AC circuit that was being used for an electronic drum set in a professional live sound situation. In testing, it indeed did eliminate EMI/RFI line noise from the hot line. However I also had noise in the neutral and ground line which this unit is incapable of removing because of the way it is wired internally. After changing the internal wiring, it eliminated all EMI/RFI line noise from all three lines.

There are You Tube videos describing how to change the internal wiring on this particular unit and it's not hard to do at all if you are electrically inclined. If not knowledgeable or comfortable with household type high voltage AC electricity, probably best not to attempt it. However if you buy this, it doesn't solve your problem, and you don't feel confident in modifying it Amazon will let you return it for a refund (I think within 30 days...) even if there is nothing actually wrong with the product itself. So it can't hurt to try!

billyb's picture
Submitted by billyb on July 11, 2018 - 4:38pm

Mr. Atkinson, Mr. Dudley,
Shindo components are listed as Class "A" recommended by Stereophile. Wouldn't readers benefit from basic bench test results for the highest rated components, in fact, shouldn't a class "A" rating be at least partially based on a solid bench test result?
It seems like a disservice to us all that a class "A" rated piece of equipment would not have at a minimum some distortion tests done. Please let us know your thoughts!

David GS's picture
Submitted by David GS on November 23, 2018 - 12:39pm

A few years ago, an engineering colleague offered me a big transformer. It's two primaries were marked 120V, and the three secondaries 60-0-60, and there was a big lug to ground the copper shield. He estimated it was good for 1KVA+ and mentioned that he appreciated my interest in audio and DIY, and offered the iron really as a way to interest me in the concept of balanced power. So I took the big thing home and there it sat in the corner of my office for some time. It reminded me of balanced power every-time i tripped over it. Finally I came across a chasssis and some heavy duty parts that i'd need to make use of the gift. Well after a web search when I found this article: https://www.equitech.com/balanced-power-the-next-generation/
I was intrigued but not in need. Then, I was still living in New Hampshire and was enjoying crystal quiet backgrounds when listening to music. Four years ago, I moved back to Boston, and the noise began for real, nothing I tried cleaned up the lines, and I remembering why I had become a night-owl before I had moved to the country this was no comfort. I wanted my music when everyone else was awake and more likely to enjoy listening too. So, that's when the transformer got its newish mil-spec surplus box, 3 heavy duty outlets and a nice 6-amp toggle switch/ breaker. And the result,-quite literally was quiet, really, living in the boonies off the grid quiet, -hmmm, no- hum go figure. I think I'll paint it green.

Great article

sa122's picture
Submitted by sa122 on November 10, 2021 - 1:13am

suckas!

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