The Article

BMU-2500/SE FROM BALANCED POWER

27th February 2026

The Special Edition version of the 2500, Paul Rigby checks out this heavy, balanced power unit, packed with six balanced output sockets

I am a great advocate of balanced power supplies. I have been using a balanced power unit, via one manufacturer or another, for decades now. They are invaluable for reducing mains noise.

For the new BMU-2500/SE from Balanced Power, it does this by splitting the UK’s 230-240v feed into two separate paths of 115-120v. Each of those are isolated. According to the company, both live and neutral connections are carriers of the incoming voltage. Electrical noise is lowered while any DC is also removed so a balanced unit also acts as a DC Blocker.

The upshot? The musical detail created by your HiFi, which has been there all of the time but, until now, has masked by noise and other sonic rubbish, now finally gets a chance to be heard.

Thus a balanced power supply doesn’t, in and of itself, produce better sound but it does create a framework for your HiFi to perform more efficiently. If creates a foundation for your HiFi to perform at its best.

UNDER THE BONNET

This new BMU-2500/SE, from Balanced Power arrives in a fully-earthed, thick anodised aluminium chassis, to reduce resonance. All of the six available sockets are covered with a spring-loaded cap to protect the socket from dust and moisture. They are also connected in a star configuration.

A star earthing system ends on a ground point on the rear. Useful if you want to add a grounding accessory to further reduce the noise floor.

The entire system is protected via an audio-specific trip so the entire system will go down if there is a fault on any part of the outputted electrical signal.

Related to that, I did notice that the rocker power switch demanded more effort to operate than usual. I asked the question and, according to the company, “The rocker switch on the rear panel doubles as a combined thermal and short-circuit breaker. It protects all balanced outputs, safeguarding both the connected equipment and the user in the event of any fault. This is why it requires a firm press to turn on.”

Rocker power switch (white) and Grounding grub screw

As for the power cable, that is a C14 IEC. I wondered about that too and received this reply, “For UK and EU customers, we use a standard C14 IEC socket simply because of its current rating,” said the company. “The power supply delivers 10 amps and the C14 inlet complete with its fuse is likewise rated for 10A.”

The system sits on a set of APC (Aluminium Polymer Compound) feet made from two parts and isolated by ceramic ball bearings.

Able to handle 2,500W of power and based on an oversized transformer core, this box spans 430 x 325 x 115mm and weighs in at a meaty 22kgs.

SOUND QUALITY

I used my Connected Fidelity AC-2K balanced power unit and was also able to draw upon my experience with the BMU-1500 Mk.II from Russ Andrews, as references. To begin, I decided to run the 2500/SE through a digital chain first via my Audiolab 6000CDT and Benchmark DAC.

POWER SUPPLY TEST

I initially used the 2500/SE as a single-socket host for two serially-connected strip sockets from The Chord Company and Connected Fidelity which were then plugged into the 2500/SE. From that point, the 2500/SE was plugged into the wall. Hence, the 2500/SE would be focusing more on its power supply only in this configuration.

I started with China Crisis and Difficult Shapes & Passive Rhythms: Some People Think It’s Fun To Entertain and I was mightily impressed. What struck me initially was that the decidedly digital nature of this CD was removed. A slight hardness around the upper midrange had been removed. More air and space had also been inserted into the soundstage so the bass guitar was more recognisable now and the rhythm guitar was better isolated.

Over to vinyl now and it was also gratifying how easily it was to hear the rather masked cymbals on the heavy psychedelic/proto-prog self-titled Mighty Baby (Lightning Tree reissue) album but also the clarity from the lead and backing vocals.

BRINGING IN THE SOCKETS

I then moved the cable pattern. The Connected Fidelity plugs remained ‘as is’ but I did remove all the cables from The Chord Company power strip, pulled that block out of the chain and plugged those cables directly into the 2500/SE. Hence, the latter now acted as a combined star-wired power strip and balanced power supply.

The result was quite stunning, I have to say. The initial overall impression? A new level of sweetness had entered the soundstage. But that sweetness wasn’t colour, it was derived from improved tonal accuracy plus a better balance between high and low frequencies.

The differences were even more noticeable via Mighty Baby on vinyl and my analogue chain. With the 2500/SE taking control, I heard a more organic bass, lower noise around the upper mids and treble and better separation between instruments.

GROUNDING

I then inserted the grounding accessory from Russ Andrews, the Superrouter Signature Edition and was further impressed with a new low in noise which further enhanced the organic bass, better integrated the vocals with the backing instruments, provided improved separation for the vocal harmonies and added an extra bounce to the bass guitar, which now sounded positively funky.

CONCLUSION

From time and experience, I know balanced power supplies. I know what they are capable of and how much they can improve sound but the BMU-2500/SE from Balanced Power still managed to surprise me in the level of sonic performance it produced for a HiFi chain which I honestly thought could not be improved, considering the current component line up. I was wrong.

This is a stunning piece of technology. It is an enabler. Providing your HiFi system with a clean canvas to paint rather wonderful sonic pictures. Do yourself and your HiFi system a favour. Buy one.

BALANCED POWER BMU-2500/SE

Price: £2,599

Website: www.factor-one.co.uk

GOOD: low, low noise, built-in sockets, build quality, overall sound quality

BAD: nothing