The Article
Powerstation Mains Block From iFi
7th August 2019
The units includes the company’s proprietary Active Noise Cancellation in a whole-system, six-outlet mains solution
Active Noise Cancellation II uses inverse noise current to cancel out the noise in the mains signal, “The way this works is not unlike the technology in noise-cancelling headphones,” said the company. “Noise in the mains supply occurs at different frequencies, depending on the cause. Passive noise reduction systems are effective at the top end of the frequency spectrum but tend to be less so at lower frequencies. In addition, passive systems need large capacitors to be truly effective, which make the best such products bulky and expensive.”
The Active Noise Cancellation II is coupled to additional passive filtering on each outlet, aimed at wireless transmission systems.
The PowerStation’s diagnostics system indicates both correct polarity and whether the system has a ground/earth in place. iFi calls this circuit Intelligent Ground because, “…it will not create a ground loop (a common cause of buzz or hum) even if the system is already earthed.”
The block also guards the connected equipment from spikes and surges in the mains supply. If the protection circuit is triggered, the PowerStation will only reboot once it is safe to do so.
The PowerStation case is constructed from dark anodised aluminium. Inside, each of the six mains outlets is independently isolated in its own chamber to prevent differential mode cross-contamination, with the addition of strategically placed EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) to damp vibrations.
PurCopper – a form of 99.9999 per cent pure OFHC (Oxygen-Free High-Conductivity) continuous-cast copper – is used too. This includes heavy-gauge internal wiring with multi-layered polymer insulation, solid PurCopper busbars and the conductive elements of the AC outlets themselves.
Available from August with a choice of four outlet types to suit the UK, EU, USA/Japan and Australia. Price is £499.
To learn more, click www.ifi-audio.com
[Don’t forget to check out my Facebook Group, The Audiophile Man: Hi-Fi & Music here: www.facebook.com/groups/theaudiophileman for exclusive postings, exclusive editorial and more!]
Hi Paul,
Thanks for this article (always a pleasure reading your pages) regarding the IFI Powerstation which i am interested in buying but also debating if ISOTEK EVO3 Sirius would be more superior to this. They both reduce 40db noise but the sirius has an added feature which uses KERP¬© (Kirchoff’s Equal Resistance Path). What do you think? Here in the UK i can get the IFI for ¬£499 and ISOTEK EVO3 SIRIUS for ¬£630. I would much appreciate it if you could get back to me on some info/insight.
Kind Regards
Erkan.
For others looking at this – this query was addressed via email.
Paul:
Do a much-needed review of the IFI Power Station so we can decide if what you answered in that email will be asserted within your review.
Hi N.Z.H – the only reason I inserted that email note was because the query was answered there before I saw the same question repeated on the site here. Nevertheless, I should have CCd the answer, that’s true. Here’s a copy, “Both should do the job, Erkan. As I say, I can‚Äôt offer info on fine differences but Isotek has been in the business for a long time and offers fine performance via its products while I‚Äôve always been impressed with iFi‚Äôs ability to reduce noise. Just look at any of my general iFi reviews on my site. I’ll always refer to the low noise performance. So they‚Äôre capable. Because I can‚Äôt provide specific advice, I would pick the best deal you can grab on either of these. Sorry I can‚Äôt be of more help.”
I will try to grab sample, though.
A true Audiophile, Paul!
You allowed yourself enough wiggle-room to get out of this one? Essentially, they all do the same thing: six-of-one; a half-dozen-of-the-other.
Also, I thought of buying Shynyata’s PS8 since I already own two Shunyata Venom Power Defenders. The Shunyata is $799.00 while the IFI is $499.99.
I’ll what will work better? I’d rather use the Venom Power Defenders instead of either retiring them or re- purposing them.
I would disagree that they all do the same thing. The issue with some active conditioners is that they can – if not properly designed – remove subtle elements of music along with the noise. That’s why a review is useful. So music can sometimes sound a touch sterile. This is why an extended demo is also important. I remember doing a long-term test of a very expensive regenerator (a box that re-created a entire sine wave) which sounded amazing first time around but, after time, I realised that there was something off with it. It was only after time that I realised that it took subtle emotional elements of the music away. Ultimately, this is what I would advise, a home demo. Over a period of time. The other problem with conditioners is your unique situation that no-one else can replicate: your house, your local mains supply, your location, what’s going on around you. All of these points create a unique map that no reviewer can truly second guess. Any review I do will provide generalities but you still need a demo to make absolutely sure.
The iFi AC conditioner is a hoax. The internal components are made cheaply in China, and it does not filter unwanted signals in the power. After 1 day they break down and fail to condition power altogether. Different configurations do not yield better results. The active power conditioning is not CPU driven and more power conditioners do NOT work together to save the user from unwanted dirty power.