Totally agree regarding Class A. Similar findings in the past with Sugden. A decent solidly made mains block or straight into the wall with a decent well made mains cable is best. Taking nothing away from Puritan, they do make a sonic difference on other components and more so with class A/B designs. I did try one on the Primare amp I had on loan (Class D) and not so good.I have now had the Puritan PS106-DC in the system for around a week. At first I just had the Hifi Rose and Aqua La Scala plugged in having also changed the generic cables to Puritan Classics. As first reported there is a nice sonic improvement. Definitely a wider and slightly deeper soundstage. More definition to instruments.
Mid week last week, I decided to plug the Luxman L550 into the new mains block (again with a Puritan Classic) and only had music on in the background and so not much attention was paid. Last night I sat down to enjoy a couple of hours of music. Frustratingly, I really couldn’t enjoy anything through the system. It just sounded a little anaemic, uninvolving and flat. Was this the Puritan burning in or the new mains cable? I went to bed quite frustrated to be honest.
I was thinking about the sudden change I heard and thought the best thing to do was reverse the last change I made and unplugged the Luxman from the PS106. I replugged the amp (with a cheap throw away lead) back into the wall.
Switched back on and the system sounded wonderful again. Very odd. Clearly the Luxman did not like the filtering of the Puritan. When I had the Sugden A21 it didn’t like fancy mains cables or being plugged into a strip plug either. It needed plugging straight into the wall to perform at its best. Maybe it’s a Class A thing?
So, cut to this evening and some more experimenting just to have some context again to the performance of the Puritan against the basic Project mains block. Still using the Puritan cables I plugged streamer and DAC into the Project and lined up a couple of tracks awaiting disappointment.
And there it was – the narrowing of the soundstage, slightly less definition to instruments, plucked strings didn’t quite have the same attack and decay. But, did the system sound just a smidgen more intimate? A touch warmer. Friendlier? It did. And the sound was still wonderful.
I think I could potentially live with either presentation. They are very similar but it’s very difficult to hang my hat on either and say one was definitely “better”. I can see why someone would absolutely prefer music with the Puritan in the chain where it brings a wonderfully expansive sound. I just need to decide for myself now which I prefer.
Thankfully, I am still well within the 30 days return Policy on eBay so could, if it came to it, send it back.
Sorry for the ramble – hope these musings were of use to someone.
Other people may add to this but that was my findings.
Once my Exposure kit is complete, I’ll run the mono’s on the Puritans and report back.
I cannot comment on the Puritan mains block however.