Rejuvenated and dirt-free AC can only be good news for those with power ills.

PUREPOWER 1050i
WHAT IT IS: AC regenerator with auxiliary battery.
LUST FACTOR: A quieter and more resolving system is ensured, with no trade-off in dynamics.
Impressive things done to bass.
REALITY CHECK: Requires extra space in your system and exta moolah in your wallet.
PRICE: RM10,500
DISTRIBUTOR: SOUND PRECISION SDN BHD (012-235 3763 / 019-382 5937)

THE premise behind power products, including cables, is fundamental. Power from your wall outlet is seldom steadfast or clean, with voltage swings and electrical interferences getting in the way of high-fidelity reproduction.

Good, clean power: The PurePower 1050i has a salubrious effect on your hi-fi or AV system.

The bulk of these products, like conditioners and filters, aims to banish or suppress radio frequency and electro-magnetic interferences, and provide cleaner power.

Then, there are voltage regulators, which can extend component life, and power regenerators, which deliver new and pristine electrical power to your equipment.

On the menu this week is power regeneration, and there are just a few in this field, the best known being PS Audio.

However, since 2002, PurePower, a New Jersey-based company, has been creating a buzz (literally, that is) because it claims its products to be the only true power regenerators in the business, and ones that do not limit current.

PurePower regenerators are also equipped with power packs to keep any system going in the event of a power outage.

What you don’t need: Such high voltage for your audio or AV gear!

The PurePower 1050i Reference Grade AC Regenerator (with Auxiliary Battery) is among the three models offered by the company, the others being the 700i and 2000i.

Power to the cleaner

PurePower products filter and regulate incoming AC, create a DC source and regenerate it into a pure sine-wave output, free of external influences. So, no grit or grain, and no need for any current-limiting devices onboard.

You can specify the type of output receptacles on the rear panel – American, British or European (Schuko). The review unit had eight American-type receptacles.

The output voltage can be configured for anywhere in the 220V-to-240V range, with an auto-sensing frequency of 50/60Hz.

The 1050i is rated to handle up to 1,500VA and 1,050 watts. PurePower claims its regenerators are 89-92% energy efficient, depending on the load.

There is onboard protection against spikes and surges on the provided coax, RJ11 and RJ45 lines – yes, you can also hook up your satellite, phone or Ethernet lines into the 1050i. This ensures no external surge or spike outside the system gets to your equipment.

The small LED display window on the fascia provides information on output/input voltage, load, battery backup and operating temperature.

If you’re considering one of these units, I suggest going to the company’s website and reading the literature.

Cleaner and purer

My resident system is plugged into a locally-made AVIA 4kVA balanced Powertrans, which draws power from a dedicated 32A circuit. The Powertrans provides some measure of regulation, but it requires resetting of controls at different times of the day, depending on the input voltage, for optimal results.

To its credit, the Powertrans has served me competently, plus, it’s as quiet as a mouse. These days, it’s the McIntosh MC402 power amp and Bluenote Stibbert 2007 CD player that benefit from it, along with my Clearaudio Performance turntable and local phono stage. My speakers are the Magnepan MG1.6.

Initially, I operated the 1050i in 240V mode, but was advised to go for 230V. I also mixed and matched my equipment between the Powertrans and 1050i.

I later realised that for best effect, everything needed to be plugged into the PurePower.

At first, I was reluctant to plug the MC402 into the 1050i, but finally did – the power amp never seemed to be limited. Trying out different components at different times on the 1050i, I heard quieter backgrounds and more detail, with better separation between instruments. However, I thought a bit of drive was lacking.

Then, I plugged everything in my system into the 1050i, and this was when all clicked into place.

Suddenly, I was hearing deeper and more resolved bass, a wider stage, an overall cleaner projection and enhanced spatial detail.

In fact, if I thought my system was already transparent enough, then now, I could peer deeper and with more clarity into the proceedings. Every bit of change I made, especially cable switches, was more obvious. The finer nuances and micro-details were more obvious, since the backdrop was quieter, what with any noise seeping in from mixing and matching power sources now negated.

I was also impressed with how the low frequency detail in some LPs stood out with increased clarity, whereas previously, things at this end of the spectrum seemed less inclined to be drawn out. When the turntable and phono stage were plugged into the system, bass sounded tighter, more precise and rock-solid. Vocals, too, sounded tonally purer.

Pure dilemma

Rarely does a power product come along that takes away nothing and instead, enhances almost every aspect of your system. The PurePower 1050i is one such uncommon beast.

Now, my dilemma – should I sell my other power devices and settle for just a PurePower regenerator? If I did, should I stay with the 1050i or opt for the bigger 2000i. Indeed, and why not a 700i for my home theatre system as well?

So many questions ... so little money ... sigh.