ANSUZ Sparkz TC2
Power conditioners
With three Sparkz TC2 units plugged into the power conditioner the blacks became nano-blacks as if all electric noise that existed within the system had vanished and this exposed the recorded sounds. The downside of it was that the ears got adapted fast to the new standard and going back to the system without the Sparkz proved to be difficult.
Funkce a forma
The Ansuz Sparkz is not distinguishable from an ordinary high-end power plug, with the only difference: there is no cable. Thus it can be plugged into any unused power outlet and remains rather invisible. Invisible devices mean no questions from your wives and spouses and your investment has a high chance to stay unchallenged.
The company claims that the Ansuz Sparkz is based on an “advanced Tesla Coil technology that when applied right, can serve as an active noise-suppressing element”. The Ansuz Sparkz is available in 2 versions, Sparkz and Sparkz TC, the latter has been revamped into what is now available as Sparkz TC2. Ansuz is not very specific about how the units work, they just highlight that it is the Sparkz TC2 that is active and contains the Tesla Coils, hence the TC in its name, and that it “works in parallel to the mains feed by adding countersignals to detected noise”.
It is recommended to plug one or more units of the Sparkz into unused power outlets in the closest proximity to the outlets that are used for powering your system. Similar noise-suppressing active coil technology is used inside Ansuz’s own power distributors so adding more Sparkz units to it should put it on steroids, however there is no strict limit for using the Sparkz anywhere else in the system as long as they are in the same mains group.
In the course of this review three Ansuz Sparkz TC2 were made available. As simple as it looks the whole reviewing process was quite challenging as there were many options where to plug the Sparkz in. Also, for any mains system is unique, the way of experiencing the Sparkz may be unique for each of us. With a pair of loudspeakers it is easy and after spending an hour with them one can pinpoint the main sonic attributes. The same happens with the Sparkz but unlike the speakers the Sparkz can be moved to a different outlet, added, removed and combined. I spent over a month with them, long enough for other hifi magazines to review 30 other pieces of equipment and any of the 30 will most likely have more significant impact on the system than the Sparkz. Yet I kind of like those small incermental improvements that can be achieved in already gorgeous sounding systems by something so diminutive like the Sparkz.
It is recommended to wait couple of hours – or days – before one evaluates the Sparkz or any other similar device for that matter. You may call it burning-in, saturating period, adaptation, or anything you like. Though I did not have the luxury of waiting for days I adopted the habit of reconfiguring the Sparkz before I was leaving the house in the morning and listening to the change in the evening, repeatedly. Although sometimes I was not sure whether there was a difference, it became apparent once I unplugged the Sparkz TC2.
Nízké frekvence
I started simple with just one Ansuz Sparkz TC2 plugged into a second outlet in main duplex in a dedicated power line from which I power the whole system. And the difference? I can describe it as slightly better separation of instrumental lines in a mix, as if each instrument was better delineated. For example, I could follow a melodic bass line more easily no matter how dense the arrangement was, it was easier to point out a voice in a choir, and it was easier to savor a gently strummed guitar string by string. The separation did not trade off the decays, quite opposite, so cymbals became more vivid with more colorful trailing off. However I also noted less meaty bass that became drier and more accurate, thus less affecting the lower midrange. This may be subjectively good or not, depending on the music that is played. In the end I generally preferred music with the Sparkz for it made the recordings more delicate and resolving – without the Sparkz the felt on piano hammers got thicker and string sound more muffled. On female vocals I perceived improved fluidity and smoothness, with a touch of honey, which – again depending on how the recording had been equalized in studio – was better or not.
Čistota rozlišení
Adding another Sparkz TC2 in the mains meant surprise yet in a different direction than I expected. I was like now I would get the same in the magnitude of two but it did not happen. The female vocal was not even smoother and more viscose, it got more articulated and contoured, more lifelike. At the same time the bass weight improved, for example big drums became more spectacular and massive than before, as if they gained few Hertz more at the bottom. Also the bass guitar got thicker and more analog. The only thing that remained untouched was the overall transparency and resolving power, they were not harmed at all. The rest – the contours, tonal acuity, and background quietness – improved.
Adding the third Sparkz TC2 the bass became a bit drier again, somewhere between one and two Sparkz, but the quality of midrange blossomed out. The instrumental colors acquired depth and a sense of relaxed dynamics. Once again I did not hear more of the recording but I heard it from a different perspective which was closer to its live version. Though those increments were perceived as very subtle and inconsequential I suffered when I removed all the three Sparkz TC2. The music’s magic collapsed and fainted. Each Sparkz removed something disappeared, although it was something else with how the number of the plugged-in Sparkz units decreased.
Tonální věrnost
I used the same methodology to hear the effect of the Ansuz Sparkz TC2 in my Shunyata Research Denali power conditioner. Although I already experienced the rather imponderable nature of the Ansuz Sparkz I was caught unprepared once again. For example, when I plugged one Sparkz into the High Current circuit of the Denali I heard somewhat matting effect on the bass, diminished dynamic performance of the system and slight haziness instead of transparency. I continued with the Sparkz, plugging it into other filtered outlets of the Denali with only marginally better results, until I tried to reverse its polarity and the magic happened.
The acoustic guitar was suddenly spatially better portrayed, the male vocals became more palpable and ´there´, the bass dug deeper and got beautifully articulated, and the highs acquired sweet transparency. With another Sparkz TC2 added the sound further improved and soon all the free outlets of the Denali were occupied by one Sparkz. Like previously the three Sparkz TC2 proved to be the best match. I could not validate that four Sparkz would have been even better as I only had three. With the three Sparkz TC2 units plugged into the power conditioner the blacks became nano-blacks as if all electric noise that existed within the system had vanished and this exposed the recorded sounds. The downside of it was that the ears got adapted fast to the new standard and going back to the system without the Sparkz proved to be difficult.
Prostorovost
The #6 track of the excellent Hell or High Water soundtrack (Milan) is Robbery. The Sparkz TC made the tracks that were used by Jake Jackson for mixing the piece more evident and legible. I loved the depth of the insight into the recording that the Sparkz offered. Although the top end became ever so slightly rolled-off I did not have an impression that ‘air’ was missing, the smoother highs did not rob the Robbery of its sublime transparency.
The devices like Ansuz Sparkz TC2 must be evaluated patiently in the context of your audio set-up and your preferences. It is too easy to wave them off if you fail to hear the difference due to improper placement. But if you do it right then you’ll like what you will be hearing.
When I reviewed Nordost’s Qkoil Qk1 and Qvibe Qv2 units (conceived by the same designer team by the way) I granted them 100% of Audiodrom’s rating for they worked and had a very positive - and easily heard - benefits to the sound. However, with the units like the Nordost or Ansuz the listener will have to be the arbiter in the context of his particular electronics and power grid. Give it a try, you´ll not be disappointed.
Připojené komponenty
- Sources: Accuphase DP-720, McIntosh MCT500 SACD/CD transport + C2600 integrated DAC
- Amplifier: TAD-M2500 MkII, McIntosh pre/power C2600/MC611
- Interconnects and speaker cables: AudioQuest King Cobra, InAkustik Referenz, Ansuz Signalz C2, Ansuz Signalz D2, McIntosh Balanced
- Loudspeakers: TAD Evolution One E1, Sonus Faber Olympica Nova III
- Power conditioning: Shunyata Research Denali, Ansuz C2, Synergistic Research Atmosphere Level 2, Ansuz Darkz
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