GIGAWATT PF-2
Power conditioners
The PF-2 represents the highest model passive power strip in GigaWatt´s portfolioas more sophisticated units are regular power conditioners. In my point of view Adam Szubert found nice balance between overall built and functionality of the strip. It is hefty enough to please the audiophile in us and subtle enough for a very easy placement.
Function and form
The simple yet elegant 3kg bar is measuring 9 x 9 x 42cm and is encased in a steel enclosure coated with structural matt-black paint. Its chassis construction already functions as an outside RFI noise shield, protecting the passive circuitry inside. The manufacturer claims that the power is distributed via pure copper slabs and that used electrical components are selected to his specifications – difficult to argue as the unit is seamless (i.e. no bolts and nuts visible) and sealed from the bottom. Unless you prefer to use an electrical grinder you have no chance to look inside. From one side of the unit there is an IEC socket and other 6 Schuko-type output sockets are on the top. Apparently all their pin-contacts are coated with silver.
Bass management
I liked couple of details with the PF-2. First, the quality of its assembly is top notch and exceeds standards of the industry. Second, you would find two indicator lights on the enclosure – a blue LED indicates that the unit is operational, a red one lets you know that the incoming power cord is attached with incorrect polarity. A nice touch with very practical meaning. Third, manufacturer provides literature enough with each unit to learn about the product and other GigaWatt equipment plus set of rubber feet that can be attached to the bottom of the unit for further mechanical decoupling. Fourth, the power strip comes with the 250,000 EUR guarantee on connected equipment in case the unit fails to protect it from power nasties. And finally fifth, as a bonus, you would receive 1,5m of the proprietary LC-1 power cord. Plug and play – it´s that simple.
To be fair I have to mention the following two dislikes. The blue light is permanently on with quite an intensity. In case the unit is behind a rack I see no issue, but I needed to have it on hand for easy reconnections and the light was way too aggressive in my darkened room. Second issue I had was with the IEC socket – whichever cable I used, the connection was OK, but quite loose. Considering stiffness of most of power cords (including the GigaWatt´s own) it was difficult to keep the male to female straight.
Clarity & delicacy
The presence of the the GigaWatt in the system was readily identifiable. Music (Jeff Buckley’s Grace) acquired a sense of more weight and I was receiving improved spatial information in all directions. Jeff’s voice was now supported by his body unlike before (direct-to-the-wall) when the sound of the voice had been created rather by his mouth than by his chest. Lateral stage became more relaxed and a tad more organized whereas the depth underwent quite a transformation – not that the soundstage was necessarily deeper but individual sources of sound were more distinct and it was more apparent that both the singer and instruments have a 3rd dimension, a body.
With relief I was listening to the closing Forget Her where complexity of instruments from the 3-minute mark was resolved without clumping together. The sibilants of Lilac Wine did not disappear, the focus of the voice had improved, however.
Tonal accuracy
I was listening to the PF-2/LC-1 powered system for 2 weeks. Meanwhile numerous power cords from around the world have found their way into my house (you know that we invited many to participate in our big power cord test). GigaWatt have supplied their reputable LC-2 power cord for this occassion so it would be pity to miss the opportunity to explore if the PF-2 power strip could benefit from power cord swapping.
The LC-1 was born to complement the range of GigaWatt’s line conditioning products. The buyer of any of these is receiving the LC-1 as an extra bonus – the customer is delighted and Adam can be sure that the potential of his devices is not limited by the use of unsuitable power cords. The LC-1 uses 3mm2 copper wires shielded with a tin plated copper foil, which are then isolated by PVC and wrapped in a plastic fibre braiding.
As you can guess, the LC-2 builds upon that with increased cross-section of wires (6mm2), improved geometry and shielding and usage of better performing terminations. Its power plugs are cryogenically treated, demagnetized and galvanically protected from oxidation to keep resistance as low as possible. Also the LC-2 is covered in a carbon black mesh jacket that gives the nice finishing touch to the overall professional design.
Spatial resolution
Through the PF-2/LC-1 Surrender (Elv1s 30 #1 Hits) was nicely focused, the power strip locked the musicians into proper positions within the soundstage, not leaving them wandering around, like when the system was powered directly-from-the-wall. I was enjoying the same song over and over for circa 15 minutes when I disconnected the LC-1 cord and swapped it for the LC-2. Now, let me say, that I was not prepared for such a change! And it is not just a reviewer’s polite statement. Literally everything had improved; the instruments only now came alive and jumped out of the speakers with believable three-dimensionality and their separation in the soundfield grew significantly. While with the LC-1 we had a nicely defined chorus in the background, with the LC-2 there was no doubt that the chorus consists of individual people.
The somewhat ´unisex´sound of the LC-1 became much more balanced tonally with the LC-2, the major improvement however was in terms of its dynamic extension: soft sounds became softer and more textured, loud sounds were louder without any perceivable limitation on the top end and richness of the song just filled the listening room with radiating warmth and emotions.
Having achieved such a state of pure indulgence I cannot but assign my highest recommendation to the GigaWatt power system.
Recommended resellers
HTP Studio, Praha, tel. +420 606 346 822
GigaWatt, Zgierz, Poland
Manufacturer's website: http://www.gigawatt.eu
Associated components
- Sources: Accuphase DP-78
- Amplifiers: Accuphase A-60 a C-11
- Interconnects and speaker cables: Krautwire Fractal, Homegrown Audio DNA, Cardas Clear
- Loudspeakers: Audio Physic Virgo V
- Power conditioning: Nordost Thor (modified), Nordost Valhalla, Gigawatt PC-3
Gallery
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GIGAWATT PF-2
The PF-2 represents the highest model passive power strip in GigaWatt´s portfolioas more sophisticated units are regular power conditioners. In my point of view Adam Szubert found nice balance between overall built and functionality ...
