McIntosh MPC500
 

https://www.mcintoshlabs.com/product...roducts/MPC500

McIntosh MPC500
 

I just got the email from McIntosh. With this being protection only, it looks like it would be a nice addition to a PS Audio P15 or P20.

What are the main differences between McIntosh MPC500 and MPC1500?

In addition to everything MPC500 has, MPC1500 has an isolation transformer which is good for common mode noise rejection. Protection circuitry is micro processor controlled which is way superior to MOVs.

MPC500 has inductor and capacitors for differential mode noise reduction, uses MOVs for surges. No common mode noise rejection at all. MOV is similar to a zener diode which will short the circuit when reached a certain threshold. Micro processor controls will monitor current and use relays to physically (and totally) disconnect circuits

Common mode noise = between hot and ground
Differential mode noise = between hot and neutral

As the name suggests, the isolation transformer removes any physical connection between source and load. Expensive power cords make sense if you have your power isolated from the mains.

I am not implying MPC1500 is the best power conditioner but severally superior to MPC500. I think Furman Ref 20 and Torus power units are better than both of them except cosmetics which is understandably attractive on Mcintosh units.

Good info thanks !

Thank you for the explanation!

How would you compare the PS AUDIO PP5 and PP10 to the 500/1500 please?

I am not sure what PS audio means by regeneration. It is a marketing term difficult to understand what it really means in terms of engineering.

Typically an isolation transformer is what is implied as regeneration. Isolation transformer has two windings like other transformers. Ratio of these winding are equal therefor the primary side is equal to secondary side (120v comes in and 120v leaves). There is no physical connection between these two windings and the power is electromagnetically transferred/regenerated at the secondary side. You can have multiple tappings on the secondary side, some larger and some smaller ratio to regulate the voltage. I.e. if primary comes in at 130V then you can use the smaller ratio tapping to your reduce the output to correct 120V.

Perfect sine wave verbiage is used on PS audio website. This implies an inverter but then again, maybe not. Difficult to discriminate due to the marketing language used. It could be a design where the AC voltage is converted to DC and then converter back to AC via a perfect sine wave inverter. This design would be extremely inefficient. An inverter is very fast switching relays that are typically not ok in audiophile equipment. Paul himself does not recommend power coming from an inverter on one of his videos on youtube.

I would like to say an audio amplifier would benefit from an isolation transformer. The power would be cleaned from common mode noise and the impedance would be extremely low on the secondary side of the transformer. This would mean maximum power delivery to the load. Regulation is not that important as most amps would operate within decent tolerances. High reserve current on the isolation transformer also would benefit some power amps.

The ac to dc to ac design would benefit digital sources with its perfect sine wave and extremely accurate voltage output. This would be a small benefit as most of these devices already have switch mode power supplies. Anything that has an analog stage in it could be disturbed from the noise introduced from the inverter.

Perhaps Ps audio has both. Ac to dc to ac then isolation transformer and lc circuits. It is super heavy, it definitely has some transformer in there for sure.

I think for most applications the mpc1500 is adequate. That’s probably why mcintosh did not bother to port the entire design from the torus power unit which they modeled their unit from.

In this context regeneration means that the the incoming AC is filtered and rectified to DC. A high power audio amplifier is then used to create a low distortion 60 Hz Sinusoidal AC output.

This output is transformer coupled and isolated so no need for additional filtering or conditioning.

Tom

This is very interesting. So it’s practically a power amp with autoformers at the output for low impedance. It has a signal generator at its input for 60Hz sine wave.

That’s correct. What I don’t know is if the output transformer is an autoformer or a standard transformer with separate primary and secondary windings. I would guess the latter as it would give you isolation the autoformer won’t. That’s just a guess on my part.

Tom