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ADD-Powr Wizard in the house!
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The Company
Coherence Systems, the parent company under which ADD-Powr products are manufactured, has apparently been around for a while, though I'd never heard of them before I learned of the ADD-Powr line. It's my understanding that Bill Stierhout, the owner and designer of ADD-Powr line, began in the audio industry in 1999 with two products, the Quantum Symphony and Symphony Pro. I've been intrigued with ADD-Powr products from the very first time I read Ivan's intro to the products here on the site, and, in phone conversations with Ivan I'd gotten the sense of unbridled enthusiasm over what are decidedly some very unconventional products. Unconventional in the sense that these products do not operate in the usual way we are accustomed to when it comes to line conditioners, filters, and so on. We expect to connect the product "inline" in some way, where the AC power goes in one end and comes out the other, "conditioned" or "regenerated, if you will. There are many excellent products that operate in this way-I have a few of them myself. The ADD-Powr products simply plug into the wall at or near the system to be "treated", and that's it. They work their "magic" from there. The "ADD" in the ADD-Powr name stands for "Algorithm Digital Defined Power". The company's founder, Bill Stierhout, the owner and designer of ADD-Powr line, began in the audio industry in 1999 with two products, the Quantum Symphony and Symphony Pro. This I've gathered from other sources around the web. The Products Eau2 Last January, I decided to get my feet wet a bit, and try one of the ADD-Powr entry-level products in my primary system. I was tickled when the little box arrived with an Eau2 Harmonic resonator arrived. I plugged this little fellow in right next to where my system is plugged in (actually where my PS Audio P12 is plugged in, with a FuruTech Flux-50NCF inline. I thought I was "done" with power conditioning at the time I purchased those devices. But I found that the Eau2 improved thigs even further! It only took a day (or less) before I knew that I'd be keeping the Eau2. I posted a review at that time, which can be read here: https://www.audioaficionado.org/showthread.php?t=49386 The Wizard Since that time, I've been busy with other major system upgrades; but in the back of my mind I knew one day I'd want to give the more powerful Wizard a try. That day arrived two days ago, with the arrival of my new Wizard. I t is very basic in appearance, with no knobs or switches on the front. As with other ADD-Powr products, it is completely passive and simply plugs into the wall. It can even be hidden, if rack or system real estate is at a premium, as is often the case. If it is to be displayed, it is certainly attractive enough to do so: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e80ab2f1_b.jpg The back of the unit is quite plain, with really only an IEC power cord connection, and one blue status LED. According to ADD-Powr, this LED remains lit as the algorithmic cycle is completed, which occurs approximately once a minute. Once this cycle is completed, the light extinguishes, until the next cycle begins. For a more detailed explanation on how the Wizard actually works, see the file I've attached from a paper that was included with my unit. I guess in my excitement to get started, I failed to take a photo of the rear of my unit. Here is an internet photo: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...c3fe2c8c_b.jpg Placement I was tempted to display my Wizard next to my McIntosh MP100 phono stage, under my turntable platform. But I wasn't quite ready to relinquish this space, and ultimately decided to stash mine next to my system, somewhat behind the left loudspeaker system, near where other power devices reside. I situated it beneath my PS Audio Dectect, where it fits nicely. I plugged it in the same outlet where my eau2 had been plugged in (I plan to utilize my eau2 in one of my other systems). https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...b7bfa5b4_b.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...1dac765e_b.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...cf8ee401_b.jpg Listening impressions Now that I had the unit situated to my liking, it was time to fire things up and listen. To be honest, I was a bit skeptical. But....Holy Cow! When I powered up, my first listen was just some music on the radio. I could tell IMMEDIATELY that something was different-the bass seemed deeper, the imaging was deeper, wider, and more dimensional (holographic). This was all in the first few seconds. Some have said they have noticed the system seems "louder". I can see how one could get that impression, but I attribute it more to a more dynamic presentation. Moreover, as I think I also read somewhere, instruments seem to emerge from a blacker background, with more clarity and delineation. I believe this is exactly right. Coherence says on their sheet that the product "may add as much as 1 to 2 db or more electrical and acoustical energy to the system". While I've never really heard a product benefit described quite this way, once you hear what the Wizard does, it makes sense. I'm not sure it is really quantifiable ("1 to 2db") but there is certainly more energy, a more lifelike presentation, and more realism. A LOT more. I spent quite a few hours listening yesterday and last night, enjoying every minute. The increased delineation of instruments becomes really important with music that has a lot of energy to begin with, a lot of instruments going on, where things may tend to "smear" a little. I'm literally hearing details I hadn't heard in recordings I've listened to many, many times. Since I'd added my new Turntable rig a few months ago, much of my listening had been with vinyl. I was almost neglecting my McIntosh MCD/MDA1000 combo. Yesterday I did more CD listening than I probably have in the last 3 or 4 months, or however long it has been. Let's just say I KNOW my digital music sounded great before, but not THIS good! And certain vinyl selections sound simply flabbergasting. Conclusion I am thoroughly impressed with the ADD-Powr Wizard. If anyone has even an inkling of curiosity (and even if you don't :-) ) I say...try it! I seriously doubt you'll be disappointed. I can't wait to finish writing this, so I can get back to listening! :yes: :yes: Other ADD-Powr products There are a variety of ADD-Powr products, and I'm not up on them all. I do know that the next step up the food chain is the Sorcer, and even more powerful unit. I believe this is intended to be located near or at the whole house power source (panel). Perhaps Bill or Ivan can chime in here with more details on this and more ADD-Powr products. I would also encourage anyone interested to go back and read Ivan's earlier post describing the dramatic improvements than can be realized with these very unique products: https://www.audioaficionado.org/showthread.php?t=47482 Note: I believe there is one misprint on the sheet included with my Wizard. The sheet states the dimensions of the unit as 12.0" x 8.0" x 2.0". My unit measures 17.0" x 10.0" x 2.0". Thanks for reading folks! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: |
Pete… so glad to read that you are enjoying your new Wizard. :yes:
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Pete..., a very nice review! :thumbsup:
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I too have their product.
Does using an upgraded power cord help much. Maybe just a medium priced cord...... |
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Can't get enough
Well, forgive me but I'm just going to have to jump back in here and rant and rave some more about the impact this product has had on my primary system. I really had to force myself to quit last night, well past my bedtime. If I weren't hearing it for myself, I wouldn't have believed it. In nearly every case, the moment I start a new track on either CD or vinyl, from the very first note or instrumental sound I can hear an improvement in the timbre and character of the instrument, sound, or voice. Last night, I pulled out my CD of Dido: Life for Rent, which I hadn't played in a while. I was absolutely astonished by the realism, depth, spaciousness and overall quality of the presentation. I really don't even think we can call this a "tweak". It is, for me, a quantum leap in performance. This, when my system was already sounding very, very good. I believe this product can and will make any good stereo system much better. I almost feel like those of us sitting here using this product have an "unfair" advantage over those who are not. It makes things that much better. I'm also getting the sense that things are actually improved in my other systems by its installation-at least I believe so with my office system. ADD-Powr does state that the Wizard "changes the quality of the AC line from the entry point at the circuit breaker box of the home or commercial space". Perhaps this accounts for the apparent improvements in my other systems.
As I was listening last night to some CD's that I hadn't played perhaps in a little while-but not that long ago-I was attempting to account for any other factors that could explain why that particular CD could now be sounding that much better-and each time the only conclusion I could reach was: The Wizard. I would add also another observation that a user mentioned in a review that I read. The increased emotion one experiences in the music is something you have to hear to understand. The reviewer described "an intense emotional connection". I believe this very much describes the experience, and it is hard to explain. The effect strains credibility... I am very intrigued by how these products work, even though I don't fully understand it, not yet anyway. I'll be doing more reading up on it for sure, including (and maybe especially?) the Fourier transform concept that is discussed in another paper included with my device. However it actually works, I can tell you it works well. Very, very well. Okay, that's enough ranting and raving....for now. :thumbsup: |
Pete, you have me curious now.
I want to try this in our system... But I only see an Italian dealer in Europe. My dealer has something a bit similar, CAD, but that's way more expensive. Or can master Ivan do something for us poor Europeans? :D |
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And answered, after yet another too busy day. :thankyouspin:
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Haha Pete! I was hoping so, but in fact I knew already. :yes: |
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Pete..., I'll purchase this early next year. :thumbsup: |
Hello All. I’m a little late to the party with regard to Add-Powr products but I’d just like to echo the comments by Vintage Pete in his review and evaluation of the Wizard. After much discussion with Masterlu, and you’re probably aware of his thoughts on these devices, I decided to take the plunge. I can only speak for myself, but each and every recommendation Ivan has given me brought great improvement to my system. The Wizard arrived promptly but it sounded like “a screw was loose” within the unit. I reached out to Bill Stierhout, the man behind the curtain who designed and built these units. Bill was responsive and talked me through the issue that was literally only a loose screw on the chassis. He initially offered several generous remedies but all I wanted was to hear this in my system! (Not only is Ivan at the top of the customer service ladder, the people behind the gear he recommends are too). The Wizard just plugs into the wall….. That’s it. I’m sure everyone reading this knows that but the utter simplicity bears repeating. The effects are immediate and once heard, won’t be easy to do without. For me, it was another level of “realism”. Everything just sounds more vivid and natural. The soundstage became larger and even more independent from the speakers than I had heard it before. The effects increased after a few days with the Wizard being powered up. Well worth the investment for me. A 30 day return window eliminates the risk but I can now see why they never get sent back.
I was so impressed with the Wizard I took another leap and purchased a Symphony I/O. This is a USB and Ethernet signal “Harmonizer”. It does for the digital signal what the Wizard does for the power in your system. Bill Stierhout tried to explain it to me. I say he tried because my scientific background in this area is quite limited. I’m not in the “show me the measurements” crowd. I’m only interested in how it sounds. The I/O stands for In/Out and is implemented like a switch. The sense of realism and natural presentation increased again for digital. I couldn’t be happier with these devices and will keep an eye out for additional products from Coherence/Add-Powr. Put simply, they just work. Thanks Bill! And thank you to Ivan! |
Ben… Outstanding! :ok:
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BTW....I too had a loose screw in the unit upon arrival. Don't know what's up with that.... :dunno: Congrats and enjoy! :thumbsup: |
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Wow. I had a screw loose in my Sorcer also, a couple of years ago… |
Not trying to turn this into a loose screw topic, but I also had one on my Wizards arrival.
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What a coincidence, I’ve been told I have a screw loose! :D
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Seriously, one has to wonder what's up with that. I found I wasn't alone with the loose screw thingy at the time I bought my Wizard. Now it seems we're coming out of the woodwork...:scratch2: |
Catching up and Yes, My Wizard was also loose as a goose. If I remember correctly, the top was loose - barely secured, and after that I found multiple screws that were loose. It’s been two + years since I installed lt.
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Thanks for reading my post and for the kind response. In all seriousness, your comments regarding the Wizard weighed heavily on my decision to give it a go. My username, Clyde2, was originally bestowed upon me many, many years ago by my daughter when she was 5 years old. (She is into her mid 20s now. Not sure how that happened…) At that time I decided to employ it as my username for a different audio site whose name I refuse to pollute AA with! For consistency and simplicity, I decided to keep it across the board. My actual name, as you may have guessed, is Ben. Very interesting comments by several members about the Add-Powr units arriving with loose hardware. I’ll admit, given the Wizard is obviously and exclusively a “power” device, I was reluctant to use it if there was a potentially dangerous flaw. My worst case scenario fears were unfounded. I’m very thankful Bill Stierhout was kind enough to be on the phone with me and talk me through some “surgery” on the unit during which I discovered it was only a screw from the chassis. That issue was rectified immediately and the Wizard went in. Like Pete said, I’m not taking it out. Thanks Pete and everyone else here on AA. I have found this site to be by far the most enjoyable and informative I have had the pleasure of reading. Happy 4th! Ben aka Clyde2 |
Ben....to be honest, I don't even recall for sure but it seems to me that it was a threaded standoff or something that was rattling around inside my Wizard when it arrived. Like you, I was uneasy about it so I opened her up. It seems to me it was that there was a loose piece, a standoff or something, and maybe a companion screw was missing. What I do remember for sure was that this hardware was to hold one corner of a circuit board, and I think my intent was to one day find the screw I needed at work, and one day address it. I put the cover back on, began my evaluation, and never got back to it. At the end of the day, it wasn't a big deal. I think if my unit were opened, we'd see that the one corner of that circuit board is still not secured.
What is strange is that so many of us have had this same experience, with hardware clacking around in these units when they arrive. That really isn't a good thing, it appears to be a very basic QC deficiency. Perhaps Bill should consider using some mild, reversible thread locker on the internal hardware to prevent it. It's obviously happening a lot. The good news is, we have all shared another common experience, that being we've all experienced the very positive impact the Add-Powr devices have had in our systems. It's really nothing short of remarkable, especially when we consider how ridiculously simple the integration is. Congratulations again, Ben...and enjoy, as I know you will. :yes: |
Just another quick thought regarding the Wizard. While the improvements already discussed are still readily apparent, I was doing some listening a little while back and had a random thought about grounding it to my Shunyata Altaira Chassis Hub. I sent an email to Bill Stierhout asking him his thoughts. As usual, he replied quickly but was unsure if grounding the Wizard would be effective because it operates outside the “signal path”. I decided to check the Wizard with a multimeter according to the Shunyata instructions and determined the chassis screws are connected to its chassis ground. Using a DIY grounding cable I made to utilize the ground Post on my Denali some time ago (before Altaira) I connected it to the CG hub. In my system, the result was another lowering of the noise floor and increased dynamics. Shunyata definitely has it right when focusing on the removal of “noise”. If any of you are inclined to give this a try, with a CG hub or PC grounding post, I recommend it. It’s not a significant commitment in terms of time or resources and the payoff could be well worth it. If not, you can say you gave it a shot. Not sure why I decided to try it, but I’m very happy I did.
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Outstanding, thanks for sharing.
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Altaira is my next stop....:yes:
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You will not regret it! |
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All "silliness" aside, I've found the Altaira to be one of most important foundational "components" for a system I've yet experienced. I think that the majority of folks that bought them would say they're transformational in what they do to make a system quieter, more accurate, and most importantly, much more "natural and organic" and thus, musically engaging. I'm personally of the view I'd go down on the specification of the DAC or pre and put those funds towards an Altaira set-up; that's how foundational I find this sytem to be. Just my 2˘. :thumbsup: Presently running a segmented system with one SG hub dedicated to the signal components' "front end", the Lumin P1 (which functions as my streamer, DAC, and preamp) and phono stage, and one solely dedicated to the Constellation integrated amp. https://photos.imageevent.com/puma_c...Pic-and-TT.jpg |
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I now have Altaira on all but one system; and that’s getting ordered this week before the pricing could change.
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I'll just add that the new "little" Gemini 4-outlet power distributor (which is a great PD, BTW) also has a "subsystem" built into it with 4 ground terminals that provides CG Altaira-specification ground-plane noise reduction. It's great for headphone amps and DACs, small systems, and also for remote server room/network closet applications, which is how I use mine. Here's a shot it sitting on top of the P1's SG Altaira, simply because it was an easy and well-lit place to "stage it" for a product shot, as it were. https://photos.imageevent.com/puma_c...-Panel-1_1.jpg Photo of the rear panel. Gemini provides as much AC mains noise-reduction as the original Triton V1, which was a breakthrough at the time. The four terminals along the bottom provide the Altaira CG ground-plane noise reduction. Each terminal is fully isolated from the other, as well. https://photos.imageevent.com/puma_c...Rear-Panel.jpg It then was set up in the RSR (Remote Server Room). https://photos.imageevent.com/puma_c...i-wih-CGCs.jpg Alita (my Akasa-cased NUC), EtherREGEN, and my Pace router are all powered by Gemini. Alita and ER are in Zone 1, and the dirty Pace router is in Zone 2 (which is fully isolated from Zone 1). There's also ground-plane noise reduction provided by Gemini by connecting Alita, ER and the Pace router to it's CG GP-NR system with Alpha and Venom CGCs (chassis ground cables). The Altaira-subsystem really provides a notable improvement in audio quality for these applications, because devices like "consumer-grade" internet routers (e.g. my AT&T Pace router) and the like are really dirty when it comes to ground plane noise. Altaira functionality really helps out here...:thumbsup: |
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