PSU1 - Enigma

I have just received a PSU1-Enigma on loan from John C to try with my Revelation M. I have been intrigued by the idea of the Enigma since Graham announced it some time ago but assumed that it would be of little benefit to me. After all, I was more than happy with my Revelation M and PSU1, and anyway, the Enigma seemed to be aimed at Accession MC users. More recently, however, a number of forum members have commented on using the PSU1-Enigma with products other than the Accession, including the Reflex to which my Revelation is closely related. An itch was developing that I needed to scratch!

I should clarify that the pointy end of my system comprises a Dynavector low output MC, stepped-up through a Rothwell MCL SUT and then to the Revelation M with PSU1. The arrival at this combination of components was something of an (irrelevant) accident but it is a system that has served me well for nearly 10 years and with which I would happily continue. That said, however, is there more to be had? I used to work in an area where much effort went into trying to get that extra 0.1% performance out of something given the right set of conditions. I guess that the current term is 'marginal gains'. So, does the PSU1-Enigma provide a marginal gain over the standard PSU? Is it possible to squeeze that extra bit of performance from my Revelation through the use of a different power supply?

Well, the PSU1-Enigma arrived a couple of days ago. On inspection it looks much like the standard item, well-made, hefty. The most obvious difference is the DC cable connector and the fact that the DC cable is a rather snazzy affair, sheathed not unlike the CuSat-50 I use throughout my system. Time to start testing.

I've never been very good at A/B comparison type tests, fearing that I won't be properly objective and already biased towards what I want regardless of the evidence. That said, in the first instance I decided to concentrate on 3 records that would cover a range of styles, which I would play on the existing set-up and then again on the set-up incorporating the PSU1-Enigma. Beyond that, I would play as much as possible across my record collection just to see what I felt about the new set-up.

First step, power up the Enigma and leave it to warm up. While this was warming I played the 3 records using my existing system to remind myself what they are like. They represent a cross section of music and are good recordings, something that will put a system through its paces. After this re-familiarisation I changed over the PSUs and left the Enigma again to settle for a couple of hours. Then I played the 3 records again. 

I had to remind myself that it is the Revelation that is doing the work, as before but, is the PSU1-Enigma allowing that extra bit of performance to be squeezed out of it? Well, initial thoughts  -  there isn't a night and day difference and, to be fair, I'd have been shocked if there was but, there was something. There was definitely a reduction in background noise from the already very low to the almost non-existent. Beyond that though .... hmmm... time to leave it to settle in. 

It's a couple of days since I drafted the above paragraph and I've just played my test records again, along with several other records. There's definitely something in this. The sound stage is that little bit wider with much more clearly defined depth, front to back. On a symphonic piece, for example, the positioning of the brass and woodwind relative to the strings was clear to 'see'. This is looking (sounding) very positive and over the next few days I shall explore more in the hope of reaching a conclusion by next week. More then and sorry to ramble if you've got this far!