The difference between the Isotek Gemini and Syncro! A tale about DC
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- čas přidán 7. 09. 2024
- We took an in-depth look at the Isotek Syncro and Gemini. Two completely different products to address power issues in your hifi system. And make life easier for your sensitive hi-fi equipment. What exactly are the differences between these two products? And when do you apply which one? We explain.
Thanks a lot for your great efforts!!! YOU are my better-Amir, without arroagance and better observations in measurements.
Thank you so much especially for all your educational lab videos. It's a pleasure to listen to your honest but always respectful and kind comments about products and your explanations.
Gm ☕️❄️ from Toronto
I run an IFI power supply on both my DAC and streamer …and yes ..they actually did make a change for the better.
Thanks for your dedication to the hobby.
Take care.
Like your aproach . I shielded my mains power outlet inside and out . Used Audiance out let ! Siliconed in for vibration also copper taped outlet cover in and out ! 😮 Whoa same effect as that 1500 dollar isotek ! 😅😊
I dig your videos. Not all objective nor all subjective..a mix of both which to me is the reality of things. Although the objective camp would say that is not reality 😊
Reviewing is finding the balance between sharing your opinion and sharing facts. We try to be clear in that. So thanks for noticing!
In Texas ; Years ago I bought an Equitech balanced AC power supply & have had no sonic issues since . No ground loops , no hum , dead quiet .
Everything has the same ground potential when it is all 100% connected to this unit . I do have a ZeroSurge at the wall into which the BPS connects . USAF veteran - electronics
Balanced filters are great.
Most would get a good sonic upgrade from the Syncro Uni. Is quite a good upgrade. Most products on the market do not solve the DC-problem in a good way (getting rid of dc while not harming inductance and impedance).
There are a lot of different power issues. Synco Uni solves one of them and does it well. It’s designed to have other power cleaning after it in series.
The Gemini solves three of the other problems (isolation between equipment, filters noice in two ways) in an entry level way.
Much more kind of power problems should be addressed and if one choose filtering, then more db than Gemini is recommended.
Don’t forget grounding incoming power mains, chassi grounding, signal grounding, improving grounding effect (better noice sucking effect) and much more power issues.
I liked the video though…
You are right. We have more videos on power. This was a simple video about some differences.
A dcblocker is a good idea to install before an isolation transformer. It can avoid some stress to the core and make it heat up less.
Great job! Keep up the good work!!!
You finally follow in my footsteps. There are cheaper solutions than Isotek and probably better ones.
I have a lot of:
* Schaffner RF/EMI FN9244B (B: medical). Some of 8A and a lot of 3A (Spain: 230 Vac/50 Hz)
* Würth 150 khz ferrites
* DC Blockers with BIG capacitors (one, the prototype, updated with expensive Mundorf 47.000 uF with LOWWW ESR)
- Greetings from the sunny 😎Tarragona (SPAIN/EU) 🤗 -
Hi! Why a re you using medical variant? You dont have PE in your wall socet? Or what is the reason? Looks like with Y caps it should filter better. May be Iam wrong...
From the PDF: Schaffner_datasheet_FN9244
[ FN 9244 B versions comply with the requirements of 1MOP acc. to IEC/EN 60601-1 for creepage and clearance, LEAKAGE CURRENT and
high potential testing ]
@@sergeiu8101
Aggg, my answer was deleted. Short:
PDF -> B: medical -> LEAKAGE CURRENT
What is wrong with leakage current? Why you dont like it?
Security? @@sergeiu8101
I found getting the phase of the power correct to be very important to avoid transformer hum. Both to avoid problems with potential between ungrounded devices, but also some devices will just dump nasty stuff onto the grid is phased incorrectly. At one point I noticed the brighter the image on my LG oled, the louder the transformer hum from my amp 😱 Turning the power plug of the tv eliminated that completely (the tv was only connected to the system via optical, so no galvanic connection). This surprised me as I did not think phasing mattered in devices with switch mode power supplies. I do use a DC blocker, in addition to filtering, which helps but only to a degree. So my coffee maker in the kitchen still gets my transformer singing and in my old flat it was honestly hard to make a dent in the dc related hum.
Brilliant. Thank you! I run my system from a battery with Giandel pure sine wave generator (like a Stromtank for a few hundred dollars) into a Puritan PSM156. However, the Syncro could be worth trying on the power amp which is not fed from battery.
It is not really suited for a power amp...
Syncro is delivering high end performance
Ik had een DC blocker gekocht van ifi. Vond het te droog klinken en high details waren verloren. Meteen teruggestuurd :)))
Please correct me if Im wrong, at 2:35 I thought you said Iso-Tek instructed to put the gemini near the wall and then connect the distribution block to it. Would appreciate if you could confirm.
Been enjoying your channel since your Metrum Pavane days. I also own one and love it. Love the live speaker A/B comparisons too!
I meant the Synchro. Than the Gemini. Thanks for your support.
@@TheAlphaAudio Oh Im a dummy. I was calling the Synchro a Gemini. Ok we're on the same page. I should know better. I have an Iso-Tek Gemini and an Evo3. Looks like my next purchase will be a Synchro to put before the Evo3. I will not put one before my Gemini (thanks to the information contained in this video) since that's where I plug my router and my Mac mini (Roon core). Both use switch mode power supplies which I keep separate from my other gear containing toroidal power supplies. Thanks for the clarification. Cheers!
@@HD-Tech welcome!
My system is 'currently' without any cleanup device in the power line. I used a few filters and DC blockers, but they all seemed to have a negative influence on performance or no detectable difference at all, depending on the selection of devices I connected to the filters/blockers. I have a slight hum in one of the transformers in my transport, but no DC blocker I tried so far seemed to fix that - I am not even sure if DC is the cause of it. Curious what the Syncro test will bring.
All power products should be tested at home. And you should always be careful will.fast conclusions.
Oh so a filter block where you put SMPS will also prevent the SMPS noise to go from the block to the wall/grid and into other products? It's filtering in both directions so to say?
Yes
So Gemini from the wall socket then feed the power to the filtering device (Iso Tek) to kill DC then filter noise?
I would do it the other way around.
So i should take out my SMPS out of my main distribution block. Since I have 1 powering my Ethernet switch.
Yes. Preferably.
@@TheAlphaAudio Hmm tried it, but losed the agresive kick in the bass, I liked. Bass in general wasn't that great. Then again the SMPS was plugged into a AQ niagara 1000. En went in an other audio block but not with a lot of filtering.
O well, you win some and you loose some.
Thank you for all your videos!
I would like to see the sine wave before and after if you can measure it?
The sinewave doesn't change. You need a regenerator for that. I did some extra measurements on a power supply today. You clearly see the effect. You can read the results in the review. It will be live on Monday.
Steven Wilson!
Yeahhhhh!
Hi Jaap, are switch mode PS still having a negative effect when the device is turned off? Like my TV, the decoder or the network switch. Or should we unplug every unused device?
Yes. Sometimes. Because it is not off but in standby.
Is there a safe way to test for DC on the line?
You can use an oscilloscope and a differential probe.