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iFi audio was launched in 2012 and its ultra high-end pedigree dates back a decade further because of its parent company: Abbingdon Music Research (AMR) which produces expensive luxury audio products. AMR saw in 2010 that hi-fi audio was shifting from home ‘static’ speaker systems to Bluetooth and portable ‘dynamic’ headphone setups To serve this growing market, iFi audio was commissioned with one goal: to produce ‘ultra-fidelity’ audio products that push the sonic performance at the envelope while still priced within the mainstream. It began work on a range of small but prodigious personal audio products using AMR’s trickle-down technology. Today, iFi designs and manufactures over 35 different products from its headquarters in Southport, UK. It sources parts from around the world from manufacturers including XMOS (UK), GE Valves (USA), WIMA (Germany) and TDK (Japan). It retails through a global network of dealers and has its own distribution in the USA who serves retailers such as B&H and etailz. iFi AC iPurifier When you listen to music there’s a lot of background noise going on, coming in from the mains. Some noise cannot be missed but there’s also some that is not immediately obvious until it has gone. It comes from your power supply and interference and feedback from the power supply of other devices. Put the AC iPurifier in your set-up and you’ll notice the difference instantly. Music you once thought was clear takes on a new life, filtering out noise you never knew was there and leaving you with pure, cleaner, and undiluted sound. The iFi audio AC iPurifier cleans up the dirty AC mains, detects, and solves annoying mains based electromagnetic interference (EMI), radio frequency interference (RFI), Earth, plus ground issues. An exceptionally user friendly device, just insert into the audio mains, power outlet, or extension block for diagnostics and a 40dB (or 100x) noise reduction. It is a direct upgrade to any audio system. Technologically advanced, it’s an active, not a passive, product so it goes above and beyond and cancels far more noise across the frequency range than other power filters. It is particularly effective at dealing with modern audio systems that have an abundance of varied power supplies, whether it's a switch mode or linear type. The AC iPurifier draws from French military engineering and includes, Active Noise Cancellation to cancel all incoming noise. It can handle 100 volts to 240 volts. With EU and USA 3-pin versions. The UK version comes with adapter to EU version. With a white clean looking chassis made from polyurethane plastic, highly advanced level of electronic parts the AC iPurifier is not only powerful, it’s tough too. Additional Features Intelligent Ground connection There are more than a few AC clean-up devices that add an extra Ground/Earth but only the AC iPurifier has ‘Intelligent Ground’. You can buy the optional extra 4mm ground cable to give the audio system the best possible Ground/Earth but it will ONLY actively provide a Ground/Earth (if it detects the lack of one.* It will not create a ground loop). Polarity and Earth detection When it comes to mains AC, there are two common errors when setting up a system. The first has to do with polarity and the incorrect orientation of USA and EU type mains pins. Intelligent Polarity automatically informs you of incorrect orientation by changing to a red LED. The second error is the a lack of Ground/Earth. In a system where there may or may not be a lack of a Ground/Earth, simply insert the AC iPurifier into the system and it will tell you one way or the other. When the two LEDs light up green everything is in order! Over-Voltage Surge Protection For the rare instances where there is an overvoltage spike (from a mains electricity surge or lightning strike for example), the AC iPurifier will automatically shut off and stop electricity from passing through your system. This should protect your valuable and highly-sensitive mains equipment from harm. Noise Reduction This chart compares the AC iPurifier (green line), which is ACTIVE, versus generic mains filters (red line) which are typically passive. The effective noise reduction difference is much better at -40dB and effective across the frequency range. A passive purifier filters only in the very top-end of the frequency range. ANC+ Technology By generating a signal identical to the noise signal but in the exact opposite phase, it actively cancels all the incoming noise. ANC+ is the perfect ‘antidote’ for power supply noise, the bane of USB audio. The AC iPurifier is the latest product to have onboard ANC. As its name suggests, it ACTIVELY cancels the noise which makes it one of the power accessories, if not the only one, that actively cancels noise. Modular Design to suppress noise With many modern audio systems, there are typically a plethora of mains power supplies. All of these add their own unwanted noise issues and pollute the local mains supply. The design of the AC iPurifier is such that it is even more effective if several are used to ‘contain’ the same type of noisy sources. You can insert into the AC mains wall outlet that supplies the audio system OR insert into the mains extension block for the audio system. Try both locations to discover which has the greatest impact on improved sonics. Tech Specifications Noise reduction:> 40dB (> 100x)Surge Protection:max. 30,000A @ 1,000V/10uSOperating Voltage:90V – 265VSize/Weight: (USA):ø 40mm x 105mm (L)108 (g) / 0.24 (lbs) (EU):ø 40mm x 115mm (L)126 (g) / 0.28 (lbs)
ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION - The AC iPurifier creates an incredibly quiet noise floor from your AC power lines and was designed to be used in ANY mains powered audio / video system while it reduces noise without audible side effects and does not hinder dynamics
REDUCES HUM - It only actively provides an earth/ground if your system needs one and will not create a ground loop reduces hum or buzz issues on A/V systems with no ground or earth (additional cable required to connect ground to your audio chain)
WORKS IN ANY SETUP - Where extension blocks, power strips, extension cords, surge protectors, or outlet extenders are used, the AC iPurifier can be used to isolate certain types of power supplies for the maximum noise reduction and the design is such that it is even more effective if several are used to ‘contain’ the same type of noisy sources so try in different locations to discover which has offers the most improved sonics
SURGE PROTECTION - It protects from voltage surges so if it detects a power surge from the power receptacle it will automatically cut off, protecting your valuable and highly sensitive equipment in parallel from harm
FOR ANY AUDIO SYSTEM - Perfect for use in systems at home, office or professional settings and is truly a remarkable product in systems such as home theaters, listening rooms, turntable setups, recording studios, or anywhere you would want to benefit from an easy way to experience better sound
It was a couple of months ago that I first became aware of the iFi AC iPurifier through the end user reports on several of the computer audio related websites that I frequent. When considering how to best implement and test these devices within my all digital computer based A/V system I decided that it would be convenient to place one AC iPurifier in each of the isolated ground hospital grade duplex outlets that my 4 pieces of digital equipment draw their power from.In order to get an idea of the contribution made by each individual AC iPurifier I staggered their deployment of one in each of the 4 duplex outlets that my PS Audio Extension Link AC distribution hub has which provides AC power to the entire A/V system allowing the use of one AC iPurifier in each duplex outlet for each piece of equipment. The following description describes the order in which I installed the AC iPurifiers along with a brief evaluation of the change that each AC iPurifier brought to the overall audio and video performance within my A/V system:1) I installed the first of the 4 AC iPurifiers in the outlet which the video monitor with it’s Switch Mode Power Supply (SMPS) uses to draw it’s AC power. I immediately noticed a substantial improvement in picture quality along with an accompanying improvement in audio playback quality as well.2) Next I installed an AC iPurifier directly into the same duplex outlet that my Mac Mini computer which supplies audio over USB and video over HDMI is plugged into. I have read many times that computers designed for general use like the Mac Mini use very noisy Switch Mode Power Supplies and because of this the best advice is that they should never be used in conjunction with sensitive purpose built A/V equipment. The introduction of the AC Purifier soon offered a very clear and undeniable confirmation of this advice.As with most of you reading this review I have spent many years experimenting with ways to improve both my audio and video playback quality keeping in mind that everything we see and hear from our A/V systems was once AC power coming from the wall. That said, the AC iPurifier which was used directly as a ‘firewall’ in parallel with the Mac Mini at the shared outlet it uses to draw AC power brought a level of improvement that in my estimation is in inverse proportion to what must be the huge amount of RFI and leakage current pollution that this general use computer otherwise distributes back into the collective supply of AC power which is shared by all of the other A/V equipment. I am very reluctant in making extraordinary claims, but I in this case I must admit that the improvement here was definitely on an order of magnitude allowing both the audio and video equipment to shine and for the first time finally be able to operate ever so much closer to their original intended design capability once the AC power that the entire A/V system uses was cleaned up by the AC iPurifier.3) The third AC iPurifier deployment was to the outlet that the Wadia 151 Power DAC with it’s SMPS uses. This device processes PCM in S/PDIF format into PWM which is subsequently L/C filtered to produce a speaker level signal. The perceived improvement here was very much on the same level as was noticed with the treatment of the video monitor where there again was an appreciable improvement in overall sound quality accompanied by a noticeable improvement in picture quality as well as the general supply of AC power was once again filtered from the RFI and leakage current that the Power DAC with it’s SMPS was creating which in turn benefits all of the equipment using the now less polluted supply of AC power.4) The SOtM DDC which converts galvanically isolated PCM over USB to S/PDIF format over Fused Silica Glass Toslink for processing by the Power DAC is the only piece of equipment in the system that uses a Linear Power Supply (LPS). I mention this because the deployment of the AC iPurifier to the duplex outlet which this LPS draws AC power from was the only instance in this evaluation where there seemed to be no discernible change in the performance of this device or any other equipment in the A/V system. My opinion about this is that this LPS is probably not creating the same large amounts of RFI and leakage current pollution as the Switch Mode Power Supplies of the other 3 pieces of equipment are and subsequently there is simply little or no noticeable improvement for the AC iPurifier to make in this deployment.Conclusion: Three of the 4 iFi AC iPurifiers which I installed over a week’s time have collectively proven to provide the greatest and most transformational improvement thus far to both the audio and video quality of my all digital A/V system which I have been working diligently to improve for many years. I know these truly spectacular improvements as the single most impressive set of enhancements I have ever seen or heard in the performance of my A/V system and the thanks go to the AC iPurifier’s adept elimination of the copious amounts of RFI and leakage current pollutions that were once being spewed back into the supply of AC power severely compromising the performance of the equipment. The AC iPurifiers have now enabled that same equipment to function strikingly closer to how it was originally designed to perform and in this case resulting in a true ‘component level’ upgrade.
