connected-fidelity AC-2K Studio balanced mains supply

What will you hear with the AC-2K balanced unit installed?

The music will sound significantly more natural, digital sources flow more musically, the space around instruments and the 'holographic' impression of the musical stage will grow. The silences in the music will seem blacker because the noise floor has dropped. With A/V equipment, improvements in depth of colour with clearer images are to be seen.

The AC-2K is a system upgrade unlike any other.

Balanced mains power works like balanced signal lines, there is a very low noise floor due to the cancelling out of 'noise'. Both balanced mains and balanced signal lines are used extensively in recording and radio/TV transmission studios to offer the lowest noise floor. The benefits of this approach used in professional installations is now available for home audio and AV systems in a form best suited to home audio and A/V.

When balanced power drives your home audio or A/V equipment:

1. The transformers in your equipment work more efficiently, so offering the very cleanest power source to both analogue and digital audio electronics.

2. Partial isolation of the incoming Live and Neutral mains lines, so there is a degree of ‘conditioning’, with reduced DC entering the balanced supply.

3. The earth output is not carrying any AC/DC 'noise' often found on the home earth line. ‘Noise' from EMI/RF is not picked up in your power cables and entering the audio signal path.

4. Power cables from the AC-2K to your equipment are less critical. That is not to say that better cables might improve sound quality, but fundamentally the RF and other noise usually picked up from un-shielded mains cables is cancelled out, so more expensive shielded cables become unnecessary.

It can be used to power some or all your equipment. The most beneficial effect is heard powering the lower signal level analogue and digital equipment, like DAC's, CD players, streamers, phono-amplifiers, pre-amplifiers etc.

The benefits do extend to power amplifiers but less obvious than with source and pre-power components. Clearly, if you have an integrated pre/power amplifier, it will be beneficial to use balanced mains to power it. Because power amplifiers up to 1,000W output do benefit from the balanced power source, we recommend they are powered from the AC-2K.

The AC-2K balanced mains unit is designed to be situated in the listening room connected to a mains wall socket, the balanced output then taken to your components. You can use your existing distribution block with any passive ‘noise’ controlling components it may include.

The AC-2K is broadly a ‘fit and forget’ component so you can enjoy the highest quality sound from your audio or sound and vision. The design employs the best ‘audiophile’ engineering techniques and treatments.

Inside the substantially damped non-magnetic casework there is anti-surge protection (not in circuit when powered up). A 30 Amp electronic double pole power switch internally switches on after the massive 2.0Kva transformer has powered up.

The input and output sockets are of ‘audiophile’ quality, with Gold plated connecting pins.

There is a switchable power supply monitor on the front face showing the balanced power output voltage.

Components including the transformer are cryogenically treated to improve efficacy, ensuring maximum power delivery and ‘speed’. After the cryogenic treatment, the transformer performs like a far larger non-treated transformer, it is mounted internally on a substantial non-magnetic anti-vibration platform, mechanically isolating it from the casework - and your room.

We suggest you use the AC-2K unit to power all your audio equipment, including power amplifiers up to 1,000W alongside your other components. More powerful amplifiers may either be connected directly to a second wall socket or from a second AC-2K unit, further isolating it from the rest of your audio system.

Do not compare the AC-2K with cheaper alternatives, through extensive listening tests we are sure our AC-2K comfortably outperforms other balanced power products on the market. A 2 year guarantee covering faulty materials and construction is offered.

Press Reviews

Stereonet - here
Paul Rigby, The Audiophile Man - here

Owner (customer) feedback

‘I am amazed that the balanced mains transformer has so markedly enhanced the sound of my system which plays through occasionally lean-sounding full range single driver horn loudspeakers. There is satisfyingly more middle and bass weight and impact, more of everything, in fact, and nothing negative. I am very happy with the unit.’

Owner (customer) feedback

‘The AC-2K is well, just brilliant. You are dead spot on, digital performance has erupted into a superb sound-stage outside of speakers and front to back. Clarity, voice and ALL instruments are clearly defined and separated. The whole frequency range has blossomed. Stunning. BETTER still for me, the Vinyl side has equally improved, and I think actually more than CD.Noise from the tranny is miniscule, so no bother there either. All in all excellent. Thank you so much, really mean it - thank you.’

Owner (customer) feedback

‘wanted to let you know how pleased I am with the AC-2K and it has made a significant improvement to the sound on my system. There is an authority to the music that wasn’t there before.’

Owner (customer) feedback

‘I just wanted to let you know that the AC-2K has made a profound difference to my enjoyment of my system. I am actually quite shocked at the scale of the improvements, given the level of mains conditioning I already had in the system. I think the previous devices are still making a contribution and perhaps allowing the AC-2K to perform optimally in my environment. If I was starting afresh the AC-2K would be the first unit I would install, perhaps even before purchasing the source and amplification (if that makes sense)!’