AudioQuest Niagara 7000 vs. 5000

Alpinist

Alpinist

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Has anyone done a direct comparison of the AudioQuest Niagara 7000 vs. 5000? If so, can you articulate the difference in sound quality?

Thanks,
Ken
 
audio.bill said:
Hey Ken - Thought you may have missed these related threads since they're not in the AQ forum, being in "Power Conditioners & Regulators":
http://www.audioshark.org/power-con...ystem-don-t-call-power-conditioner-11771.html
http://www.audioshark.org/power-conditioners-regulators-24/audioquest-niagra-5000-a-10550.html
http://www.audioshark.org/showthread.php?t=10227&p=187278&viewfull=1#post187278
Click to expand...

Thanks Bill,

I read those threads and there seems to be an issue with tube components being plugged into the 7000’s low current outlets (humming), which go through its transformer. However, the high current outlets on the 7000 don’t go through the transformer. Since my amplifiers are my only components with tubes and are plugged into the high current outlets, in theory, the 7000 should provide more noise reduction to my Select II DAC than the 5000 and still not hum.

Ken
 
Alpinist said:
Thanks Bill,

I read those threads and there seems to be an issue with tube components being plugged into the 7000’s low current outlets (humming), which go through its transformer. However, the high current outlets on the 7000 don’t go through the transformer. Since my amplifiers are my only components with tubes and are plugged into the high current outlets, in theory, the 7000 should provide more noise reduction to my Select II DAC than the 5000 and still not hum.

Ken
Click to expand...
I agree with your logic, but particularly when it comes to power conditioners I would strongly recommend an audition in your system before committing to a purchase.
 
Kingrex said:
Why are you using one on amps?
Click to expand...

Because it is specifically designed to be used with my amps through its high current outlets. It is non-current limiting as it can provide over 90 amps of peak instantaneous current.

Ken
 
Alpinist said:
Thanks Bill,

I read those threads and there seems to be an issue with tube components being plugged into the 7000’s low current outlets (humming), which go through its transformer. However, the high current outlets on the 7000 don’t go through the transformer. Since my amplifiers are my only components with tubes and are plugged into the high current outlets, in theory, the 7000 should provide more noise reduction to my Select II DAC than the 5000 and still not hum.

Ken
Click to expand...

Any power product that adds hum to your system should be a non-starter. The power supplies in your gear were designed to clean the incoming AC from your wall outlets.
 
mep said:
Any power product that adds hum to your system should be a non-starter. The power supplies in your gear were designed to clean the incoming AC from your wall outlets.
Click to expand...

God I wish that were true. If it were the case, power conditioners would not be needed.
 
Kingrex said:
God I wish that were true. If it were the case, power conditioners would not be needed.
Click to expand...

You are an outlier. From what you have stated numerous times, you have all kinds of weird electrical phenomena at your house that even power cleaning products can't get rid of. You said your system always hums. You obviously have some unique issues.
 
mep said:
You are an outlier. From what you have stated numerous times, you have all kinds of weird electrical phenomena at your house that even power cleaning products can't get rid of. You said your system always hums. You obviously have some unique issues.
Click to expand...

Power conditions get rid of humming at my house. Some equipment such as my Rega Osiris benefitted and sounded better with the Isoteck Syncro. A balanced power transformer benefited my Conrad Johnson Premier 140. Neither of those products benefited my front end as they added a lot of Vail or just altered the sound in ways I did not like. My current amps have not responded well to any power conditioners I've tried. But that wasn't the point of my comment. My point was I don't think manufacturers design power conditioning into their gear. If they did design power conditioning into their gear, no one would be purchasing anything from PS audio, Isoteck, Audioquest, Furman ETC.

Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe they all have built in power conditioning. Consumers of external products maybe like to change the sound the manufacturer thought was best.
 
Kingrex said:
Power conditions get rid of humming at my house. Some equipment such as my Rega Osiris benefitted and sounded better with the Isoteck Syncro. A balanced power transformer benefited my Conrad Johnson Premier 140. Neither of those products benefited my front end as they added a lot of Vail or just altered the sound in ways I did not like. My current amps have not responded well to any power conditioners I've tried. But that wasn't the point of my comment. My point was I don't think manufacturers design power conditioning into their gear. If they did design power conditioning into their gear, no one would be purchasing anything from PS audio, Isoteck, Audioquest, Furman ETC.

Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe they all have built in power conditioning. Consumers of external products maybe like to change the sound the manufacturer thought was best.
Click to expand...


Your amps still hum right? That's what you wrote yesterday in your first listening impressions of your new speakers. And yes, manufacturers of high end gear build robust power supplies that are well regulated and that do an excellent job of filtering out noise and hum from the AC input. Many amp manufactures are emphatic that they want their amps plugged straight into the wall. I'm sure you can find gear that has crappy power supplies and wasn't designed by an electrical engineer, but it's best to buy gear that was designed well in the first place and not have to use outboard bandaids IMO.
 
mep said:
Your amps still hum right? That's what you wrote yesterday in your first listening impressions of your new speakers. And yes, manufacturers of high end gear build robust power supplies that are well regulated and that do an excellent job of filtering out noise and hum from the AC input. Many amp manufactures are emphatic that they want their amps plugged straight into the wall. I'm sure you can find gear that has crappy power supplies and wasn't designed by an electrical engineer, but it's best to buy gear that was designed well in the first place and not have to use outboard bandaids IMO.
Click to expand...

I have no idea what amp manufacturers due today. But I 100% agree with your belief in how to power amps.

What about front end gear. Do you believe they also utilize devices to mitigate noise pollution. If so do you also believe all front end gear should be plugged directly into a wall?
 
Kingrex said:
I have no idea what amp manufacturers due today. But I 100% agree with your belief in how to power amps.

What about front end gear. Do you believe they also utilize devices to mitigate noise pollution. If so do you also believe all front end gear should be plugged directly into a wall?
Click to expand...

I don’t use any external power filtering devices in my system. My preference is to plug all gear straight into the wall if possible.
 
Kingrex said:
I have no idea what amp manufacturers due today. But I 100% agree with your belief in how to power amps.

What about front end gear. Do you believe they also utilize devices to mitigate noise pollution. If so do you also believe all front end gear should be plugged directly into a wall?
Click to expand...

I prefer my amps plugged into the Denali 6000T. I plan on trying Transparent Opus Power Cords in the near future and will see if I prefer them into the 6000T or directly into the wall.
 
FYI I believe there was a recent update/change to the 7000......not sure of details
 
I made some major changes since my last post. I traded in my Niagara 7000 for two Niagara 5000’s. The Niagara 5000’s agree much better with my quirky power situation (big swings in voltage and EMI).

Each of my MSB Select 2 power supplies gets its own low current duplex in my first Niagara 5000, which is plugged into my first dedicated 20 amp line. I find the treble and midrange has more ease than the less noise reduction high current outlets, yet retains outstanding dynamics.

My entire network (modem, router, NAS and Roon Nucleus Plus), each device gets its own low current duplex on my second Niagara 5000, which is on my second dedicated 20 amp line. Lastly, each monoblock amplifier and subwoofer monoblock amplifier gets its own high current duplex. Much trial and error to come up with this configuration. I am very pleased with the results.

Ken
 
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