Venom Defender

still-one

still-one

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Apr 5, 2013
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SE Michigan
I just added a Shunyata Venom Defender to my system. I had been dealing with a very slight buzz/hum coming from one amp for some time. I just plugged the unit into a empty receptacle where my amps are connected and viola', silence. This is the best bang for the buck piece of gear I have acquired.
 
Sweet! Congrats Jim! I will be looking for something similar in the near future. I will be sure to check it out.
 
I tried one in my system (I have no buzz/hum), and it did nothing to improve SQ.
 
Most likely system dependant. Of course, it is only $99, so don't expect Triton or Cyclops noise reduction performance.
 
1_m2_500_500.jpg
 
IMO, if you've got buzz/hum and this thing makes an improvement, you've got something wrong with your AC outlets.
 
mauidan said:
IMO, if you've got buzz/hum and this thing makes an improvement, you've got something wrong with your AC outlets.
Click to expand...
It isn't the outlets. It is the "trash" in my lines. Even though all of my gear is on dedicated lines those lines still are fed from a sub panel connected to the main panel which is connected to a whole house back-up generator transfer switch. Those panels are dealing with 111 recessed lights many of which are on noisy dimmers, several UPS units which feed crap back into lines, a whole house surge protector, and all of the motors in everyones home. Why would I spend more to address something a $200 add on addressed?
 
Jim - have you measured the line noise you have and quantified the decrease? I recommend the Entech Line Noise Analyzer. Only my APC S20 took line noise down to 0.000001%. Many snaky audiophile products I tried did little to nothing in actually, quantifiably, reducing line noise. Unless we can actually measure line noise, it remains quite subjective. A good line noise analyzer is worth it's wait in gold IMO and takes all the guess work out - and it's not that expensive. They frequently pop up on eBay and there is even a video on YouTube to show you how to use it. It's certainly not difficult at all.

In addition to the APC S20 which I use for all my sources/preamp, I also tested and now use with very good success, the MIT Z-Duplex wall outlets. Not inexpensive by any means, and a real SOB to get into some wall outlet pockets, but they have technology which really works to reduce line noise, without affecting sonics. Many of the other outlets I tried were nothing more than glorified hospital grade outlets. All of them measured the same as a regular old hospital grade outlet, because, although they looked pretty, they didn't really have any real technology to do what we need them to do! The MIT Z-Duplex does. And I use those for my amps. They don't cut out 100% of the noise, but definitely 90-95% - measured.

The Ansuz SPARKZ and the Ansuz Mainz 8 also had good measured results, not great, but good. I've tested a lot of products, and even ones costing $5000-$10,000 that did little to nothing to decrease measured noise! One product, which shall remain nameless, actually INCREASED measured noise!

I wonder how many companies out there designing and VOICING gear have noisy lines?
 
Mike
I have my pre and sources connected to a APC S15. This unit outperformed both PS Audio and Richard Gray Products that I tried against it. The S15 also has battery back-up which was key when I previously had a couple of music servers in the rack. I have it hidden behind my credenza so that most cables are hidden.

I will look for the Entech unit you noted and watch the video.
Thanks
 
mauidan said:
I tried one in my system (I have no buzz/hum), and it did nothing to improve SQ.
Click to expand...

Same here. It was returned to the dealer for a refund. There was also no electrical standards compliance for use in Australia. It's supply was as an intended accessory for the Venom PDU.

I think you are better off with the Furutech inline power filters. Even thinking of purchasing some Flow-15 Plus to hang off other appliances eg. fridge, washing machine...
 
Mike,

According to the Entech specifications I could find online "This meter is a measuring instrument capable of monitoring the radio frequency noise 300KHz-700KHz present on a 120VAC 60HZ power outlet. The meter's speaker projects the amplified demodulated AM RF noise present on the power line under test."

In the last edition of his reference book on grounding and shielding for instrumentation Ralph Morrison refers that during the last ten years the electronics equipment and the interference spectrum changed a lot, moving the critical zones to much higher frequencies. I can easily accept that the Entech analyzer will not be able to measure the effects of the current top high performance mains cleaning and grounding devices used in the high-end audio.

IMHO unfortunately our ears must still be our instruments on these matters.
 
microstrip said:
Mike,

According to the Entech specifications I could find online "This meter is a measuring instrument capable of monitoring the radio frequency noise 300KHz-700KHz present on a 120VAC 60HZ power outlet. The meter's speaker projects the amplified demodulated AM RF noise present on the power line under test."

In the last edition of his reference book on grounding and shielding for instrumentation Ralph Morrison refers that during the last ten years the electronics equipment and the interference spectrum changed a lot, moving the critical zones to much higher frequencies. I can easily accept that the Entech analyzer will not be able to measure the effects of the current top high performance mains cleaning and grounding devices used in the high-end audio.

IMHO unfortunately our ears must still be our instruments on these matters.
Click to expand...

It won't measure 20hz to 20khz. It's picking up where the RF noise is on your line and it's much more accurate than the old "I think it sounds better." Here is a little article: http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/1007/hifi_tuning_destroyer.htm


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Mike said:
Jim - have you measured the line noise you have and quantified the decrease? I recommend the Entech Line Noise Analyzer. Only my APC S20 took line noise down to 0.000001%. Many snaky audiophile products I tried did little to nothing in actually, quantifiably, reducing line noise. Unless we can actually measure line noise, it remains quite subjective. A good line noise analyzer is worth it's wait in gold IMO and takes all the guess work out - and it's not that expensive. They frequently pop up on eBay and there is even a video on YouTube to show you how to use it. It's certainly not difficult at all.

In addition to the APC S20 which I use for all my sources/preamp, I also tested and now use with very good success, the MIT Z-Duplex wall outlets. Not inexpensive by any means, and a real SOB to get into some wall outlet pockets, but they have technology which really works to reduce line noise, without affecting sonics. Many of the other outlets I tried were nothing more than glorified hospital grade outlets. All of them measured the same as a regular old hospital grade outlet, because, although they looked pretty, they didn't really have any real technology to do what we need them to do! The MIT Z-Duplex does. And I use those for my amps. They don't cut out 100% of the noise, but definitely 90-95% - measured.

The Ansuz SPARKZ and the Ansuz Mainz 8 also had good measured results, not great, but good. I've tested a lot of products, and even ones costing $5000-$10,000 that did little to nothing to decrease measured noise! One product, which shall remain nameless, actually INCREASED measured noise!

I wonder how many companies out there designing and VOICING gear have noisy lines?
Click to expand...

Is it measuring common or transverse mode noise or both?
 
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