[NEW! GigaWatt PC-2 EVO+ , entry level power conditioner review on Hifi Knights]

GigaWatt ,our power conditioning leader, just replaced entire generation of their products with the latest EVO+ generations.  Given the fact that the previous one last over 4 years  remaining unbeatable, it is quite an achievement. So when GigaWatt’s basic  PC-2 EVO+ has been reviewed by Hifi Knights we had been all ears, knowing already what’s going on once the latest stock arrived.

little intro:

” GigaWatt PC-2 EVO+ is made in a very utilitarian fashion. Precisely and in general finely made, this top shelf product was developed and assembled to do a very specific job. Stripped from any visual flamboyance it looks modest, minimalist and that’s perfectly fine and visually safe. But once one starts paying full attention to details, things unnoticed at first glance become much more obvious. I was told that each component found in any GigaWatt product is made for this manufacturer exclusively. The OEM parts days are long gone, now it’s about finding a quality supplier, cherry-picking and then customizing every semi-part there is. In order to meet the demand of very well developed GigaWatt distribution network, it goes rather without saying that Adam’s financial commitments have to be big. When he orders, it’s very likely that he orders a lot, here above-the-average manufacturing wishes come into play. And because of this attitude and QC in check, everything in my loaner fits perfectly and screams quality, even though the product itself visually is very simple. Nice work!…”

” Six Schuko sockets grouped in three categories occupy the product’s rear. From left to right, each pair is meant to work with digital, analog and high current devices respectively. In close proximity there’s a nameplate with a serial number, voltage, input socket type, power consumption (9W), installed DC Blocker circuitry in case of my loaner etc. The ‘Engineered & Handcrafted in Poland’ writing is in there too. Red LED a bit below informs whether polarity’s in check and an IEC socket with an on/off switch a bit above closes the list. The product’s sides and top cover are made out of one U-shaped steel sheet, finished in matte black and decorated with deeply engraved manufacturer’s logo. It looks very nice. The product’s underbelly sports four aluminium feet with rubber washers. These are big, heavy and in general of quality, though – if one wishes to – alternatives based on GigaWatt’s proprietary Rolling-Ball Isolation System can be ordered for €660 extra. Another upgrade worth taking a closer look into – DC Blocker (€300) – was designed to block unwanted DC component. This phenomenon alternates AC sine wave to make it non-symmetrical, which further impacts all transformer based devices. To put it more bluntly, DC Blocker barriers an audio system from junk found in regular home power grids…”

Conclusion:

” Past the first hour of critical listening, the impression was that my PF-2 power strip was not only leaner, but also a bit feistier. This was audible especially with artificially generated bass, i.e. synth-made and not delivered via real instruments. Several tracks from “Ghosts” LP by Nine Inch Nails and then some by How To Destroy Angels – a side project of the same frontman – got me into thinking like so. Generous part of Trent Reznor’s work is above-the-average recorded and mastered, hence this observation wasn’t music quality related. That’s why for a good while I was certain that PF-2 held an edge over PC-2 EVO+ on the dynamic count. Not. The key to finding out what’s what exactly were – again – live instruments. Drums on KODO’s “Daraijin” track from “Mondo Head” LP are of various size and as such these deliver different scale and tension. GigaWatt PC-2 EVO+ was more generous as far as texturing goes and this on some recordings masked momentum in music. But with something as direct, agile and uncompressed as big Taiko drums, the Polish power conditioner easily bested its smaller sibling and the more I drowned in either minimalist instrument schemes or big orchestral pieces, the more and more obvious it became….”

All pictures are courtesy of Dawid Grzyb /The Hifi Knights

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