One possible explanation. In some environments, It can be difficult to hear the inherent background noise until you insert another noise reduction device resulting in further noise floor drop. Can be very challenging to quantify until it is gone.what noise is left for the Puritan to operate upon?
I don't think the addition of the Puritan offers a clear advantage. Evaluation shall continue.
For my part I found the old “sonic rule” and “Predictor Of General Applicability” where mains power conditioners are concerned , to be applicable with regard to the Puritan :
Source Components Yup , Pre amplification Hmmmm Maybe , Power amplification Nope ,as always YMMV IMHO etc.
Agree with you Ron. Having 2 Puritans in my system I found them useful only for digital sources, DAC in particular.Thank you for this interesting report, Marty!
The Puritan 156 is a popular product. At least two out of the six members of the Orange County Audiophile Posse love their 156s.
My personal view on all varieties of power devices continues to be that individual AC mains power and electrical infrastructures and grounding systems and combinations of components and subjective sonic preferences all conspire to make the sonic effects of power devices extremely idiosyncratic and unpredictable in any particular audiophile system. There are no sonic rules or predictors of general applicability.
Blending the high power output of Pentode EL34, with Triode's iconic richness in musicality.
Fully unleashed the wildness and dynamic of music while having all micro details expressed with textures.
Audio Note's philosophy of an ideal integrated amplifier. A simple audio system of excellent balance. Capable of giving the best from details, dynamic and musicality.