I ordered the base version as I already have Grid and EMI Protectors and was told spending the extra $3K would likely not yield any audible differences. I’m very happy
The Grid Protector, the EMI Protector and The Allocator By Schnerzinger-In My System and I’m Blown Away
- Thread starter Steve williams
- Start date
As promised I’ve done my own homework!
In order to determine how impactful the Grid Protector is separately from the PowerZone I tested it in my system with a Furutech e-TP609E NCF power strip.
You may say that the power cord used in this test plays a fundamental role too, I completely agree but the Puritan cable (with Furutech plug upgrade) was the only one available as spare. Hence… let it be!
Obvious disclaimer: here below is the results in my room, in my opinion, to my ears… bla bla bla!
Before starting listening I left the GP detached (both cables) and with antenna unscrewed at least 6 hours.
Having said that I tried without both of them first, just the Furutech power strip in use and, believe me, I really don’t want to do that anymore: I was suffering so much hearing my system sounding without life, period!
Then I plugged the GP into the power strip, checking the correct polarity (for all the EU Schuko afflicted) and set all the 3 switches as usual to 2 position.
The improvement was immediate and clearly audible, as expected. The reduction of the subtle hum from the amp’s toroidal transformer (mechanical noise from inside the chassis) was less significant than before, it takes probably more time to be effective as I’m used to hear.
But the experiment had other aims actually so I carefully tried to determine the amount of improvement compared to the one brought by PZ alone.
Here below you can find a chart with numbers that should better clarify my impressions. Assuming 100% the job done when both the PZ and GP are in use (and 0% without both of them) I tried to be more specific in order to have a better idea about the areas where the one is working more than the other.
Conclusions.
It took me a day of listening but I was impatient, I continuously felt the urgency to set back all as usual because it’s really hard when you miss something so appreciated, even if for a short time.
I can confirm my initial impression, the Grid Protector and the PowerZone seem to be a perfect marriage, they sound great alone but the magic starts when I have both of them bringing my system to a higher level. Call it pleasure, audio Nirvana or whatever you like. I for sure can’t live without them, both together I mean.
Hope that helps.
Now back to music (at its best), the weekend starts now!
In order to determine how impactful the Grid Protector is separately from the PowerZone I tested it in my system with a Furutech e-TP609E NCF power strip.
You may say that the power cord used in this test plays a fundamental role too, I completely agree but the Puritan cable (with Furutech plug upgrade) was the only one available as spare. Hence… let it be!
Obvious disclaimer: here below is the results in my room, in my opinion, to my ears… bla bla bla!
Before starting listening I left the GP detached (both cables) and with antenna unscrewed at least 6 hours.
Having said that I tried without both of them first, just the Furutech power strip in use and, believe me, I really don’t want to do that anymore: I was suffering so much hearing my system sounding without life, period!
Then I plugged the GP into the power strip, checking the correct polarity (for all the EU Schuko afflicted) and set all the 3 switches as usual to 2 position.
The improvement was immediate and clearly audible, as expected. The reduction of the subtle hum from the amp’s toroidal transformer (mechanical noise from inside the chassis) was less significant than before, it takes probably more time to be effective as I’m used to hear.
But the experiment had other aims actually so I carefully tried to determine the amount of improvement compared to the one brought by PZ alone.
Here below you can find a chart with numbers that should better clarify my impressions. Assuming 100% the job done when both the PZ and GP are in use (and 0% without both of them) I tried to be more specific in order to have a better idea about the areas where the one is working more than the other.
| GRID PROTECTOR + POWERZONE | WITHOUT BOTH | ONLY WITH PZ | ONLY WITH GP | WITH BOTH PZ + GP |
| White noise/Hum | 0 | 20 | 80 | 100 |
| Background | 0 | 90 | 10 | 100 |
| Neutralness | 0 | 70 | 30 | 100 |
| Image precision | 0 | 80 | 20 | 100 |
| Soundstage depth | 0 | 60 | 40 | 100 |
| Soundstage width | 0 | 100 | 0 | 100 |
| Separation | 0 | 70 | 30 | 100 |
| Voice | 0 | 40 | 60 | 100 |
| Highs | 0 | 80 | 20 | 100 |
| Basses | 0 | 50 | 50 | 100 |
| Presence | 0 | 50 | 50 | 100 |
| Transient | 0 | 70 | 30 | 100 |
| Clarity | 0 | 80 | 20 | 100 |
| Airy | 0 | 50 | 50 | 100 |
| Detail | 0 | 80 | 20 | 100 |
| Unveil | 0 | 80 | 20 | 100 |
| Realism | 0 | 40 | 60 | 100 |
| Calm | 0 | 70 | 30 | 100 |
| Control | 0 | 80 | 20 | 100 |
| Engagement | 0 | 50 | 50 | 100 |
| 0 | 65,5 | 34,5 | 100 |
Conclusions.
It took me a day of listening but I was impatient, I continuously felt the urgency to set back all as usual because it’s really hard when you miss something so appreciated, even if for a short time.
I can confirm my initial impression, the Grid Protector and the PowerZone seem to be a perfect marriage, they sound great alone but the magic starts when I have both of them bringing my system to a higher level. Call it pleasure, audio Nirvana or whatever you like. I for sure can’t live without them, both together I mean.
Hope that helps.
Now back to music (at its best), the weekend starts now!
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great summary Luca
For my ears the beauty of these devices is the "realism, calm. control and more than anything the "engagement"
I have never enjoyed listening to my system as much as I do now
You also have the EMI Protector and Allocator as ingredients that are not in my cake, Steve. Can’t wait to add them too.
Edit, Sorry, I forgot the PZ was Gryphon. I knew it sounded familiar.
I do see a bunch of small devices like a piccolo as well as some plug in devices. Maybe stuff that would be more affordable to me.
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Up to you but the advice I got is that the gain on buying the deluxe Allocator when we already have the EMI and Grid Protectors is negligible . The synergy with. the 3 devices is quite remarkable. But beware Luca once you have the Allocator there is that little attachment on the Schnerzinger Power Cord for the Cable Protector
Got it, thanks! Next week they should ship to me the EMI… it’s a deep rabbit hole but I’m happy to dive into it!
with Thanksgiving behind us and the 10 family relatives departed I had a chance to do some serious listening yesterday.
It's very difficult to put into words what these three devices have done to my system and the listening pleasure they provide. The Allocator which I originally thought was a juiced up power strip has continued to amaze me. I have posted before that the synergy that these 3 devices have with one another is such that I truly cannot listen to my system without them. Luca in his brilliant summary has nailed it in his last 4....these to me are the secret sauce as to what they do
Realism
Calm
Control
But for me the most siignificant is engagement
There is no fatigue nor is there any desire only part to sit and analyze what I am hearing. I am just glued to my seat listening to everything. It is all of the subtle nuances that have been heard before but now with such precision and detail that draws me I and creates total engagement
If there has been a downside for me , it is the way my system is set up on a horizontal Critical Mass Systems platform It had been my hope that I would have the Allocator sitting on a spare CMS platform but I have been limited by the lenngths of my power cords and where each component is situated on the rack. For now the Allocator is just inside and behind the outer edge of my rack. I have however figured that if but one of my power cords is switched from a length of 1.5 to 2.0 meters I will be able to get the allocator out from behind the CMS rack and onto the spare platform.Plus it is such a well built piece that it is a shame that it needs to be hidden. Fortunately the antenna o ther allocator is not hidden behind the rack as I have no idea if obstruction of the antenna hinders the performance ....so I have a 2.0 meter MasterBuilt Ultra PC on order to swap out the current 1.5 meter one which seems to be restricting my moving the Allocator onto the CMSplatform. That should happen early into the new year
Finally I am not certain whether some burn in to the Allocator has improved the sonics or its just my expectation bias but listening yesterday seemed to be so much better
It's very difficult to put into words what these three devices have done to my system and the listening pleasure they provide. The Allocator which I originally thought was a juiced up power strip has continued to amaze me. I have posted before that the synergy that these 3 devices have with one another is such that I truly cannot listen to my system without them. Luca in his brilliant summary has nailed it in his last 4....these to me are the secret sauce as to what they do
Realism
Calm
Control
But for me the most siignificant is engagement
There is no fatigue nor is there any desire only part to sit and analyze what I am hearing. I am just glued to my seat listening to everything. It is all of the subtle nuances that have been heard before but now with such precision and detail that draws me I and creates total engagement
If there has been a downside for me , it is the way my system is set up on a horizontal Critical Mass Systems platform It had been my hope that I would have the Allocator sitting on a spare CMS platform but I have been limited by the lenngths of my power cords and where each component is situated on the rack. For now the Allocator is just inside and behind the outer edge of my rack. I have however figured that if but one of my power cords is switched from a length of 1.5 to 2.0 meters I will be able to get the allocator out from behind the CMS rack and onto the spare platform.Plus it is such a well built piece that it is a shame that it needs to be hidden. Fortunately the antenna o ther allocator is not hidden behind the rack as I have no idea if obstruction of the antenna hinders the performance ....so I have a 2.0 meter MasterBuilt Ultra PC on order to swap out the current 1.5 meter one which seems to be restricting my moving the Allocator onto the CMSplatform. That should happen early into the new year
Finally I am not certain whether some burn in to the Allocator has improved the sonics or its just my expectation bias but listening yesterday seemed to be so much better
The Allocator is not a power conditioner How many have you seen that have antennas
I’ve given up trying to second guess what these are or are not Patrick. It’s the sense of engagement that i now have with my system which I have never had before For me that is all that matters
My dealer Aldo Zaninello from Extreme Audio will meet Schnerzinger staff tomorrow in person. Lots of arguments to discuss and a few questions I suggest him to ask for me. After Grid and EMI Protectors (the latter still on the way), I’m seriously considering the Allocator and Multi Guards.
I had never heard of these products before Steve reviewed them here, I was initially skeptical about them, but once I understood how they can improve my listening experience... well, no doubt will stop me from going further into this rabbit hole. How they work, how to measure their impact? Who cares? I’m measuring my pleasure with the less scientific instruments, my own ears. And I’m happy…
I had never heard of these products before Steve reviewed them here, I was initially skeptical about them, but once I understood how they can improve my listening experience... well, no doubt will stop me from going further into this rabbit hole. How they work, how to measure their impact? Who cares? I’m measuring my pleasure with the less scientific instruments, my own ears. And I’m happy…
Please ask:
Apparently it receives RF. What is the frequency range of the receiver built into the device?
Apparently it transmits RF. What is the frequency range of the transmitter built into the device?
Does it perceive a radio frequency (EMI/RFI) of greatest signal strength, and then transmit a countervailing RF signal?
If so, how does it do this when it's unplugged?
Scroll down to accessories.
Thread 'Positive-Feedback’s 2024 Products of the Year' https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/positive-feedback’s-2024-products-of-the-year.39799/
Thread 'Positive-Feedback’s 2024 Products of the Year' https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/positive-feedback’s-2024-products-of-the-year.39799/
I find these Schnerzinger discussions very interesting
I dont regard Steve as a serial tweeker so IMO what he is saying about these products carry significant weight/interest.
What I dont like is how Schnerzinger is using Steve, his image and quotes from this thread on their website to promote these products...makes u wonder just a bit...
I dont regard Steve as a serial tweeker so IMO what he is saying about these products carry significant weight/interest.
What I dont like is how Schnerzinger is using Steve, his image and quotes from this thread on their website to promote these products...makes u wonder just a bit...
Like you I understand the issue. I only just saw my post on their website a few days ago. It shows as a press review. I’m certainly not press nor am I reviewer. I’m a hobbyist who found these little products and posted my findings I was just as surprised as you
In no way shape or form do I have any affiliation with Schnerzinger other than having purchased three of their products which truly have transformed my system.
In no way shape or form do I have any affiliation with Schnerzinger other than having purchased three of their products which truly have transformed my system.
I got my information initially on these products by reading Myles Astor review of them. If I’m not mistaken, Myles also gave them product of the year award.
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