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Review 5 of 53
Price Paid:
$95.00
from Ebay Summary:
This review is for the HTS 1000, which is pretty much the same thing as the 2000, with "Stage 2 Filtering." It simply has less outlets. I'm reviewing it specifically from an audio-perspective as I really am not as interested in the video end of things, although there is no question that the reception on my TV has improved to some degree.
This is the classic "trade-off" debate. Is there less "noise?" Yes. Does music emerge from a "blacker" background?
Having said that, I think there are some trade-off's as a result. Some more serious than other And these are things, really, that were very hard to discern. Yet, after several weeks of listening, and trying my system both with and without this line conditioner, I observe the following:
1.) Bass is "tightened." "Bloom" is reduced.
2.) Vocals become slightly restrained while being filtered through the 1000. There's absolutely no dispute on this one. Vocals become more airy and open when the Monster 1000 is removed, yet slightly more "grainy." So, the line conditioner certainly makes things "smoother," but perhaps a tad less dynamic than without. This reduction in dynamics is particularly noticeable at lower volumes. At higher volumes (moderate listening levels) curiously, the HTS 1000 does a better job of hiding its deficiences, IMO, and you gain more of the benefits.
3.) Imaging has curiously become more "defined," while at the same time, the soundstage has become more compressed. In other words....I feel like I can hear and "see" the different instruments in space slightly better than before, yet the soundstage may have lost some of it's depth. I dunno if I did a good job of describing that one..but that's my best attempt!
So...it does some things well, and some things not so well. A bit dissapointed, but not entirely unhappy given the modest price point.
When I can afford it, I'll look into PS Audio's gear.
My gear:
Creek 4330mkII
NAD 541 CD Player
PSB Image 4T's
Monster HTS-1000 Line Conditioner
Audioquest Type 4+ cables
Audioquest Copperhead Interconnects Strengths:
Noise reduction. Bass "tightened." Things just seem "smoother" and less "grainy." This unit will definitely tame a bright system. Weaknesses:
Vocals slightly restrained. Soundstage perhaps a bit compressed. Dynamics altered in a slightly odd way. Similar Products Used:
none
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