By the power of Aquarius
Powering audio devices is not a simple matter. Aside from the psychological side, which concerns the everyday audiophile the fact is that when you have spent some money on equipment you are required to protect your investment both in terms of security and performance. Somewhere here we have the Aquarius
When someone enters the field of demanding audio, at some point they will deal with the quality part of the power supply network to their system. Either necessarily due to hearing problems, or from the “germ” that forces you to always chase something more … In this hobby, most of us have this germ. The fact is that when you have spent some money, you are required to protect your investment in both security and performance. This is how IsoTek came to the fore, starting its activity about 2 decades ago, specializing in the field of audiovisual equipment supply. During this time, it offered to the market many related products such as power strips, filters / power conditioners and power cables. Evo3 Aquarius is one of these devices.
Noise suppression
The Aquarius is a power quality control system with built-in surge and peak protection (up to 67,500A) that offers a total of six benefits. Two high currents (up to 3,680W) for demanding devices such as amplifiers, subwoofers, etc. and four for medium and low power devices (up to 1,150W). It is worth noting that each output is isolated from the others and uses its own filter to suppress noise whether they are induced by the power supply network or by the connected devices themselves. More specifically, possibilities of suppression of common and differential mode noise and suppression of electromagnetic interference (RFI) by 60 dB are offered.The internal wiring of the device has been done with silver plated conductors (silver plated OFC) with dielectric FEP (teflon) while the company K.E.R.P technology (Kirchoff’s Equal Path of Resistance) is applied which ensures uniform energy supply at all outputs. The company does not give much information about this idea, but from what we understand it concerns the wiring of the device, which does not include a parallel connection of the sockets but a different branch for each of them with all branches having common electrical characteristics.
As for the chassis, it resembles an amplifier, with the classic width and is made of aluminum. Two LEDs inform the user about the operating status of the device. The Aquarius is accompanied by the EVO3 Premier power cord from Isotek, which solves the “problem” of connecting the device to the power supply, since its socket is not the classic IEC C14 / C16 but the heavier IEC C20, which not very common.
Better and better…
The key question is whether this device offers something more to the audio part. And the answer is “yes”, to a degree proportional to the problems that exist in each network and the ability of each system to highlight it. The improvements observed in our subjective experience were discreet but clear, with a clearer background, improved clarity and bass speed, better stratification of musical instruments on the music scene and especially more realistic voices and stringed instruments by reducing the roughness that may have previously occurred in specific areas. Note that none of the above was the result of sound coloring / a change in the tonal balance of the system. If a power supply causes such changes, then the signer would not want it in his system and probably then he would start believing in the signs … The sound of the system did not change tones, it just got better…
Τhe buyer should certainly choose to invest most of his budget in key parts of his system, such as speakers and amplifier, to support this system with such a device. It does not mean a high fidelity system that does not have a well-maintained power supply and the Evo3 Aquarius is an ideal solution for this purpose.
Overview
IsoTek EVO3 Aquarius
Description: Noise Protection / Suppression Filter
Power outlets: 6x Schuko, 2x High power (fuse 16Α), 4x Low power (fuse 5Α)
Maximum Power: 7.360W (peak, in high power sockets)
Continuous Power: 3.680W (230V)
Operation voltage: 100-240V/50-60Hz
Plugger: IEC C20 (16A)
Protection: against shock currents (max 67.500A)
Filters: RFI, Common/Differential Mode
Dimensions: 444x90x305 (mm, LxHxD)
Weight: 9kg
Price: €1.699
info: Orpheus Audio, tel.: 210-5221.524, http://www.orpheusaudio.gr/, https://www.isoteksystems.com/
