Panamax 5510 AC regenerator power conditioner. (Components).

Manufacturer: Panamax, 1690 Corporate Circle, Petaluma, CA 94954; 707/283-5900; www.panamax.com

Source: Manufacturer loan

Price: $1,299

Reviewer: Tom Lyle

The Panamax 5510 is more than just an ordinary power conditioner--it is the most complete power-strip/AC power conditioner/ surge protector I've ever seen or used. Not only does it provide isolated, filtered, and balanced surge protected AC, but it also provides protection for RCA-type interconnects, coaxial antenna, and RJ-11 (modular) type phone line connectors. It has adjustable sequential power on/off switching, as well as a detachable gooseneck lamp with a dimmer control. This lamp can connect to front or back panel.

But that's not all. It also has two DC voltage trigger inputs for initiating its start-up/shutdown sequence. It has a backlit front panel analog Voltmeter and Ammeter that indicates line voltage and current draw. Plus, the unit has SurgeGate Plus[TM] Circuitry that monitors the AC line voltage for unsafe voltage conditions such as prolonged overvoltages and undervoltages (brownouts). It disconnects the equipment from the power under these conditions, and once the voltage returns to normal, it reconnects. It also disconnects the power to the connected equipment in the event of a catastrophic surge such as lightning. Panamax has a "$5,000,000 Connected Equipment Protection Policy" that protects one's equipment hooked up to the 5510, stating that Panamax will repair or replace the equipment valued up to five million dollars.

The front panel of the 5510 has a power switch that controls the switched AC outlets of the unit: four isolation transformer outlets and two high-current outlets. There is a receptacle for the goose lamp, which is also available on the back panel. There is an LED indicator of power supplied to the switched outlets, and an LED indicating activation of the voltage trigger and unsafe voltage. There is also a pushbutton to switch the isolation transformer outlets between isolated and balanced power, and LEDs indicating which form is chosen. The amp meter and voltage meters lights are can be dimmed via a control next to the LEDs. There is also a "convenience" AC outlet on the front panel.

The rear panel of the 5510 has a main circuit breaker that shuts power to the unit, and below it an IEC outlet for the detachable power cord. AC Outlet Bank 1 has two Balanced Double-L Filter Outlets that Panamax suggest be used for analog components such as preamps, receivers, VCRs and tape decks. Outlet Bank 2 is a duplicate of Outlet 1, and both are non-switched, that is, there power is always on as long as the 5510 is plugged into a wall outlet. These circuits are claimed to eliminate the AC contamination that is detrimental to the performance of analog or video components. These outlets provide power filtration and inter-component "noise isolation" for both common mode (line/neutral-to-ground) and "normal mode" (line-to-neutral) EMI/RFI. This should reduce high-frequency interference from not only the incoming AC, but from equipment plugged into the other outlet banks of the conditioner.

To the right of these outlets are the four Isolation Transformer Outlets. These "AC Regeneration" 500W outlets are meant for digital components such as DVD or CD players. I think there might be some confusion with their use of the term "AC Regeneration" with the type of pure AC supplied by the PS Audio Power Plants that regenerate AC from scratch, using a DC signal fed to its amplifier and transformers, and then converting the signal back to AC. In Panamax's case we have "pure" AC that is obtained by using the isolation transformer. The incoming AC feeds the isolation transformer's primary windings and is regenerated through electromagnetic induction as clean power on the isolated secondary windings. These windings have no physical connection to the primary windings, thus this, according to Panamax, is "true" isolation. The 5510, via its front panel, is able to switch the isolation transformer's output mode from "isolated" to "balanced" power to "further match the system's needs".

Next to these outlets are two High Current "Inductorless Filter" outlets for amps, subwoofers, and the like. Both the Isolation Transformer and the High Current outlets are delayed turn on, that is, they are part of the power-on sequence activated by the front panel power switch. The two inductor-less, high-current outlets are claimed to have "clean unimpeded power." These outlets are recommended for components that draw large amounts of current to replenish their capacitors. Panamax claims that "traditional" power conditioners impede this current draw, and "starve" an amplifier, resulting in a less than ideal sound. They claim that their outlet provides clean, filtered power without limiting the current, which would encumber performance.

To the right of the power outlets is the rear panel outlet for the gooseneck lamp, and a 12VDC/5W/4A transformer circuit breaker. This breaker is activated in the event that equipment connected to the Isolated Outlets exceeds 4-amps current draw. There are two 3.5mm mono mini-plug voltage trigger inputs next to this breaker. These connect to a remote trigger device that provides VDC to trigger a startup/shutdown sequence. There is also an Isolation Transformer Outlets turn-off switch. This allows adjustment of the turn-off delay for the four Isolation Transformer outlets. The High Current Outlet also has a turn-on switch that allows adjustment of the turn-on delay for the two High Current outlets. Both are switchable between 0, 10, and 30 seconds.

Two telephone jacks are provided, one in and one out. These are for telephone lines or pay-per-view type (or Tivo) surge protection, and are on the right side of the rear panel. Above them are six coaxial jacks. Two of these gold plated F-Connectors are for cable TV or a rooftop antenna line protection. The other four are for satellite TV line protection; there are jacks for two satellite connections. To the left of these are the AV RCA jacks. There are four pairs of connecters meant for all varieties of audio/video connections.

If you've read any of my reviews you'd know that I am a two-channel type of guy. I do not have a multi-channel system in any room of my home. So, after hooking up my entire system's AC to the Panamax 5510, the first thing I focused on was its "sound." Sure, changing the source of the AC, in theory, shouldn't affect the sound of one's system, but it has been my experience that in my case it can make a huge difference. It is undoubtedly due to the very impure AC provided to my home that I've discussed in detail in previous issues of The Sensible Sound. Briefly, I live in a very dense suburb close to the city, and the sound of my system varies drastically with the time of day and the month of the year.

As far as I know, the folks at Panamax were aware that I was going to use their power conditioner in a "simple" two-channel system. I had no phone jacks to connect, no cable antenna to hook up, and I even didn't hook up my interconnects to the 5510. I don't dread the fear of a electrical surge migrating to my equipment via an interconnect and damaging my equipment, and I didn't have much interest in finding out how much or how little sonic degradation would occur when using these inputs and outputs. I assume those with complex audio/visual systems might want to use the 5510 to its fullest potential, because I appreciate that noise can be introduced via all cabling, interconnects included. But I didn't have extra interconnects of the same length and brand to perform any tests. Of course I didn't use the satellite, cable, or phone line connections. I was interested to hear what sonic effect the Panamax had on my system when all my equipment's AC lines were hooked up to it.

I connected an Audible Illusions Modulus 3a preamplifier and Basis Debut V turntable to the Balanced Double-L Filter Outlets filter outlets. A Sony DVP-NS755V DVD/SACD player, Perpetual Technologies P-1A and P-3A digital processors and their Monolithic power supply were connected to the Isolation Transformer Outlets. The two High Current "Inductorless Filter" outlets supplied power to a Krell KAV-250a power amplifier and Velodyne HGS-15 subwoofer.

I've had other "traditional" power conditioners in my system before, and all made a sonic improvement over plugging my gear straight into the wall outlets. Those from MIT, Tice, Blue Circle, and Chang all made an improvement. I still use the Change Light-speed conditioner for my subwoofer and turntable. The sub draws too much power to use in the PS Audio Power Plants, and the turntable uses an AC Synchronous motor that cannot be fed power from the PS Audio units.

Comparison to PS Audio units only serves as an illustration to where others fall short (although it should be noted that the P300 costs about as much as the Panamax but can only supply power to the front end, and the circa $2,250 P600 is needed for the rest of the system). The Panamax was not embarrassed by this comparison-at least if the tests were performed in the evening. I've never heard any other power conditioners that could compensate for the crummy AC that comes into my home during the day. The Panamax improved the sound of the system during the daylight hours as just about every other power conditioner that has ever passed through my system, but not to the point where it could be considered to be performing to its full potential. But still, the difference between day and night was made much less when the Panamax was used.

At all times the system sounded substantially better when the entire system was plugged into the Panamax than directly into the wall current. Although it was close, I also think it might have sounded a tad better than the Chang Lightspeed, the only other conventional power conditioner I had on hand. I consider the Chang to be a fine unit that has served me well for years, and it can hold its own against most other popular conditioners.

In my listening notes I observed all sonic parameters improved by the Panamax--the soundstage and imaging, the high and low frequency extension, the dynamics, and just about any other characteristic that defines audiophile sound. Combined with its unparalleled flexibility and convenience this makes the Panamax 5510 one of the best power conditioners on the market today.