Two Simple Tweaks to Elevate the Performance of Your System
John Hughes | Published on 11/4/2024
While I have a lot of methods to reduce Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI) in my system, the Snubway Noise Defender and Main Stream Master Class Dynamic Parallel AC Line Conditioner are some of the easiest to recommend. They are super simple to use, very affordable, and clearly improved sound quality in my system. Plus they have a 30 day no hassle return policy.
I’ve been hesitant to review these little plugins because there have been many super positive reviews of them in the audiophile press. I don’t usually like to follow these trends, I like to tread less travelled paths. But I did want to try them. So when Vera-Fi sent me an email offer with discounted B-stock versions of these little guys, I couldn’t resist. (I highly recommend signing up to their newsletter as they frequently offer B stock products with very healthy discounts.) However, my experience was so clearly positive, the value per dollar so high, with a healthy return policy, I felt almost obligated to write this up.
Both devices are small plugins that you are directed to plug into the outlet closest to your most sensitive equipment. The Snubway is the first plugin recommended to try, as it can make the biggest improvement in many systems. It is built to reduce high frequency EMI that is injected into your power by switch mode power supplies (SMPS) and other digital equipment. The Main Stream is designed to remove noise from a lower and wider bandwidth, where a lot of interference lives. It also is built to suppress pulses of noise that are generated by many home appliances like refrigerators etc. Together they cover a very wide bandwidth.
I have an Equitech 2Q balanced power transformer heading my system. From there I connect two Black Lion PG-1 power conditioners (highly recommended). One Black Lion is used to connect my SMPS audio products like my Ethernet switches, and some lesser digital gear. The second Black Lion connects my linear power supply digital/analog equipment all stuff directly in the signal path. It made sense to plug the Snubway into the ‘digital’ Black Lion, and the Main Stream into the ‘analog’ Black Lion.
This meant that the Snubway was not directly connected to my actual audio signal chain, but mostly ancillary equipment. I tried the Snubway first and let it run for a couple of days. When I first plugged it in, I heard my room get a little quieter. There had been a very slight hiss coming out of my speakers that I hadn’t noticed, and it was gone! Keep in mind the Snubway was not in the signal path.
Initial listening revealed that there was a bit more air and space between instruments, and more clarity on the highs with a bit less grime and more detail revealed. The noise floor within tracks had dropped. After a day or two there was increased clarity on the top end, with more brilliance and sparkle. There was more space between instruments, and more inner detail coming from them as well. There was also more smoothness and liquidity in the presentation. I continued to hear these improvements grow over about five days. Wow, that was well worth the funds and effort!
After 5 days I pugged the Main Stream into my ‘analog’ Black Lion. I heard an immediate opening up of the midrange, more natural smoothness on vocals, and a lower noise floor overall. It took longer for the improvements of the Main Stream to flesh out. Over about 5 days, the clarity and resolution of my system improved top to bottom, music flowed much better, instrumental timbres were fleshed out a bit more. And bass was improved with more impact. But it was the highs that really shone. There was more resolution, sparkle, with more natural extension. To showcase this I’ve been listening classical works with flutes, celesta, and triangles. They pop more, with more presence and greater dynamic range.
After a week, with both plugins installed, the improvements in my system are so evident, that I can hear it on the first few notes of a song. I also use my system for video through an Nvidia Shield streamer connected with a custom linear power supply. I feed the audio to my DAC via Toslink. It is good sound, but it doesn’t match my streaming setup. I could clearly hear the improvement while watching Youtube or HBO shows. It’s rare that I hear a real improvement through my video setup, but there is was. Sound was smoother, less grainy, more dynamic, and the noise floor was lower.
Altogether, my experience pretty much matches the experiences I have read about in other reviews published. It’s nice to get some consensus in audio land. Also, in other reviews, it has been mentioned that the Snubway also improved systems with phono stages (which I don’t have right now).
Let me know your experience if you give them a try. I am going to order one more Snubway to use in my 'analog' conditioner as well, as I suspect there are more gains to be found there.