PowerIgel and PowerIgel Plus

Is it not made by music line?

So won't be on naims list

Hi Iver,

all of the Netzleisten and Powerigels are made by Music Line, the German Naim distributor. The Plus models are fitted with Powerlines, the standard ones get the regular Naim-sourced cables. Take a look at the ML review section on the Music Line website. Although the reviews are a few years old, the prices aren’t.

 I bought an ex-demo Powerigel Plus 4 in perfect condition for less than 3000 € about a year ago. You should get along with this one unless you want to use it for your NAS too.

You’d only want the Naim stuff on the igel. Do you already have dedicated mains? If not, do that, and have four sockets installed. Then you can connect each item directly to the wall. Keep the Qnap on the normal mains, ideally connected to an uninterrupted power supply box. 

Hi HungryHalibut,

I dont have dedicated spurs. It will probably be some kind of work to get it done, but can have a look into it. Nevertheless I think the Powerigel still makes sense. I spoke to several experienced owners here, and they have a similar postive experience. Looking for “PowerIgel” threads on this forum, I noticed that the few that are there are all pretty old so wondred if there are any “active” users and hear their experineces.

iver

Do the work on the dedicated mains. It will cost less than the hedgehog, especially the plus version, and will give you a lot more. Wise man builds his house on rock, and all that. 

My Igel is plugged into a dedicated mains spur and I have to agree with HH, it was cheaper than the Igel and at least as beneficial. Four outlets weren’t possible, because two of them would have been to close to my turntable and phono stage. That’s why I went for the Igel and still regard the money as well spent.

It really depends. I went the full hog on the mains spur in my old house, getting massive cables installed, even a new meter and upgraded tails and it made absolutely NO difference to the sound, whereas the Powerigel very definitely did - much cleaner and punchier. James of TomTom, who demoed it in my home, and I had fun switching between the ring main and dedicated spur.... The Powerigel Plus is definitely a possibility when all the DR stuff has come back....

Michael_B. posted:

It really depends. I went the full hog on the mains spur in my old house, getting massive cables installed, even a new meter and upgraded tails and it made absolutely NO difference to the sound, whereas the Powerigel very definitely did - much cleaner and punchier. James of TomTom, who demoed it in my home, and I had fun switching between the ring main and dedicated spur.... The Powerigel Plus is definitely a possibility when all the DR stuff has come back....

do you use the "normal" PowerIgel or the PowerIgel Plus?

I've stuck with the "normal" one for the time being, partly because no one in the UK seems to do the Plus version and I simply haven't had the time to follow up. Plus (so to speak), I've been so happy with the system since the Diapasons arrived that I've simply been listening to music. Until the 555 needed a service, that is. Which was what prompted me to flick the switch on the DR upgrades. I'll talk to Peter when he's down about whether he can get me a Plus with UK plug - if I remember correctly that was the problem, but maybe not - my memory can be very "creative".

I have a normal PowerIgel because I want to get rid of the cheap multi-outlet power strips. Sound improvement? Not really imho...maybe the "Plus" gives you more bang. Today, I would consider the real heavy gear from PS Audio or isotek etc.....

Have you heard the Isotek stuff? Kills the music in my opinion. Always has done.

The Powerigel Plus brought great benefits when I had it for several years, not least coherence between the components and hence the sound was more organic than using single PLs and other cables.

Michael_B. posted:

Have you heard the Isotek stuff? Kills the music in my opinion. Always has done.

I have been considering (and listening) to the Isotek Acquarius but doubted its value a bit. Improvements in one area but lacking in others.

nordost q8 works very well with naim .  kharma power blocks too.

Michael_B. posted:

Have you heard the Isotek stuff? Kills the music in my opinion. Always has done.

i found it sucked some life from the sound. I prefer nordost power blocks.  Heard at dealer place.

I’ve had an a standard hedgehog for about a decade now. Majors on musical coherence and most definitely doesn’t suck the life from the sound. It is slightly compressed at the top end but I was a long way into my system building before I noticed that. A speaker upgrade sorted that and it won’t be going anywhere until I finally get a spur sorted out. I found, as with most things Powerline related, that the hedgehog plus was over the top and not especially musical. One or two are fine. More than that exposes weaknesses rather than builds on strengths. 

I am very interested by this thread. I have a Nordost QB8, AudioPrism Quietline and 6 PLs including one to the wall. I have been contemplating Frey 2 or Tyr 2 to replace the PL to the wall or indeed a Powerigel+ to replace the whole set. ????

Chag -

Michael_B. posted:

Have you heard the Isotek stuff? Kills the music in my opinion. Always has done.

I went from Isotek to Ansuz both brought something over the previous solution I had, but the Ansuz without any surge protection or power conditioning works much better.

Hi Iver,

The power in the Netherlands is in general somewhat better than in the UK (no switches). I bought the Netzleiste Plus from Music Line which was a huge upgrade albeit a lot cheaper than the Powerigel. For that amount of money I would hire an eletricien as well.

Cheers

grade albeit a lot cheaper.   

Hi Robert,

once you include the prices for the Powerlines from the distributor to the components, the difference between the Leiste and Igel is no longer that big. If you already own Powerlines, getting the Leiste avoids  trading them and the associated loss of value.

one day i will go for kharma or anzus power blocks, with no filtering.  with chord music power cords or kharma.  The power upgrade is one of the most important in a high end system, perhaps even the most important.

I have ordered the PowerIgel. Once I received it and tested it, I will let know the rsults and outcome. Some of the suggestions here point to bringing in an electrician, which makes sense. Is there any thread that oints out what exact plongs/fuses to use. I am in Belgian, so not sure whether the UK systems work here.

Iver any mains installation spec for the Uk will be quite wrong and possibly dangerous for use in Belgium. You should speak to an electrician who is fully conversant and qualified to work within the mains electrical code for where you live.

Hi Iver,

I started with Musicline Netzleiste and standard Naim cables. Then came Netzleiste Plus. In the beginning I did not like it that much. It was more HiFi, less music. But that changed after a few weeks - I guess it was a kind of burn in.

Then I started to replace all standard power cables by Powerlines. The same experience as with Netzleiste Plus. First it was more HiFi and less music, but it also changed the following weeks. In the end I really prefered this over Netzleiste and standard power cables.

Musicline has a nice service for it's customers: If bought by one of their dealers, they convert your Powerlines (and Netzleiste Plus) into a Powerigel Plus for 700 Euro as far as I remember. So you can upgrade step by step without loosing much money. With Powerigel Plus musical coherence was improved significantly, better PRaT, more 3D, better bass, less distortion etc. than before.

And compared to standard Naim power cables and Musicline Netzleiste it was night and day and one of the biggest upgrades I ever made.

You can find a review which compares Netzleiste, Netzleiste Plus, Powerigel and Powerigel Plus in musical/sonical terms on Musicline's homepage (in German). According to the reviewer, Powerigel has a strong focus on PRaT. Netzleiste Plus and Powelines are considered to have more 3D, colours, more HiFi but also more emotion. It's almost a question of taste. But hey, look at the price difference!

So I am sure, you will enjoy your Powerigel

Regards, Hannes

Atlas power block, I think it’s worth it a try too