This review page is supported in part by the sponsors whose ad banners are displayed below |
 |
 |
|
Toggling the ground lifts for the outlets powering the Trafomatic phono and linestage changed the scenery as though our
seating moved closer to stage or farther back into the venue. This effect was strongest on live recordings. This was unexpected. So was zero hum when the grounds were floated. Claudio had recommended to use the digital outlet for switched power supplies like the one Feickert uses for his Blackbird turntable. After rearranging power cords for our four Trafomatic component, we found that plugging the Blackbird's external SMPS into an analog outlet positively altered the sound by providing a stronger heavier bass foundation.
|
 |
This became food for thought about what might happen with our digital setup on the Harmonizer. It was time to switch over to the Phasure XXHE PC and matching NOS1 DAC in combination with our Hypex Ncore 1200 monos. All this gear is digital one way or another. The class D monos run on switching power supplies. After some experimenting involving mainly our picky sources we arrived at the best sound when running PC and DAC from the analog outputs whilst the power amps joined in the digital outlet. The fussiness of the Phasure gear is one of its many idiosyncrasies. Those include a strong aversion to USB cables and power cords which cost more than $1.-. And grounding. Break those 'rules' and welcome signal ticks and compromised sound. Here the Harmonizer's ground lift was a welcome convenience.
|
|
|
|
 |
Just as we had with the switched power supply of the turntable, we kept experimenting by switching between outlets and equipment. Being careful to remain methodical, we encountered no problems and music filled our room for long stretches of ‘brain pleasure’. One may not be able to scientifically measure that but a smile on the face says more than any snazzy figure on a hi-rez display. And there were plenty of smiles, be it over the streamed music from Bulgarian Boya’s Devoika with its uplifting Balkan beats and specific gadulka sounds; or Renaud Lhoest’s From Anastasia where the listener is taken on a trip around the musical globe.
|
|
|
|
 |
As we already said many times, the Cammino Powerline Harmonizer H3.1 is not a set'n'forget piece. It involves a learning curve. Once graduated, the listener becomes a laureate of Brain Pleasure. By not merely cleaning up AC power in a measurably ultra-effective way but restoring harmonic textures too, Claudio Trevisanello's shiny black box gives connected equipment the best chance to play back music with its deepest-seated emotions intact. And that's Mission Impossible. Accomplished! Should you chose to accept it... |
 |
|
|
Condition of component received: Excellent.
Reusability of packing: Many times over.
Website comments: In Italian and didn't include the Harmonizer at the time of our writing but Claudio was working on English pages.
Completeness of delivery: Perfect. Includes a high-grade Cammino power and electrical probe. Product comes with dealer setup and instructions.
Pricing: Realistic.
Human interactions: Very pleasant.
Remark: The Harmonizer is available in various configurations with 1 to 3 digital or 1 to 3 analog outlets. By request all outlets can be Rhodium versions. On special order more powerful Harmonizers above 2200 watts are available. A deluxe edition includes an additional digital multimeter, cheater plugs and luxury packaging.
Manufacturer's comments: We were already pleased with the first rough draft for fact checking and after reading the final copy are even more enthusiastic. You stress the fact—and we totally agree—that audio pursued at a high level is not plug and play but requires extensive knowledge and willingness to experiment and learn also on the side of the equipment suppliers. The end user today is quite often left to their own devices. Although in most cases this might be sufficient, it also can backfire. In my opinion our service support and concept is a vital opportunity which the dealer community sadly gave up on when the time came to progress from stereo to surround sound. Installing a surround-sound processor or receiver wasn't always easy. A few weeks ago an engineering friend of mine was actually incapable of connecting his television to a surround-sound receiver. His dealer didn't want to do the work but just sell him the TV. After my visit with a digital multimeter and screwdriver, my friend was finally happy. The dealer missed a big opportunity and abdicated responsibility.
This issue is even more true for power polarity. Over the past six months I've met many high-level professional power-amp producers who claim that proper power polarity isn't important (symmetrical power supplies). Yet they'd invariably go pale whenever I was allowed to measure their equipment and demonstrate how things could be improved when system setup wasn't left to chance.
|
 |
 |
|
 |
