Power Conditioners Nordost Thor Power Distribution Center
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Nordost Thor Power Distribution Center A Secrets Power Conditioner Review |
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| Written by Jason Victor Serinus | |||||
| Wednesday, 16 April 2008 | |||||
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Floored The noise silencing aspects of the Thor also worked their magic. Before the Thor entered the system, the ExactPower made music sound just a bit smoothed over and tame. It sounded quite good, mind you – some people would have done everything in their power to have a system that sounded as good – but the raw, transparent immediacy of the live event was more an idea than a reality. In retrospect, I’d say that it smoothed the leading edge of transients, and subtly reduced dynamics. The Thor did something very, very different. By further lowering the noise floor, lifting a level of haze that I didn’t realize was there until it was gone, and allowing all the dynamic gradations on the recording to come through, the Thor brought music to life as never before. There was a cleanness about the sound – a cleanness of attack and decay – that had nothing to do with sterile cookie cutter images and everything to do with real music-making. Thanks to greater silence, instruments and voices had a more realistic leading edge and greater three-dimensional impact. With less haze, I was able to hear farther into the music, and better distinguish individual instrumental threads in a complex musical fabric. It was as though Salomé had finally dropped her seventh veil, and allowed us to see for the first time what she was really about. While I do not have a five-channel (or more) home theater rig with a huge projection or plasma screen, I do own an antiquated 26” TV and a basic DVD player. The Thor’s effect on picture quality was marked. Colors became far more vivid, drawing me deeper into the experience. Conclusions There are always more levels of grunge to remove, more levels of detail to reveal, brighter colors to revel in. Better cables, Bybee devices, better racks and equipment supports, and bass management/room correction systems are among the many devices that enable you to hear deeper into the music without changing speakers and electronics. The higher a system’s resolution, the more you can hear detail revealed by close-miking that you would never hear in a concert hall (which is far from silent due to air conditioning, program rustling, coughing, and occasional cell phone outbursts). But the Thor accomplishes so much with so little effort that its effects are stunning. I find it uncomfortable to think of my former system as the aural equivalent of a paint-by-numbers canvas masquerading as a work of art. But, in retrospect, if it was nowhere near that bad, it was certainly an expert forgery pretending to be the real thing. The Thor changed all that. Gone were the little boxes, the tidy arrangements, and the perfectly placed lines. Instead was something new, whole, vibrant and organic. Music became alive, whole, and infinitely more compelling. The Thor doesn’t simply distribute power. It brings life. Need I say that the Thor is now a permanent part of my reference system?
Digital Front End
Amplification
Loudspeakers
Cabling
Power
Analog
Accessories
Main System Room Dimensions
Upstairs Second System:
Computer System
Comments (19)
 I'm surprised people can hear music at all BS like this hits their ears
written by Kurt , April 17, 2008 Jason, In your description of your reference system, you forgot to mention the huge, pyramid-shaped object you place over your abode to prevent all the bull s--t you toss up into the air coming down and burying everything. I'll wager $100,000 that with a blindfold on, you can't identify whether you equipment is plugged into the Thor or the wall. Editors of HTHF, Reviews like this are such an embarrassment! No doubt your other contributors, many of whom are highly competent and go to a great deal of effort to write accurate evaluations equipment actually does impact the reproduction of music, are ashamed to have their names listed alongside Jasons. ...
written by JEJ , April 17, 2008 Although I (and apparently most of our readership) am not a big fan of this kind of component (I do have a PS Audio P1200, but that is an entirely different beast because it converts the AC to DC then regenerates a perfect 60 Hz sine wave with no noise or harmonics), we must respect the rights and opinions of every audiophile. Jason says he can hear a difference with this component, and he has a right to state what he hears. I want to have a wide variety of opinions and interests here at Secrets. If all the writers agreed with each other all the time, it would be very boring. Audiophile grade fuse?
written by Chris , April 17, 2008 I couldn't read past where Mr. Serinus said he replaced the stock fuse with an audiophile grade one. So in $3300 power component you get a 25-cent fuse? Pathetic! ...
written by roy in indy , April 19, 2008 Just more crap from a guy who flunked a blind listening test two years ago regarding cables. Didn't learn a thing apparently. It is pathetic
written by Mr. General , April 19, 2008 Remember. Mr. Jason Serinus, was also the reviewer for these ‘magic mats’ for HTS a couple of years back. Marigo Labs Signature 3-D disc transforms http://marigoaudio.com/secrets.htm You place them in tray and they where to create some additional quality of sound, only Jason, could hear. After 380 laughing replies on the AVS forum the moderator had to close the thread. I am astounding both HTS & Stereophile editor’s even let him write. It is pathetic. Mr. General I think the fuse was for another piece of equipment
written by Hifiman , April 19, 2008 I'm sorry, I'll stick up for Serinus and his reviews. They're always good for a laugh. April Fool's Day Joke?
written by mike , April 20, 2008 You're kidding right? The snide "in God we trust" comment (out of left field); praising ceramic pucks and special (expensive) power... this has to be a joke. A little too dry, though. It almost - almost - reads like the guy was serious. Strange but true
written by ewoutvs , April 21, 2008 Has any of the commenters who find it necessary to mock Serinus and this review ever tried this piece of equipment or an equivalent in their system? If not then I suggest you give it a try. Since a few days I own a Isotek GII minisub (which is in essence a budget version of the Thor) and although sceptic of the effect it would have on the sound I was pleasantly surprised. In my ears it lowers the noisefloor and in doing so it makes a lot of information that is in recordings audible. The effect, again: to my ears, is an expanded soundstage, a more atmospheric presentation and greater contrast in dynamics. To me it is the best investment (€ 400,- second hand) I have done so far in search of great sound at home. at least offer an objective opinion
written by stupified in seattle , April 21, 2008 "we must respect the rights and opinions of every audiophile" Internet discussion boards are there so that even the most blatant of idiots can get their opinions out. We look to your online site for quality reviews. Serinus Thor Review
written by Charles , April 21, 2008 It would seem to me that instead of carping about the subjectivity of the Thor review, it would be more profitable to borrow a unit, put it into your system, and then write a comment about what you do or don't hear in contrast to what Serenus hears. It would seem to me that all of the comments above save one or two are only so much blather. Paraphrasing: read them and pass on. Serinus Thor Review
written by Charles , April 21, 2008 I would echo ewoutvs. Commentary on the Thor without listening to the unit adds up to what may only be uninformed assumptions. Were I in the market for a unit of this sort, I would definitely try the Thor after reading Serinus' review. And if I would hear what Serinus hears, I'd buy it and be thankful. Serinus and Music
written by RichardAllen3 , April 22, 2008 I read Jason's music reviews, which I find are a good directed towards music that I would not normally be learned enough to find. However, his equuipment reviews tend towards what I call voodoo hi-fi. A well designed amplifier would eliminate any power noise. If it didn't it wouldn't be well designed and should not be purchased. This is akin to the great power cord debate, wherein the final 3 feet of wire in a 6 mile long, multi transformer, aluminum wiring, non oxegen free copper ya-da, ya-da, ya-da but this last three feet of OFC, teflon coated wire will make the sound better. I don't think so for any of this stuff. Comments
written by Henry , April 22, 2008 I may disagree with Mr. Serinus' views on audio and by implication on politics but I respect his knowledge in audio as it vastly exceeds my own. But, it detracts from the quality of the dialog I believe we all have a right to expect when some people write belittling and mocking comments which add nothing of value. Good lord this is some deep dookie I'm wading thru...
written by Audionut71 , April 27, 2008 If this thing has "proprietary Quantum Resonant Technology (QRT) that significantly lowers the noise floor in the system. You can actually measure the improvement in the audio waveform of a piece of music with the Thor in place." then why not test it and show the results????? At least they could've put a little Flux Capacitor on the front of this thing instead of the annoying LED. And if Mr. Serinus was not happy with the heft of the Thor why not put one of his Japanese audiophile bricks on top, they make everything sound better, right? Bottom line, reviews without objective test results are an extra avenue for Marketing Departments to spew crapola. You fine folks know better, thats why you created the benchmarks. However this rube does create a tremendous amount of feedback, I guess that must be the point. Did I just get the joke? Maybe I'm slow... More Comments
written by The Dude , May 01, 2008 Wow. I read something like this, and I think to myself, "Are you that desperate for advertising dollars?" Don't these type of reviews belong with the sheep over at Audio Asylum. Show me the measurements
written by Jon Watte , May 01, 2008 It says you can measure the improvement. For sure, a resonant peak filter tuned at 60 Hz will filter out harmonic and inharmonic noise outside the peak. If you have poorly constructed equipment, then such noise might even make it into the output signal. So, if it actually works, I would expect a magazine to do something I can't easily do myself: hook the unit up, and actually measure the effect. Just because a guy on the phone says you can measure it, doesn't mean that's necessarily true. If you can measure the effect, then that's very valuable information (and validation for the Thor). Then get a $60 Tripp-Lite ISOBAR Ultra and compare if it measures better or worse. It's not as pretty, that's for sure, and cosmetics has to count for something. The Emperor Has No Clothes!
written by Bill Whitlock , May 06, 2008 About a year ago, I was given a sample Nordost Thor for engineering evaluation and my opinion. The short answer is that, functionally, it's nothing more than a surge suppressor (a pair of MOVs that only begin to function at 320 volts rms as opposed to the normal 130 volts) and a 0.15 uF capacitor across the incoming power line. All outlets are directly connected to incoming power. Wait, there's more! There's an impressive-looking common-mode choke and other filter components, too. Unfortunately, they don't do anything to the unit's output power - they only filter power for the blue LED. And then there's the circuit board that has a life of its own - literally. It consists of a cheap Asian-made switching power supply (tie-wrapped to the PCB) whose 5-volt DC output powers a PIC micro-controller that apparently generates the "magic" - but it has no actual output or function (unless you believe in the old "Tice Clock" absurdity I suppose). I generated a complete schematic of the unit. It is truly over-priced "snake oil" for those who prefer belief over actual engineering. For the record, I'm not just a hobbyist with an opinion. I'm a Fellow of the Audio Engineering Society and a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. I'm a recognized expert on power, grounding, and "ground loop" issues. I write and teach extensively and hold several patents - including the technology embodied in the Exact Power regulator. I know there's an entire industry that will be angered by this, but I believe the kind of hype in the review borders on immorality! ...
written by JEJ , May 07, 2008 I am sure you are well qualified engineering-wise to comment, but the fact that you own a patent on the technology in a competeting product (Exact Power) does put the damper on the validity of your opinion. However, I would like you to expand on the PIC micro-controller and what you think it is supposed to do, as well as what the old Tice Clock thing is. Show me plenty measurements
written by Random Dude , May 08, 2008 I'd be really interested in measurements of the improvements this kind of device allegedly provides. If possible, measure with various devices (pre-amplifiers with switching an conventional power supplies, conventional power amps and class "D" amps, maybe one or two old devices where the sieve capacitors have lost their capacity over time). Write comment
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