POWER LINK™PLUS

8-outlet AC distribution unit
SCHUKO and Nema 5-15 (US style) models
IEC socket at input allows choice of power cable
blue LED to indicate correct phase
internal connection by large cross-section bus
anodized aluminum chassis for enhanced interference rejection
side brackets hold unit at ideal operational angle
heavy steel plates provide great stability
decoupling feet
option:
• chassis flat-lying, simple sides

As audio translates electricity into sound, it is obvious that the feeding current determines the quality of the performance in a very basic way. Late at night when many polluting devices are ‘asleep’, listeners often catch a glimpse of what they usually miss out on. However, only when ‘power’ is addressed comprehensively, one can fully experience how important clean power and clean signals are and what amazing difference in sound quality they can make.

Technical progress has brought about a host of polluters of AC lines, from seemingly ’innocent’ devices like energy-saving lamps, dimmers, computers, TVs etc., not to mention industrial-type installations.

Pollution coming directly through the wall socket mains is only one of several sources of degradation. As already a short piece of wire acts like an antenna, AC earth (power line ground) with its many ramifications to all wall sockets in a building, while satisfying the intended safety aspect, picks up high- frequency signals from radio frequency transmitters (radio-/TV stations, WiFi, mobile phones, etc.). This high-frequency hash is ready to creep into audio circuits when signal-ground is linked to an AC grounded chassis.

Even more critical is the situation when unshielded power or signal cables are used to connect audio or video equipment, not only because they similarly pick up interference but as there are often bundles of cables coming together, they also ’talk’ to each other, ie they act both as emitters and receivers – those connected to digital equipment being the ’loudest’ and the most sensitive at the same time. Another overlooked ’port of entry’ for parasitical disturbances are low quality connectors and poor contacts in general.

If all that resulting degradation is to be fought successfully, it has to be done on several levels. Ordinary filtering has its downsides for audio, particularly when it has to be grounded or earthed (see above). Ensemble has therefore developed a comprehensive ’clean signal’ concept. Avoiding traditional filtering, it is based on the following measures :

1) Use of very effective shielding in power and signal cables, as prevention is always better than cure

The Ensemble power cables are protected by global shields and an individual film shield for each electrical conductor. As these extreme shielding measures are coupled with low transfer impedance and supplemented by crosstalk-cancelling topology, internal damping of micro-vibrations and the lowest possible dielectric absorption, the result is not only undisturbed transmission of AC power and an ultra-low noise floor, but also a fantastic improvement in sound quality.

2) Build quality

Ensemble electronics represent a build quality similar to medical equipment and therefore require no AC grounding. An important interference path is therefore quite simply not present (or, in the case of the amplifiers as the ’hub’ of a system and earthing therefore a de facto standard, a choke coil guards the earth path).

3) Distribution of AC in the best possible quality: the Ensemble POWER LINK™

The distribution unit can dispatch AC to eight pieces of equipment. Housed in an aluminum chassis to maximize high-frequency interference rejection and fitted with excellent contacts, the POWER LINK also sports a phase indicator, ie a blue LED that lights up when the unit is powered in correct phase. This feature allows operation of all attached equipment with the lowest possible stray currents (voltage to ground), further reducing the noise floor.

SPECIFICATIONS