Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
Product Strengths
- Improves purity of tonality, reduces the noise floor, increases dynamics, and creates a more open soundstage
- Isolates the grounding grid
Product Considerations
- Requires either the GroundMaster or GroundMaster City to function
Takeaway: The RouteMaster, when combined with the GroundMaster or GroundMaster City, significantly enhances audio quality by improving tonality and spatial qualities. It is considered an amazing bargain in high-end audio due to its performance relative to its cost
All
Route Master
reviews
Manufacturer details
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- Puritan products focus on removing noise and DC components from the mains supply in a multi-stage, cumulative fashion, while also emphasizing the preservation of dynamic range.
- Their conditioners implement individual filtering at each output socket to minimize cross-contamination between connected components.
- They provide solutions for external grounding, including the GroundMaster, to further lower noise levels by connecting the audio system to a dedicated grounding rod or, for apartment dwellers, a grounding device that connects to a wall socket.
Select products
Ground Master
- Positioning: A cost-effective solution for eliminating ground noise in audio systems.
- Description: Eliminates ground-line noise by providing a stable and silent earth connection. Unlike the PSM series, which focuses on power purification, this targets noise from the ground line, making it effective for users who experience interference from multiple electrical devices. It is a budget-friendly option for those looking to improve sound quality without investing in a full power purifier.
Route Master
- Positioning: A versatile system for managing and optimizing audio signal paths.
- Description: Optimizes audio signal paths, offering a different approach compared to the power purification focus of the PSM series. It provides a flexible solution for users who need to manage complex audio setups, ensuring signal integrity and reducing noise.
PSM136
- Positioning: An entry-level studio master mains purifier with essential features.
- Description: Offers a solid foundation with precision symmetrically balanced circuitry and 39 filter elements, providing a noticeable improvement in sound clarity and dynamics. It is a more affordable option compared to the PSM156 and PSM1512, making it suitable for users with smaller budgets who still want to enhance their audio experience. This model is ideal for those with moderate functionality needs and a focus on improving sound quality in smaller setups.
PSM156
- Positioning: A mid-range studio master mains purifier with enhanced performance.
- Description: Building on the PSM136, increases the number of filter elements to 52, offering greater delicacy and detail in sound reproduction. It provides a significant upgrade in performance, making it a better choice for users who desire more dynamic and punchy audio.
PSM1512
- Positioning: A high-end studio master mains purifier with maximum output capacity.
- Description: Doubles the output capacity of the PSM156, featuring 94 filter elements for superior sound quality and system performance. It is the top choice for users who require the highest level of purification and the ability to connect multiple components without compromising on sound quality.
Our take on the brand
Look inside the brand
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
We do not see merit in claiming technical innovations when the science has been known and understood for the two centuries since Faraday, Ohm, Maxwell, Hertz, Henry, et al. defined the behavioral patterns of electricity and magnetism and their interactions. Even exotic-sounding "modern" dielectric materials advancements and conductor voltage treatments, etc., can be traced back well over half a century ago.
Our approach to product design is to apply clear logic, establishing the broad spectrum of aims for the product, then evaluating and evolving practices that achieve these aims.
This is accomplished firstly within the fundamental design as evolved by measured performance, but from there on, the product is shaped and evolved through massive sequences of listening tests over a very wide selection of HiFi setups of different technologies and ambition. Listening to how each design decision actually sounds as affected by the enclosure dimensions and materials, the board layout, component values and their technology, materials, etc. Establishing how every individual aspect influences the final sound of the overall design. It is a long and painstaking process from which there is no escaping if you wish to present a world-class product.
What's your approach to customer support?
We only distribute through specialist outlets with the required skills to guide and assist customers with their purchase and answer normal technical questions relating to usage of our products. In the event that the questions are more uniquely complex, we are always on hand to take over the conversation. Our products are inherently robust and designed for many decades of use. We always stand by our products, with happy users our topmost priority.
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
This is ever-changing, but to note is that for older material in a digital medium, the earliest versions before the compression of the loudness wars took hold are almost invariably the best. For 60s, 70s, and 80s music on vinyl, seek out older pressings produced with an all-analogue master tape to cutting head sequence with no digital process stages in between. If there is a digital stage employed, as with virtually all vinyl of recent decades, including "audiophile" pressings, you are better off listening to the digital version directly.
Today's choice of three would probably be:
- Joan Armatrading – Me Myself I – AMLH64809 – Dynamics, vocal positioning in the soundstage, and overall imaging
- Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto – Kyung-Wha Chung, LSO – Previn Decca SXL 6493 – Handling of a large orchestra at full belt and the tonal realism in the solo violin passages
- Fleetwood Mac – Tusk K66088 – "Beautiful Child" – Vocals, soundstage, imaging, clarity, realism, and separation of the individual contributions
What other products pair best with yours?
We need to ensure that our products interface well across the broadest spectrum of components, and we have, for example, in our development room over 20 different amplifiers from Pass Labs Monoblocs, through Krell, Naim, Meridian, Cyrus, Quad, Leak, Sugden, World Audio, Enleum, as well as many speakers and source components.
Used
Puritan
What if you spend more?
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Our summary
Product Strengths
- The IsoTek V5 Elektra does not restrain the dynamic range of music
- The V5 Elektra lowers RFI (common mode) noise by as much as 55 decibels and also lowers differential noise
- Offers surge protection up to 67,500A
- Each outlet is independently wired and isolated from others, and uses four independent, six-stage 'delta filter' power cleaning networks
- The V5 Elektra improves the stability of AC power and protects equipment from dangerous voltage spikes
- The IsoTek V5 Elektra enhances the sound, allowing more fine details and dynamics to come through
Product Considerations
- The feet feel 'chintzy' for a power conditioner
- Outlets are a little close together, making it difficult to plug in bulky power cords
- One reviewer received the product with no instruction manual included
- Considerable physical size and weight might require sturdy shelf
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Clarus Sextet: The Clarus Sextet is a competitor, but is a bit more neutral-sounding than the V5 Elektra
- Vs Transparent Powerwave: The Transparent Powerwave includes protection for coax, gigabit, and ethernet connections, while the V5 Elektra does not
- Vs PS Audio Stellar PowerPlant 3: The PS Audio Stellar PowerPlant 3 is a power regenerator and has limitations in terms of power delivery to connected equipment, but sends fully-corrected AC to the equipment
Takeaway: The IsoTek V5 Elektra is suitable for audiophiles seeking clean and stable power for their hifi systems, and improves audio quality by reducing noise and enhancing dynamics. Its advanced protection features also safeguard equipment.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our summary
Product Strengths
- Brings calmness and focus to the sound
- Features both High Current outputs for power amplifiers and Low Current outputs for sources, with different filtering for each
- Measurably drops the noise floor, which is reproducible
- New enclosure has a sleek design
- Delivers greater power with unrestricted current delivery within the limits of the power supply
Product Considerations
- Impossible to predict which model fits best among power conditioners
- It is necessary to have components of the very highest quality, designed specifically for purpose with the correct architecture
- Some might consider these 'exotic', they represent a critical and important part of the function and appropriate to use
- Building a better EVO3 Aquarius was enough of a daunting prospect that it took IsoTek more than a dozen years to make a viable replacement—that is claimed to improve on the EVO3
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs IsoTek EVO3 Aquarius: The V5 makes the EVO3 sound like it's on strong antipsychotics, providing a peppy, immediate, and upbeat rhythm, leaving the EVO3 behind
Takeaway: The Isotek Aquarius V5 looks great and helps bring out the best sound from equipment by lowering the noise floor. It could be a worthwhile addition to a hifi setup.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our summary
Product Strengths
- Flexible and configurable, with ten Schuko-Steckplätzen allowing optimal adaptation to almost any system setup
- Improves the clarity of the sound image, and enhances spatial representation
- Increases the richness of sound colors
- Does not create dynamic limitations
Product Considerations
- Under-dimensioned filters and isolation transformers can be more detrimental to dynamics
- The optional features were not used in the test
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- It helps the Tsakiridis Theseus provide a sound that is less flat, more colorful, and cleaner than the Linn Majik DSM as a full amplifier
Takeaway: The Tsakiridis Super Athena is a versatile device with configurable settings that allows the user to fine-tune it for their system, bringing improvements to clarity and sound quality. It offers a cleaner listening experience without limiting the dynamics.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our summary
Product Strengths
- The BPC-3 brings the instruments closer and energizes them strongly, creating a close perspective and high energy
- The BPC-3 increases the emotional temperature of tracks
- The BPC-3 produces long reverberations, resulting in a bigger sound with powerful scale, supported by strong, low, soft bass
Product Considerations
- The presentation is focused on a slightly narrower stage
- With file players, the BPC-3 turned to softness and relaxation, calming down the upper midrange and emphasizing the midbass
- Selectivity and resolution seem a bit lower than with the reference strip
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Acoustic Revive RTP-4eu Absolute produced a softer and darker sound, whereas the BPC-3 increased the emotional temperature of the track, and while the BPC-3 focuses on a narrower stage, reverberations are longer and more unambiguous
Takeaway: The BPC-3 is an interesting device that provides energizing sound and low bass, making the sound bigger and giving it power. It is worth trying because it brings something that passive power strips and conditioners do not have.
Video review
Our take on the brand
What competes at this price?
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Multiple cumulative sympathetically-tuned stages of purification with 19 independent elements are included
- 6 x 15A outlets each with independent re-filter stages eliminate cross contamination between connected equipment
- Direct maximum power routing to all outputs realizes full dynamic performance
- Cleansed earth removes noise from the earth, and star earthing eliminates ground loop hum, reduces the noise floor, and improves definition
- Massive 30'000A of three-dimensional surge protection
Product Considerations
- The overall limit for all outputs combined is 15 amperes
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Furutech RTP-6 & e-tp80 passive power strips: The reviewer suggests that even one lightning strike would make the difference clear, implying the PS106-DC is expected to be better than the passives due to its active AC/DC filtering
Takeaway: The PS106-DC power strip has good filtration and surge protection. It is designed to improve hifi equipment performance through clean power delivery.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Multiple cumulative sympathetically-tuned stages of purification with 19 independent elements
- Six 15A outlets each with independent re-filter stages to eliminate cross contamination between connected equipment
- Direct maximum power routing to all outputs to realize full dynamic performance
- Cleansed earth to remove noise from the earth
- Star earthing eliminates ground loop hum, reduces the noise floor, and improves definition
Product Considerations
- 15 amperes is the overall limit for all outputs combined
Takeaway: The PS106-DC power strip has multiple features to eliminate noise and improve audio. It is designed to protect equipment from power surges, making it a worthwhile addition to an audio setup
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Provides a solid foundation for plugging in mains leads without interfering with the incoming mains, delivering clean power.
- Results in good, tight bass and fluidity, and more resolving sound with much more detail and tighter bass information.
- Provides a larger and more precise soundstage.
- Has a noticeable effect on timing—having the effect of endowing the music with a pleasing flow and without any harshness in the upper registers, making for a very easy and non-fatiguing listening experience.
- Excellent design and solid build quality using quality components that will last for years
Product Considerations
- Some purists would argue that adding a power switch defeats the object of a high-quality unit
Takeaway: The TCI Cables Temple Constrictor SE power block delivers clean power effectively, providing a solid foundation for the hifi system. The power block enhances the sound quality with improved detail, tighter bass, and a wider soundstage, so it can give great value to the sound.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Very well built with heavy gauge aluminum extruded case and high quality parts
- Provides three independently filtered Iso-Zones
- Offers microprocessor controlled under-voltage and over-voltage protection with automatic reset
- Provides surge and spike protection
- Improved performance enough to be detectable at first listen
Product Considerations
- The MOVs will need to be replaced to restore full protection after they sacrifice completely while absorbing a surge
- The provided power cable can be viewed as a complimentary starting point
- Dectet will shut down if MOVs sacrifice completely while absorbing a surge
Takeaway: The Dectet Power Center is a well-made product using high quality parts, and is rugged, delivering a specific level of power conditioning and protection. It delivers improvements that are detectable.
Video review
Our take on the brand
How to buy
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