Website author headshot
Cameron Oatley
ExtremeHiFi
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi

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.

What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.

Manufacturer details

  • Conductor Rating: 41 Amp
  • Conductor Material: Ultra high purity, grain optimised copper
This cable takes our correctly placed obsession with vibration distortion, as collected by, and ruthlessly transmitted to the very heart of every system component by mains cords, to its ultimate conclusion. Our Ultimate cable is so limp and floppy that it simply cannot carry vibrations.
This cable takes our correctly placed obsession with vibration distortion, as collected by, and ruthlessly transmitted to the very heart of every system component by mains cords, to its ultimate conclusion. Our Ultimate cable is so limp and floppy that it simply cannot carry vibrations. And yet it contains massive 41 Amp, ultra high purity, grain optimised copper conductors, enclosed in a super soft custom formulated silicone dielectric to which three uniquely developed nanotechnology membranes have been sequentially applied to form a complex shielding and neutralising barrier to the power lines, whilst a polycrystalline metals barrier along the entire length of the earth conductor neutralises ground line interferences. All of which technology is contained within a complex arrangement of anti-vibration pick up and dampening layers. The Ultimate is an absolute sonic triumph which totally redefines the contribution that power cables can make to ultimate fidelity.
Manufacturer Site

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.

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.
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Avg. Product Price
$501-$1,000
Used For Sale
9
 Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
294
 of 900+
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Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
14
Founding Year

Our take on the brand

Puritan Audio Labs' PSM156 power conditioner eliminates transformer hum by removing DC from the power line through 52 stages of filtration, and includes an unusually flexible power cord that's easier to handle than typical stiff cords. Their GroundMaster system uses a simple copper rod grounding method to reduce electrical noise, offering a more affordable alternative to similar high-end products.

Look inside the brand

Brand Page

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.

From our interview with
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Brand Page

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