Gadgets: Quantum Mains Power Purifier – Review – 76

Here’s a turn up for the books: a review product arrives and I find myself at a loss as to how it works. I understand stuff along the lines of how amplifiers amplify or how CD players morph digital data into music, but the Quantum Qx power purifiers have me baffled.

Unlike most power conditioners, which treat, reshape, filter and generally fiddle with the incoming power, the Quantum doesn’t physically manipulate the current. It instead bombards it with an ultra-high-frequency sonic signal using a process called Electro Magnetic Field Stabilization, which is claimed to reduce interference and improve the qualities of the AC waveform without limiting the voltage swing or compressing musical dynamics.

The Quantum comes in two flavours, the Qx2 and the Qx4, which have two and four Quantum modules respectively. Both are chunky, nondescript silver boxes with only an IEC input for a mains cord and a standard mains output socket. The ideal setup has the Qx connected between the wall socket and a high-quality star grounded power distribution block with identical power cords. Next best is to run it between a pre-amp or integrated amp and the wall. Quantum recommends using its own stranded power cord or a Nordost Magus to power the Qx, the cord between it and the component on the other side is up to the owner. Note that the Quantums aren’t surge protectors, so this needs to be factored into the equation.

I’d heard a Qx2 in a Naim/Sonus Faber system and the effect of having it turned on was unmistakable. The switch on the back of the Qx units doesn’t cut the power, it just toggles the Quantum effect on or off but it really should be labelled “more” and “less”. When on, the already excellent sound quality was elevated and improved in every aspect – more air, more energy, more life, more detail and so forth. In my own system, the differences with the Qx2 weren’t as distinct but they were there, highlighted by the impression that more space was available in my room and the artists on my CDs and records had put in a little extra effort all round.

The Qx4 had a more pronounced effect, especially when connected to my power amp, with darker backgrounds and an increased sense of ease and spaciousness, as if the system had gained more of what made it special and discarded the negatives. That little minx Lisa Ekdahl became even more seductive with the Qx4 running (I didn’t think it was possible) and the soundstage improved and opened up to the point that on the brilliant Live at Massey Hall 1971 CD, Neil Young himself seemed to step backwards until he was suspended in space on the other side of the back wall of my room; how he managed to keep from falling down the staircase is beyond me.

Every time I turned the Qx4 off, I felt like something important had gone astray; as if one of my components was having an off day. If I left the Qx4 offline for a while I got 
used to not having it, but as soon as it was back online I’d realise what I was missing and I didn’t like that sensation at 
all. The annoying part is that this was happening on a system that sounds so good to my ears; the Qx4 was messing with 
my serenity.

I’m seriously thinking of defrosting my spending freeze and keeping the review Qx4. As the saying goes, your mileage may vary, but I’d be surprised if an extended audition didn’t prompt a rethink of your planned upgrade path. The theory is that the more Quantum modules added to a system, the greater the effect. I don’t even want to think about that.

BRETT GIDEON

TECH SPECS

QX2 and QX4
Mains Power Purifier
QX2 $2998
QX4 $4598

INPUT SOCKET: 15 Amp IEC
OUTPUT SOCKET: NZ mains
DIMENSIONS: 80 x 270 x 195mm (H/W/D)
WEIGHT: 5kg
FINISH: Silver

CONTACT

stateCC@xtra.co.nz

This Review is from Tone Issue #76.