# Am I using Sine wave or Multiwave? **URL:** \ **Category:** Power Components\ **Created:** [October 23, 2021, 9:35am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/am-i-using-sine-wave-or-multiwave/25739 "2021-10-23T09:35:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![alextanght](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9f8e36/32.png) [@alextanght](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/alextanght)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2021, 9:35am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/am-i-using-sine-wave-or-multiwave/25739/1 "2021-10-23T09:35:25Z")
Sorry for a dump question, but it seems it is just a toggle button. From the setup menu, if I see the “Sine” icon, it means I am using Sine wave or after I press it the system will go to sine wave? ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/psaudio/original/3X/e/b/eb3abc16f670e95885b37dd49dd852da3c8370d5.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![danofesherintheuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3d9bf3/32.png) [@danofesherintheuk](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/danofesherintheuk)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2021, 10:24am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/am-i-using-sine-wave-or-multiwave/25739/2 "2021-10-23T10:24:28Z")
I’ve always assumed that if it says Sine then that’s what’s being produced. Also, I hear a difference between Sine and Multi (and use Multi 6). ---
**Author:** ![Serhan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/serhan/32/192329_2.png) [@Serhan](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Serhan)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2021, 10:55am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/am-i-using-sine-wave-or-multiwave/25739/3 "2021-10-23T10:55:53Z")
I concur with @danofesherintheuk. When you see Multi above waveform logo, then your device is running in Multi Wave mode. Screen shot above shows you’re using Sine Wave mode which I have been using alongside high regulation because THD is low in my area, but voltage changes are the norm. ---
**Author:** ![alextanght](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9f8e36/32.png) [@alextanght](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/alextanght)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2021, 10:57am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/am-i-using-sine-wave-or-multiwave/25739/4 "2021-10-23T10:57:34Z")
Thanks a lot! ---
**Author:** ![Serhan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/serhan/32/192329_2.png) [@Serhan](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Serhan)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2021, 10:59am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/am-i-using-sine-wave-or-multiwave/25739/5 "2021-10-23T10:59:57Z")
You’re welcome. Enjoy the weekend. ---
**Author:** ![dchang05](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/dchang05/32/294697_2.png) [@dchang05](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/dchang05)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2021, 3:09pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/am-i-using-sine-wave-or-multiwave/25739/6 "2021-10-23T15:09:59Z")
It is fun to compare Sine vs. Multi. because they sound a bit different. Lately I have enjoyed Sine more, but I seemed like Multi 4 better a few months ago. I did change a cable and tubes for my BHK. I have no idea was that the reason. ---
**Author:** ![davida](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/davida/32/94292_2.png) [@davida](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/davida)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2021, 6:44pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/am-i-using-sine-wave-or-multiwave/25739/7 "2021-10-23T18:44:55Z")
Hey dchang05 For good reference don’t change tubes/ cables nearly or at the same time… First get a sense of how one affects the sound quality of your system. Then go on to the next change … Multiple changes at once confounds determining what affected the sq and or in what way… Happy trials n trails Best wishes ---
**Author:** ![alextanght](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9f8e36/32.png) [@alextanght](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/alextanght)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2021, 6:30am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/am-i-using-sine-wave-or-multiwave/25739/8 "2021-10-24T06:30:43Z")
I have a better SQ with sine than multiwave. I am using a tube pre and SS power amp. I tried two setups. First one is a DAC streamer directly to the SS power and sound awesome. Just lacking the warm tone from a tube and having a wide sound stage. Secondly I add a tube pre in between. I got a problem that the mid/low range seems stay in the room longer and can’t disappear fast enough. I need to tune down the volume and sacrifice the small details in the music. Recently, I change to sine wave and the mid/low is more control. May be my tube pre doesn’t match with the multiwave. I don’t know why, but this is just my experience. I am not saying the P12 is not good. The regulated sine is much better than bypass it. Just a comparison of sine and multiwave in my setup. ---
**Author:** ![Serhan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/serhan/32/192329_2.png) [@Serhan](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Serhan)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2021, 6:42am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/am-i-using-sine-wave-or-multiwave/25739/9 "2021-10-24T06:42:26Z")
> [@alextanght](#): > > I have a better SQ with sine than multiwave. I am using BHK pre & Meridian 857 reference. BHK pre tubes seem to love high regulation and Sine Wave. ---
**Author:** ![alextanght](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9f8e36/32.png) [@alextanght](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/alextanght)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2021, 7:46am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/am-i-using-sine-wave-or-multiwave/25739/10 "2021-10-24T07:46:13Z")
Thanks. Let me try. I am using Low Distortion now. ---
**Author:** ![dchang05](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/dchang05/32/294697_2.png) [@dchang05](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/dchang05)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2021, 1:29pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/am-i-using-sine-wave-or-multiwave/25739/11 "2021-10-24T13:29:37Z")
Yep, I seem to have a habit of changing a few things at a time. Now I am going to change from high regulation to low see what effect it will do. I have always stayed at high and my THD is at 0.2% most of the time. I wonder if low setting will change anything on the reading. ---
**Author:** ![jhnh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/90db22/32.png) [@jhnh](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/jhnh)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2021, 11:00am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/am-i-using-sine-wave-or-multiwave/25739/12 "2021-10-25T11:00:08Z")
I’ve found that my digital equipment (DAC, streamer, radio, etc.) sounds better on MW. My analog stuff (tube phono and tube main preamp R2R, etc.) sounds better on sine. I run the digital stuff off a PP3, and I run the analog stuff off a PP12. My power amps are straight out of the wall (shielded 12ga cable with High Fidelity magnetic conditioners) This represents YEARS of futzing around 😉 ---
**Author:** ![dchang05](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/dchang05/32/294697_2.png) [@dchang05](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/dchang05)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2022, 1:14am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/am-i-using-sine-wave-or-multiwave/25739/13 "2022-06-29T01:14:44Z")
A while ago I preferred Sine wave, but I changed to Multiwave 4 and listened to it for a month. Then I switched back to Sine and it did not sound good, not even on the next day. But I stuck with it for three more weeks, and now I cannot stand Multi wave again. It is possible it takes a long time for these different settings to settle in, but more likely my brain has accustomed to these subtle changes and used to it. So, I still do not know if there is a best setting for the generator. I am sure during various times of the day one setting may be optimal, but I will never know based on my experience. ---
**Author:** ![waymanchen11](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/waymanchen11/32/253241_2.png) [@waymanchen11](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/waymanchen11)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2022, 2:30am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/am-i-using-sine-wave-or-multiwave/25739/14 "2022-06-29T02:30:46Z")
Is it possible when you had it on Multiwave 4 and then you started tweaking and tuning your system to Mutiwave 4 until it sounded really good, then Sine Wave doesn’t sound as good anymore? The same the other way around? I find either way is good, I slightly prefer Multiwave 4, so I just leave it at that and forget about it. ---
**Author:** ![dchang05](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/dchang05/32/294697_2.png) [@dchang05](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/dchang05)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2022, 2:43am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/am-i-using-sine-wave-or-multiwave/25739/15 "2022-06-29T02:43:27Z")
Oh, it was certainty that I tweaked the system during each phase and found something I liked in each setting. I predict I will still be confused as to which one I like in the not-so-near future. For the time being I am settling on Sine, and I thought the sound is great, or not. ---
**Author:** ![luca.pelliccioli](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/luca.pelliccioli/32/93681_2.png) [@luca.pelliccioli](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/luca.pelliccioli)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2022, 5:24am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/am-i-using-sine-wave-or-multiwave/25739/16 "2022-06-29T05:24:57Z")
Welcome back to Sine comfortable world Donald! You know I prefer SineWave without any doubt also during last tweaks. Edit: I’m flaunting conviction just to help you make the decision ---
**Author:** ![dchang05](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/dchang05/32/294697_2.png) [@dchang05](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/dchang05)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2022, 5:50am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/am-i-using-sine-wave-or-multiwave/25739/17 "2022-06-29T05:50:44Z")
Sine world is beautiful for this week anyway, and I hope I will stay here for a while 😉 ---
**Author:** ![waymanchen11](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/waymanchen11/32/253241_2.png) [@waymanchen11](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/waymanchen11)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2022, 2:38am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/am-i-using-sine-wave-or-multiwave/25739/18 "2022-06-30T02:38:13Z")
I checked and I was a little surprise my setting on my P20 is Mutiwave 6. I did a comparison before, but it was so long ago I forgot what setting I had it on. I just did a bunch of Sine wave and Multiwave comparisons now and I find in my system, Sine wave has slighter sharper images, but it thins it out a bit also. Multiwave forms and separates the images better. I also compare Multiwave 4 to Multiwave 6 and I like 6 better. It has a slightly more richness to the sound. If I had to choose between Mutiwave 4 or Sine wave, I would choose Sine for the slightly sharper presentation. But I like Mutiwave 6 over Sine wave similar to I like M-1 over Purple fuse, although the difference is not as pronounced. Just throwing it out there, YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![dchang05](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/dchang05/32/294697_2.png) [@dchang05](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/dchang05)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2022, 3:22am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/am-i-using-sine-wave-or-multiwave/25739/19 "2022-06-30T03:22:08Z")
Your experience has reconfirmed my theory. When you listen to a particular setting whether it is Sine or one of the multi. for some time. Switching back and forth with other settings within a brief period would more likely result in the original setting being the preference. You might try listening to a different setting for a few weeks, and then switch back to Mult. 6 to see if you still prefer it. My experience tells me any setting could be the preference once you are used to listening to it for a while. In other words, I have no idea which setting is the best, and it may not matter at all. ---
**Author:** ![waymanchen11](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/waymanchen11/32/253241_2.png) [@waymanchen11](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/waymanchen11)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2022, 3:41am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/am-i-using-sine-wave-or-multiwave/25739/20 "2022-06-30T03:41:33Z")
You may be right, I should give it more time and with more music to settle on a setting. I did spend all day on Sine today with vinyl and digital files, and did get a good feel the difference from my original Multiwave 6 setting. I felt the sound with the Sine was very powerful, but lost a bit of ease and substance. I will give it more time as you suggest. [Next page](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/am-i-using-sine-wave-or-multiwave/25739.md?page=2)