They are two completely different approaches.
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You are quite right. I set it up and just plugged the MK2 into it. These two approaches are widely different.
Shocking to hear how differently my system is sounding now. One thing for sure it did not suck any life out of my system. This is very amusing. I only heard one song so far so I need time to process, and to make sure it was not from the good whiskey I had. 
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A man alone in his house, listening to music with a glass of whiskey in one hand!
Any system can sound wonderfully in that way!
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Didnāt suck the life out of my system either. Compared to the PP it made things quieter and more dynamic.
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There is the GroundMaster City, and there is a GroundMaster without the AC plug that can pair with Puritan PSM156 too. It seems to me GroundMaster will suit me better. I will wait until your review first.
This is definitely a plus to SQ by adding it to my system. At this point I am plugging in MK2 only, and I hear better clarity and dynamic. I quite enjoy to have both Power Plant and PSM156 in my system. The SQ is less warm but resulted in better overall performance. I do not plan to give a detail review, but it is a keeper!
I will switch to M1200 later. This is my goal to use it to serve amps, and to free up more spaces and reduce load to P15. When I upgrade to P600 later then I will not need to upsize P15.
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Glad to know our ears are hearing similarly, maybe because we have/had so similar systems.
Using the BHK Pre and the M1200s you can always find the tonal balance you like more by swapping the kind of tubes.
Just 2 things:
- donāt expect the same result feeding the M1200s with the Puritan, I really liked what I heard but at a lesser degree compared to the impactful improvement got with the DAC only. Donāt know why.
- donāt expect other components fed by the Puritan can sound better, some units IME sound bad, others sound meh, just a few sound really good. Need to say, Iām still curious to do my last experiment: all digital sources plugged into the Puritan. And all of them also connected both to CADs boxes and Puritan ground lug.
As for GroundMaster vs GM City, I prefer/need the latter because the former implies a (second) dedicate ground rod in my garden, not an option for me unfortunately. Following Italian electrical code, I use one and only ground wire for my house circuit, with one and only ground rod. Iāll go for the City if and when this next part of the system will be considered in my next steps.
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Thanks for the heads up, I really hope it will work with M1200. Both my power cords feeding the amps are stiff as grounding rods, and they have not been touched in two years. So I expect at least 24 hours for them to settle.
The only other components I want to try are the streamer and the switch. Another option is to plug both MK2 and M1200 into Puritan. I wonder have you ever tried that?
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I didnāt. I bought the Puritan after the room refurbishment, so amplification on the front wall and the rest on the rack on the side wall.
You might find that different combinations sound better, as usual itās a trial and error process. Let me knowā¦ Iām really curious.
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You are right about M1200 pairing with Puritan PSM-156. I do not hear as great an improvement as with MK2. In fact, M1200 in PSM-156 alone made the sound a bit too cool and less involving. Yes, there is more dynamic and clarity, just not as great as what MK2 brings. In some systems I can see this may not work as well than a power plant.
Then it occurred to me that the Telefunken Mazda NOS tubes in M1200 may have made the sound too analytical and a bit dark, and I remember you had Gold Lion 12au7 in M1200 instead. So, I switched the Telef. with GL tubes in M1200. This has brought some sweetness back into the system. These GL tubes are brand new, but I already know GL works a lot better than Telefunken NOS when using PSM-156.
Later I will try to plug both MK2 and M1200 into PSM-156, and I hope this may be the best way to go.
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You remember well, Gold Lions were my last tubes in M1200s and BHK Pre, Quartet Matched. Using tubes you can precisely fine tuning the system.
If you have the chance, just for curiosity, try feeding one at a time the digital components. MK II, PST, Lumin and switch. Keeping the BHK Pre and M1200s fed by the P15.
Thatās my next experiment, I havenāt done it yet due to the arrive of new CAD Ground Control that I prefer to test using my usual set up.
I have the suspect thatā¦
Oh, take care of voices, they should be lifelike, natural, realistic, vivid and engaging. This quality made like a thermometer in evaluating what works or not using the Puritan vs the P20 IME.
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Okay, I can try that later in the week. I just plugged MK2 in along with M1200, and I really like the sound. This is good news since my plan of using Puritan for amps may work (plus MK2 of course).
For now, since M1200 cords are difficult to work with and move, I plan to keep them in PSM 156, and start with my other components one at a time first.
If I can identify another gear that I like better with P15, that will be fun.
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Clever strategy, you have my attention. I was missing the time when we could compare the same things in similar set up.
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I tried plugging the streamer (Lumin U2) into Puritan PSM-156, and moved MK2 back to P15. M1200 stayed with Puritan as planned. I left M1200 on overnight to burn in the new GL12au7 tubes more, and today the SQ is quite a bit better. These tubes have 40 hours in them so they will still improve. But what I got is the sweetness that Puritan PSM-156 is lacking compared to P15. Telefunken NOS tube is not a good match with Puritan.
With U2 streamer the sound is cleaner/cool again. However, I much prefer it with P15. The soundstage seems to flatten a bit, and the voices become one dimensional. Alās description of ālifelessā could be applied here. I exchanged back to MK2 with PSM-156, and U2 back to P15. Yes, the music came alive right the way! Of course this does not mean your streamer will get same results. Both MK2 and U2 are using AQ Dragon Source cords so there is no variable.
I will try PST later. By the way, reading the material from Puritan I will probably use GroundMaster City too, so I do not need to buried a 7ā rod in my backyard. I am sure my wife will not like that! 
They have their version of grounding line called RouteMaster, and that is very reasonable compare to CAD products. I may give it a try eventually.
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You inspired me, as usual. Iāve just unplugged and shut off the P20, feeding by the PSM156 all the digital components. To hear what happens.
I already found that the Statement server/streamer sounds better plugged into the P20. I was just wondering if using only 1 conditioner/regen could be silly.
Iām listening right now to music with this set up, and all the 3 CADs connected.
The lacking of life caused by the server/streamer that (we) I felt before is gone.
Need to play more music Iām familiar with, but the change is really and immediately evident.
Pros: realism in voices is stunning, openness, naturalness. Dead silence!
Cons: dryness, less body, less liquid.
Iām planning to keep this set up and give a try to the Ground Master City next week, before getting a decision.
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Very interesting! Looking forward to hearing your review on more experiment as well as on GroundMaster City, it is a logical upgrade considering how reasonable the cost is.
Tonight, I will try PST if I have time (Picking up my wife at SFO late afternoon), and there are quite a few combinations between P15 and PSM 156 that I can explore in the coming days.
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PST plus M1200 plugged into Puritan PSM-156, the SQ is not bad. But it moves the voices forward a little, the super clarity makes everything sound less warm too. Interestingly, Mk2 in PSM doesnāt change the depth and the sound is very nature in comparison (to PST and U2). You like DAC in it too, so maybe it works the best with a good DAC than other components.
Itās probably because I have M1200 with PSM already, I do not like PST plus MK2 into it at the same time. Although the background is dead silence, the sound is almost too bright to me, and the voice becomes too pronounced to my liking. Three PSA devices in PSM have made the sound less involving in my system.
Since my main goal is to have M1200 (and future bigger amps) in Puritan, the best combination, and clearly the best sound, is with MK2 in it too and nothing else. Everything else is plugged into P15. One thing Iāll try is when my 2nd switch (LHY SW-6) arrives, Iāll try plug in one or two switches in Puritan to see how I like it.
The next logical upgrade will be adding a GroundMaster City and RouteMaster into the system. This is what Puritan recommended and I am also looking forward to hearing your thoughts on City as well.
Time for šš½āāļø
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It seems reflecting my first impressions. The DAC brings improvements, other single sources the opposite. Yesterday I had all my digital rig fed by PSM156, it could work for some aspects but it seemed a little bit fatiguing and dry. Need more time.
Iām in Paris for a while and Iām missing my system, donāt tell my wife! The new Stealth ULTRA arrived this morning (why new toys always arrive when we are away?) next weekend Iāll try it to find out if it can bring a better balance to this set up. Itās really impressive how the P20 feeding just a streamer and a switch can produce such a great impact.
I also want to add the GroundMaster City to the sauceā¦.it has been shipped today, too.
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Enjoy Paris! When youāre back you will enjoy your system more with a fresh start! Looking forward to your impressions on the new toysš·
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Well, I am surprised how much better the sound has developed tonight. Puritan and its power cord obviously need break-in time. I have had around 100 hours so far, and the soundstage has deepened and widened from a day ago, and the background is even darker than I remembered. This has turned into a great combination, and for the cost it is well worth it!
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Thanks, Donald.
Need to admit that also the CAD boxes are playing a role, managing signal and chassis ground partially together with the Puritan 156, that is the reason why the little GM City should complete the deal by managing the earth ground.
Here is how Iām using the CADs:
1 GC1.1 (new)
- Statement server/streamer via unused USB
- Puritan ground lug via spade
2 GC1
- PhoenixNET switch via unused Ethernet
- Puritan ground lug via a second spade
3 GC1
- MSB DAC via unused BNC
- ~
These 3 components all plugged (Dragons) into the Puritan together with the Sean Jacobs PSU that is feeding the router.
The result is, āthey sound niceā. At least that is what I remember while Iām drinking a Chardonnay with Fois Grois and Soupe DāOnions on a such small restaurant table that there isnāt enough room for the bottle (blah!).
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