wow…what a real warm welcome…thanks to all…
just seen,the next firmware update is waiting for the p5/p10 owner.it`s already downloaded…but i will it install tomorrow…litte tired today from cleanig up the cellar for hours and hours…and do not want to make a mistake in doing the update right now.
tomorrow will be another day.
expectant,if the four zones will be set to the switched mode again after the update like in the previous version.
i recall…it was not only merle haggard i learned my english from… george jones,lefty frizzell,hank williams 1-3,boxcar willie and many others did the job with their music too.
You listen to a talented group of artists.
The programming of my Power Plant remained completely intact after the upgrade, including the time delays I put in, etc. Hopefully this will be your experience also.
hopefully…
as sheridd reported in accordance to my experience with the previous firmware-update,i guess there are differences in some technical features between the p5/p10 units sold in the U.S. or “overseas”.
but it is a “first world problem”…to switch on again the four zones manually an do the initial settings again.
the power plant p5 is a wonderful device i would not miss again in my two channel system.hope it never breaks down and will feed the “remaining relic” until the end of days.
Anyone out there that did not like the multiwave effect before the firmware update, but have tried it again at the new inceased settings after the update and become converts?
If so what is your preferred MW setting and what benefits are you hearing?
Thanks, Dave
So…let me see if I understand. Version 37 of the firmware brought audible and measurable improvements to the output of the powerplant. But it sounds like version 38 lost these improvements while fixing another unrelated bug. Did I understand that correctly? So version 37 is the best sounding/performing version of the firmware for sinewave mode?
Now I see version 39 is available. Does this have a sinewave mode that behaves like version 37 or version 38? I use only sinewave mode so that is why I’m interested in knowing which one of the 37,38,39 versions to use for best performance.
Hi bcwang,
I have tried all these firmwares and each of them I have found a great sonic improvement over the original firmware. I would recommend you let to your Ear be the judge of which sounds best to you in your system.
An example I prefer multi-wave engaged and using level VI. You will get many people preferring different settings as each sound system is unique therefore one sitting which may be more agreeable to someone may be quite different to others.
Best course judge for yourself 
for me this firmware upgrade was indeed a Christmas present =D>
Where can we find version 39?
I have attached 39.
Attached files /FileUpload/c3/bc230a60e3d37fa35b8f348a1bda72.zip (687.1 KB)Â
DarqueKnight,
Did you have a chance to put firmware v39 under the scope to see how it performs in measurements compared to the others?
Thanks!
So....let me see if I understand. Version 37 of the firmware brought audible and measurable improvements to the output of the powerplant. But it sounds like version 38 lost these improvements while fixing another unrelated bug. Did I understand that correctly?
Yes, that was the result in my audio system.
So version 37 is the best sounding/performing version of the firmware for sinewave mode?
I found version 37 sinewave mode to be the best sounding version in my audio system. It appears that you prefer sinewave to MultiWave with your current firmware version. I recommend that you compare ver. 37 sinewave and MW to your current version sinewave, then try version 39 sinewave and MW.
Now I see version 39 is available. Does this have a sinewave mode that behaves like version 37 or version 38?
I tried version 39 sinewave and MW and went back to 37 sinewave. I audibly compared and measured the sinewave and MW modes of 38 and 39 to the sinewave mode of 37, but I did not compare 38 to 39.
I use only sinewave mode so that is why I'm interested in knowing which one of the 37,38,39 versions to use for best performance.
Again, you will never know what sounds best in your system until you try them. I you have not already done so, I advise obtaining the zip file for your current firmware and keeping it on hand to revert to in case you don't like any of the Variable MultiWave update versions.
DarqueKnight,
Did you have a chance to put firmware v39 under the scope to see how it performs in measurements compared to the others?
Thanks!
I did. Version 37 had lower noise amplitude and noise density than v39. The following oscilloscope measurements were taken over a 45 minute period. I must caution that the differences in output noise that I measured may not fully or even partially explain the differences in performance I heard. It only indicates that there is a difference in performance.
Figure 32. FFT plot of power signal from the wall.
Figure 33. FFT plot of power signal from P10 with firmware 37.
Figure 34. FFT plot of power signal from P10 with firmware 39.
Data from the FFT plots are summarized in tables 3 and 4:
Table 3
Table 4
Table 5
I sent my MultiWave results, including oscilloscope measurements, to Wayne Colburn of Pass Labs. Wayne is the designer of the XP-30 line stage and XP-25 phono stage preamps used in my two channel audio system. His comments are below.
“I have used a PS Audio Power Plant in the past and found improved sound when used on line level components in standard mode. This was on older product like the X1 and X0.2.
The MultiWave was better on some things but not others. I ended up going back to standard mode. The XP-30 and XP-25 do have a more complicated power supply than previous products from us in that they have a capacitance multiplier before the regulators and this would probably diminish some of the MutiWave effect.” - Wayne Colburn
I just installed the latest version of the firmware into my P10. now I see many measurements taken by DarqueKnight and thank you for that. Can you please measure this version 39(29) with sinewave on, and show me the difference between the six steps? or is there a difference? SineWave on and the six steps up? Then, is there a lot of change if I change the settings: Low distortion and high regulation?
or just the short version of this question: which setting (sinewave/multiwave in combination with the six steps) and (low distortion/high regulation) will give me lowest distortion out of my P10 possible? btw Its all solid State equipment I own
thx in advance for the feedback, regards Alex
I just installed the latest version of the firmware into my P10. now I see many measurements taken by DarqueKnight and thank you for that. Can you please measure this version 39(29) with sinewave on, and show me the difference between the six steps? or is there a difference? SineWave on and the six steps up? Then, is there a lot of change if I change the settings: Low distortion and high regulation?
or just the short version of this question: which setting (sinewave/multiwave in combination with the six steps) and (low distortion/high regulation) will give me lowest distortion out of my P10 possible? btw Its all solid State equipment I own
thx in advance for the feedback, regards Alex
Hi Alex,
As I cautioned earlier, measurements can sometimes provide some insight into performance, but measurements may not completely characterize what is heard. What measures well and sounds good on my system in my room may not work for another system in another room.
The best recommendation I can provide is that you try all the various settings with your equipment and carefully document what you hear, and of course, let us know what you find out.
Thank you for the tip, now a other quiestion.
How come there is a device that is there to extract distortion from the AC, but at the same time it ad distortion to make youre setup sound better. Or am I mistaken? Please anybody? regards Alex
Hi, Alex This is a great question. It does seem like a contradiction.
Multiwave adds the third harmonic to the sinewave. This is "distortion" in that the sine wave is no longer pure.
This controlled distortion can be beneficial however. Adding the third harmonic increase the amount of time that the waveform is at its peak values.
This is good because electronic equipment which needs the highest values to work its best (like audio, electric engines, etc.) get a longer time to obtain the power they need.
In audio, a great example is a capacitor. A longer peak charging time allows the capacitor to top off more easily.
This is how it works. This is a sine wave:
Here is a sine wave with the third harminic superimposed on top of it. Notice that the green waveform goes up and down three times for each time the blue waveform goes up and down.
Here is what happens when the two wave forms are added together:
Notice that the resultant waveform spends more time at the peaks than a sine wave. This additional "peak time" gives the audio equipment more time to get the electrical energy to works its best.
Not all equipment wants/needs this extra peak charge time. Thus, we each need to try multiwave and determine whether it sounds better for our system.
I hope this helps.
Thanks Elk, excellent explanation. I would add that when we sum the two together the resultant waveform is without the dip shown here at the peak. The way we add it to the sine wave simply extends the charging time out.
This makes sense. I’m sure one can play with levels, etc. to tweak it to be pretty flat on the top and at the low plateau.
It is one of those great ideas. It is obvious once you think about it - but I never would have thought of it. 
I would add that when we sum the two together the resultant waveform is without the dip shown here at the peak. The way we add it to the sine wave simply extends the charging time out.
Paul, would you personally comment on vacuum tube like with The new MW settings? I would like to hear a comment from PS Audio regarding tube life and the new MW firmware update. Do any of the new 6 MW settings have the potential to shorten tube life? Your input is most valued.
Thanks,
Bob
Sure. In most cases tubes should be unaffected and treated the same as solid state. In a few exceptions, the bias of the tube (the filament voltage) will rise up causing the tube to run hotter - and that will shorten tube life. Typically, modern tube equipment uses regulated voltage to heat up the tubes, so if the DC goes up a little (which is what happens with MW) it shouldn’t matter. Some tube equipment lets you adjust the bias level on the tubes as well.
That’s the only way it can actually affect the tube’s life.
Sure. In most cases tubes should be unaffected and treated the same as solid state. In a few exceptions, the bias of the tube (the filament voltage) will rise up causing the tube to run hotter - and that will shorten tube life. Typically, modern tube equipment uses regulated voltage to heat up the tubes, so if the DC goes up a little (which is what happens with MW) it shouldn't matter. Some tube equipment lets you adjust the bias level on the tubes as well.
That's the only way it can actually affect the tube's life.
Thanks Paul. I have a new Audio Research Reference 5SE preamp which is breaking-in now. I am concerned with the 6550 and the 630h tubes with MW. What is interesting is that SineWave seems to sound better with the new firmware 29? However, it's sort of hard to tell as I am also breaking in a new amplifier.
As you know there is no bias adjustment in the Audio Research preamp. Do you know if the tube life might be shortened in the Ref 5?
Thanks. Your input is most appreciated.
Bob