This is a review of the PowerGrip YG-2 clean power unit. This reviewer is familiar with passive solutions and is a convert to these types of solutions, which manage electrical and mechanical noise to clean up the modern noisy power supply. At HF&MS, we have reviewed the Atlas Eos Modular products and the Chord Company PowerHAUS. The PowerGrip YG-2, however, uses active electrical filters to manage RF and other noise.

The Atlas Eos filters RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) and EMI (Electro Magnetic Interference) noise in its design with individual RF screens and anti-vibration contact damping. The PowerHAUS product uses the GroundARAY (MainsARAY, in this case) technology to filter out the smallest resonance, HF, and earth noise, as well as their other technologies and shielding approach.

The PowerGrip YG-2, however, uses active electrical filters to manage RF and other noise.  The YG-2 has 6 sockets at the rear; there is a YG-3 that has 12.

Design

High Current Output for amplifiers and other dynamic audio products.

PowerGrip YG-2 is an active electrical clean power filtering system with six mains sockets, in pairs, at the rear that are configurable to high current needs, like power amplifiers, digital circuits, like DACs, or straight analogue needs, like preamplifiers or record players.

The electrical filtering system ensures minimum harmonic distortion. Still, it can ‘gate through’ large current impulses, such as those needed in dynamic pieces driven by power amplifiers. The PowerGrip YG-2 offers a high capacity of 3680 Watts @ 230 V, 16 Amps.

Quality

The unit is nicely understated and not as deep as expected, making its positioning flexible.  The PowerGrips are made in Taiwan, the centre of global electronics,  so there is a reassuring degree of confidence there.  The front facia of the YG-2 is a brushed 4mm aluminium plate, and the chassis feels pretty solid, too.  The rear sockets are at an angle facing down (with the earth pin down, UK version).  This angle is fine and facilitates linear power supplies (like the iFi Audio one) that annoyingly have the output on the top of the socket.

The small blue front screen is touch-controlled and can adjust brightness or show time delay, voltage, or distortion data.

The unit is (WxHxD) 440 x 80 x 185 mm and weighs 4.8 kg.

The manual is comprehensive and very informative.

Distribution is here through The Audio Business. The PowerGrip YG-2 is £1099.

Performance

This is quite a simple matter.  Measure the noise before and after installation, and the job’s good.

Physical Measurements

’38’ represents a 90% reduction in mains noise…

I borrowed an ISOTEK Blue Horizon Mains Noise Analyser that measures current distortion in thousandths. I took a reading from the wall socket as below. This is quite disturbingly large, 414, considering the reading is out of 1000 (see the above link)!

PowerGrip YG-2 from the wall socket

Then, we took some readings from the Digital and Analog outputs, as shown below. Although I should have taken a clearer picture with the PowerGrip YG-2 in the shot, you will have to trust me that these are genuine readings from the YG-2 rear. Most of the half dozen or so readings were below ’40’ on the ISOTEK scale. ’38’ represents a 90% reduction in mains noise (current distortion), and ‘0’ represents a 100% reduction.

PowerGrip YG-2 output readings varied but were mostly below ’40’.

Audio Performance

…introduction of the PowerGrip has certainly tightened the soundstage up in this system…

How about an actual audible audio performance?  Using the Moor Amps Angel 6 Power amplifier driving Kudos Titan loudspeakers with the extremely resolving new Auralic VEGA S1 streaming DAC, I already have a rather beautiful sound, particularly with the recent introduction of the Solidsteel rack, as you can see in the picture.  Introducing the PowerGrip YG-2 into the system offers an opportunity to tidy up cables, which probably contributes to cleaner sound anyway.  The introduction of the PowerGrip has certainly tightened the soundstage up in this system, which, in any case, sounds terrific.  It is not a ‘night and day’ moment, but it is impressive and tangible, and given the nasty noise I have anyway, it makes sense.

I have recently reviewed a rather large and impressive new amplifier and an external power supply to a separate preamplifier (I will leave you to look through the site to spare the blushes of the manufacturer).  Both these units will necessarily hum, but in my case, this noise was audible from the listening position, which is quite unsettling.  However,  after inserting the PowerGrip, the units returned to a more normal, inaudible hum.

Overall

…I want to keep the PowerGrip in the loop… to provide that platform for my system…

This one is about your budget in a world of marginal gains.  A GroundARAY, an EE1 data filter, a cable upgrade, or a subwoofer, you have to decide where your money is best spent.  Where I am now, and putting back my sixty quid Lindy 6 gang conditioner, I want to keep the PowerGrip in the loop in the medium term to provide that platform for my system, particularly as I now understand how poor my mains supply is, and how easy it is to fix.