I have always been an Advocate of Clean, Sufficient, Stable and ‘Grounded‘ Power for any audio component and system. Therefore, I have used many products of different brands (AUDIOQUEST, AUDIOTECH, PS AUDIO, FRANK ACOUSTICS, SHUNYATA, NORDOST, TELOS, ENTREQ, etc) to pursue such Power. They were considered Essential for the Ultimate Performance and Protection for any audio component and system.
When AFC TOP HIFI (MALAYSIA) SDN BHD‘s Mr.Matthew Ong contacted me to audition and review the locally designed and manufactured FUSION Regenerative Power Supply (RPS) 500 by Mr.Goh Kheng Liang (an Electronic Engineer of more than 4 decades of experiences in the industry),…with interest and enthusiasm I agreed to it. He brought the review sample to my door,…it was hefty at 30Kg(!) and with Clean Finishes to the Chassis (MSRP in Ringgit Malaysia RM18,990 for 4 outlets, RM19,500 for 6 outlets, all using Furutech brand).
The Fusion RPS 500 was not that similar to most Regenerative Power Supply in thr audio market. It was a “100% fully linear power conversion regenerative power supply“. Therefore, there was no ‘switching conversion’ methods employed within the Fusion RPS 500 to avoid ‘its’ inherent noise and compression of dynamics.
In addition, the Fusion RPS 500 came with both Input (with 8-Steps Toroidal Transformer to deal with fluctuating voltages) and Output Voltage Regulator, with constant monitoring by Microprocessors based Control Board, Robust Capacitor Bank for the sudden Dynamic Performance, 2x Linear Power Amplifications and an Output Toroidal Transformer to ensure constant 230v AC,…etc.
Initially, I connected the digital streamer, the Hifi Rose RS150B only to the Fusion RPS 500, which in turn drew its power from the High Current (HC) Outlet of the Shunyata Denali 6000T. The then impression was ‘so encouraging‘ that on the same ‘night‘ itself, I switched the Fusion RPS 500 to ‘standby‘ and connected to it also, the FM Acoustics 268C preamplifier and the FM Acoustics 223 phono master linearizer. Oddly,…the 3 connected components did not improve further the total performance/ sound quality of the audio system. Maybe, I was tired and/or the Fusion RPS 500 needed some more days to run in for optimum performance…However, I called it that night.
The following day, all rested up I went into my audio den for a listening session.
MY ‘JAW DROP‘ OR THAT MY ‘EAR OPEN‘?
Admittedly, I could be easily impressed with any improvement in sound quality over my audio system. I did not find that to be a weakness or an embarrassment (for me),…given that I already done/ invested so much for the Power itself to my audio system as a whole,…but a Revelation of the Attribute(s) of the mentioned component, the Fusion RPS 500.
The Obvious Blackness and Quietness of the Background,
that allowed…
Resolution of Details from the native recording to ‘Just Freely Flow‘
from the loudspeakers to the Listening space. Therefore, the vocalist, Ms.Aisyah Aziz sounded…
more ‘Casual‘ (/not hurried) and ‘At Ease‘ (/natural)
in her rendition of ‘Killing Me Softly‘.
The ‘Tight Bass‘ from the initial Drumming at ‘Way Down Deep‘ was sure to ‘impress‘ some audiophile,…
‘No more the Out of Control and Sluggish Bass from those Drums‘.
Here, the drumming sounded…
Articulate, Agile, Locatible, Discernible and Followable.
There was that sensation that each drum note was…
Differentiated, Palpably Weighted and, with Differing Force to indicate the obvious.
There was that Epicness, Control, Order, Stability and Authority…
in the presentation of the Full Orchestra in the rendition of ‘The Witch From Mercury‘.
Here, the Obvious Blackness and Quietness of the Background enhanced…
the Perceivability of Space, Air (thus Atmosphere), Segregation, Separation, Distinction, and Individuality…
among the Musicians/ Groups (thereof) and the Vocalist,…
Nothing was Left Out!
Here at ‘Hungarian Rhapsody No.2 in C-Sharp Minor, S.244/2‘ conducted by Leopold Stokowski, the Obvious Blackness and Quietness of the Background enhanced…
the sensation of the Size and Dimensions of the sizable Recording Venue
(through the ‘audible reverbs‘ from the walls of the said Venue), and…
the Distance, Space and Difference between Group(s) of Musicians at play,
thus the Artistry and (Intended) Flow of the Conductor. In addition, there was
the Greater Impact (/Force) of Explosiveness in Dynamic and Power at the Right Time.
STILL JAW DROPPED AND EAR OPENED!
Nowadays, nothing great in audio came at a low price. If Audio Performance and Protection were the Priority, and that Affordability was within reach, then the Fusion RPS 500 worth the Attention and Consideration.
I would say ‘more so‘ if the component(s) to be connected with worth more than the Fusion RPS 500…
NO DOUBT!