Gryphon PowerZone 3
REFERENCE AUDIO – WITHAM ESSEX
BOB’s Review Series - No 80 – Gryphon PowerZones with HafnerTech
INTRODUCTION TO THE GRYPHON POWERZONE 3
Gryphon Audio have always had a diverse portfolio but have concentrated their efforts on Amplifiers, DACs, Phono Stages, CD Players, Speakers, furniture and cables. Recently they introduced a turntable, a very expensive turntable, designed with the help of Helmut Brinkmann. There are however missing products from their extensive range such as streamers, SACD Players and Reclockers and until a couple of months ago they have never made any form of mains distribution block, and to be honest I never thought they would. Imagine my surprise then when a demo unit turned up in our showroom in a small (for Gryphon) wooden crate and when I opened it, sure enough there was a PowerZone 3.20 nestled inside. What shocked me more, once I had researched more about the PowerZones 3 was the technology they have employed to deliver an optimised mains supply. I had pretty much assumed that Gryphon Audio would always have their feet firmly grounded in the application of advanced cutting edge, yet tried and trusted technology, but here they are using technology that verges on the science fiction.
The PowerZone 3 (there are two versions) uses quantum molecular level micro-vibration technology to optimise the flow of electrons in the mains supply, a technology that has never been used before in an audio product, and they call it HafnerTech. This technology is the brainchild of Paul Hafner, founder of Quantum Acoustics SRL and it is installed in the PowerZone 3 in sealed and potted HafnerTech modules. Wow! Read on to find out more about this new and patent applied for technology.
WHAT IS A POWERZONE 3
As I mentioned above there is more than one PowerZone unit now available, the 3.10 and the 3.20. Both units have identical external casework, except for the rear panel, and use the same HafnerTech technology internally to optimise the mains supply feeding your connected components. Both have eight UK Furutech mains outlet sockets on the back (other countries of course have suitable outlets fitted). The differences between the two versions are that the 3.10 is designed for systems requiring up to 20 Amps and that includes Gryphons own Mephisto Monoblocs, and it has a single HafnerTech module on board whereas the 3.20 caters for those massive systems that need up to 40 amps (think Gryphon Apex Monoblocs) to drive them and it has two HafnerTech modules on board to feed two banks of 4 outlets. My entire system (see below) only uses around 5 amps when running in pure Class A and I suspect that only the very top 2 or 3 % of ultra high-end systems, those with truly massive monobloc amplifiers such as those from Gryphon or D’Agostino will really need all that the 3.20 provides. However, that doesn’t prevent you using a 3.20 in any system, no matter what the power draw, and of course you might like the idea of doubling up on the HafnerTech modules to separate out your analogue and digital components. The other difference between the two units, apart from price, is that the 3.10 has a single C19 mains input connection on its rear panel whereas the 3.20 has two C19 inputs requiring two mains leads going back to the wall sockets. I guess these differences justify the price difference between the two, the 3.10 costs £14,500 and the 3.20 costs £17,950. Both units come with generic supplied mains leads, not Gryphon’s Vanta mains lead, so you may want to invest further in more upmarket mains leads, but the Vanta cables are costly and start at around £6,000. I used one of my Jorma mains leads to feed power into the PowerZone 3.10 and connected six of the eight outputs to my system using Jorma leads. The final two outlets were connected to the Essence preamp and power amp using mains cables from a new start up company called HB Laboratories who have an almost obsessive attention to detail that I feel compliments that of Gryphon’s attention to detail. I have found the HB Labs Statement Audio Black Viking Carbon mains power cables (around £4,000 for a standard 2m cable) to be some of the very finest mains cables on the market today, rivalling many that cost several time more. Their website is a little out of date as they are currently investing in new products but check them out, ask for Lio and mention I recommended them.
Both PowerZone 3’s measure 486mm wide, 125mm high and 285mm deep, the 3.10 weighs 10.9 kg and the 3.20 weighs 11.9kg. They don’t have an on/off switch, just plug it in, turn it on at the wall socket and you are ready to go. They have the traditional red illuminated Gryphon logo on the front panel to show they are powered up. They don’t run warm as there is nothing inside to generate heat, so ventilation is not going to be an issue when siting them. That width however may mean it might not fit your rack so make sure to check before buying.
WHAT IS HAFNERTECH AND WHAT DOES IT DO
Unlike most audiophile mains distribution devices on the market today the PowerZones don’t filter, recondition, regenerate, limit current or have any active signal processing of the power supply being sent to your precious audio equipment, there is no loss of energy and no capacitors in the signal path What they do instead is to optimise the flow of current within the mains supply itself and they do this using HafnerTech modules to manage vibration of the electrons as they pass through the PowerZone to feed an optimised electricity supply to your eight connected components. Still with me? Paul Hafner is a clearly a bit of a genius in the field of Quantum Acoustic Resonance Feedback Theory but most of us reading anything that includes the words Quantum Theory tend to think immediately of Star Trek set in the 23rd century, well I did anyway and I’m probably no alone in this. Not being qualified to make any scientific observation on Paul’s theory and how or why he has applied it to the electrical supply for audio components I will instead just listen to what the PowerZone 3’s can do in my system and let you have my thoughts. Before I begin here is a brief extract from Gryphon’s website that sets out briefly what the HafnerTech modules do:
”In a typical circuit, the transmission of a variable signal through a conductor creates uncontrolled resonance, analogous to aerodynamic turbulence, due to the random crystalline structure of the conductor through which the signal passes. The objective, then, is to optimize the flow of current within the signal path. By sending the power through focused and idealised crystalline conductor structures, PowerZone 3 optimizes the electrons’ vibrational flow and minimizes spurious resonances and the distortions they create. This is achieved by the proprietary HafnerTech™ conductor approach, a Patent-pending design comprised of adapted crystalline structures that facilitate this vibrational flow in an undisturbed way. As a result, because there is no loss of energy, this technology will produce no additional noise or heat. The objective of these conductors is to create a neutral, optimized environment through which the AC power can pass without introducing stress, confusion and distortion to the signal but enhance the speed and precision of the transmitted current.” They go on to say,“Based upon the principles of Quantum Acoustics Resonant Feedback Theory, these modules benefit from carefully adapted geometric structures at molecular level which guide the electrons’ vibrational flow”.
In short, the HafnerTech modules control the micro-vibrations of the electrons in the conductor that flows through the PowerZone 3 and each of the three feeds, live, neutral and earth are treated individually. The whole HafnerTech solution is based around metallurgy and how vibrations are caused and controlled as the mains electricity passes through. Gryphon is not saying which metals they are using because of the patent-pending design, but they did say that different metals are used for the live, neutral and earth conductors. All internal wiring is 12 AWG silver-plated OFC Copper with Teflon insulation and star earthing is used throughout.
Apparently the HafnerTech modules inside the PowerZone 3 are potted in resin to reduce vibration and increase longevity, but I suspect that they are also potted to prevent prying eyes from ripping off the technology inside whilst that patent is still pending.
The build quality of the PowerZone 3 lives up to Gryphon’s enviable reputation for the use of high-quality materials and are built from dual layers with a steel core and aluminium external cladding and use a technology called SmartStack to reduce mechanical resonances in the chassis. SmartStack is normally found in the automotive industry and was developed by the MENETA Group in Denmark, this is its first use in the audio world, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see this technology used in future Gryphon products.
One more thing that Gryphon claims the PowerZone 3 will achieve in your system is improved room acoustics because the optimised mains supply allows your audio components to work at their best and thus reducing distortion and negative resonances that can play havoc with room acoustics. I can’t say I noticed anything like that happening but maybe its one of those small subtle changes for the better that all add up to a better sound.
All this Quantum stuff is a bit ‘beam me up Scotty’ and ‘it’s life Jim but not as we know it’ if you ask me, an Enigma if you like and I genuinely never thought I would say that about a Gryphon product, but setting aside the science involved does it work? Well, let’s have a listen to the PowerZone 3.10 and find out.
CONNECTIONS
Regular readers will already have some idea of the components in my system, but it has been evolving in the last few years and currently consist of the following, all of which I connected to the PowerZone 3.10.
- Gryphon Essence Power Amp
- Gryphon Essence Pre-Amp
- Gryphon Ethos CD Player /DAC
- Innuos PheonixNet Ethernet Reclocker
- Innuos Statement NG Streamer
- Ideon Absolute Time USB reclocker
- Magnum Dynalab MD 106 Triode FM Tuner
- REL Carbon Special Subwoofer
All the above electronics including the PowerZone 3 sit on a Gryphon StandArt stand and the speakers used are the now no longer available Marten Coltrane Tenor 2.
PERFORMANCE
Firstly, the PowerZone 3 is wider than most audio components at 486mm and may not fit into all standard width audio racks so check the width of yours before committing to a purchase. I learnt this the hard way because it wouldn’t fit on my audio table that sits adjacent to my Gryphon StandArt rack and I can see another expense coming at me to resolve this. I guess the extra width of the PowerZone 3 is needed to accommodate the eight power sockets in a line across the back of the unit. It is however easy to install if your shelf is wide enough and because none of the outlets are filtered it doesn’t matter which component is connected to which output, just plug them in willy nilly. Gryphon run-in the PowerZone 3 in their factory before shipping, but they still suggest performance will improve at home after around 50 hours of use and most components need a few days to settle after being moved, including cables. Notwithstanding this its performance more than met my expectations from the first track played and yes it did get a little better after those 50 hours had elapsed, perhaps a little less bright. The first thing I noticed was a wholesale improvement of clarity and stereo separation across all genera and the whole frequency spectrum. Everything was crisper and more dynamic with silent backgrounds and a greater sense of being in the studio with the artist or band. The level of detail and placement of vocals and instruments was better than I had heard before. Much of this improvement was in the stereo image expanding and letting me hear more precise placement of instruments and singers. Listen to the track ‘Carolina Law’ by the Decemberists from their album ‘What A Terrible World, What A Wonderful World’ and just listen to the vocals and the bass rhythm which came across so much richer and deeper than before the PowerZone 3.10 was installed.
In my system it made playing music at whatever volume you choose sound more engaging, but you will probably find yourself winding up the volume more than usual to get more and more from the system you already thought you knew well and understood. Believe me you didn’t, the PowerZone 3 helps your equipment to lift a veil you didn’t even know was there. I’ve mentioned before the Mary-Chapin Carpenter track ‘Not Too Much To Ask’ where she duets with Joe Diffie and with the PowerZone 3.10 feeding optimised power they both take centre stage, Mary slightly on the left and Joe up close and personal on her right, the emotional connection between them is fabulous and there is no smearing or blending of their voices which can occur on less revealing systems.
The Finish group Club For Five are mostly an a cappella band of five and have been around since 2001. Their 2009 album ‘You’re The Voice’ is a collection of songs, mainly originating by other artists but rearranged by them for their style of presentation. Track two is an alternative of Dire Straits Brothers In Arms and the male bass vocals are quite amazing, the PowerZone 3.10 seemed to be freeing up the system to make his voice and those of the backing singers seem even more lifelike and in the room with me. Whilst listening to this album give track 6 a try, it’s their version of Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) and there is a lot going on with backing vocals and instruments that helps to show the capabilities of your system better than before.
Have you noticed that artists very rarely produce whole albums that are truly great from the first track to the last and they may only ever achieve this once throughout their careers. Pink Floyd did it with ‘Wish You Were Here’, Rod Stewart did it with ‘Every Picture Tells A Story’ and ‘The Joshua Tree’ from U2 is another fine example. I Guess most would think of Marvin Gay’s What’s Going On, but I’ve always found it difficult to listen to from start to finish. You will of course have your own thoughts on totally great albums and when you play them with a PowerZone in circuit, they will only reinforce your admiration of those bands that achieved such fine album success.
CONCLUSION
This entire review was based on the use of the PowerZone 3.10 in my home system, but I have used the 3.20 in the showroom and at the Ascot show where it was driving the Gryphon Apex monoblocs and the Commander two box Preamp with great results and it never flinched despite the massive current draw of the Apex power amps. Who knows exactly what HafnerTech is doing, I certainly don’t have a clue, but who cares when it results in the rest of your system being free to give its very best, beyond how you have heard it perform before.
What more can I say, I’ve placed an order for a 3.10. It must be one of the very best mains optimisers on the market today. Note I didn’t say ‘conditioners’ because its important to remember that the PowerZone 3 doesn’t condition or filter or regenerate the mains passing through it, it just optimises it. Forget the tech inside, just think of it as being the audio equivalent of seeing a rainbow on a sunny day.
AND FINALLY
I had thought that the choice of mains lead feeding power from the wall socket to the PowerZone 3 would be less important than those from the PowerZone 3 to each component in the system but after some time and experimentation I realised that it is just as important. It sounds better with a higher quality mains cable between it and the wall so if considering a purchase make sure you also allocate funds for a decent mains cable to replace the standard one that comes with the PowerZone 3 (you will need two for a PowerZone 3.20. In my system using one of the HB Labs cables between wall socket and PowerZone 3.10 was better than using the Jorma Trinity mains cable which is, to be fair, only a quarter of the price. The improvements seem to be a slightly less toppy or overly bright delivery and greater control right across the frequency range, resulting in less fatigue and a more relaxed yet no less detailed presentation. If you are in the market for a mains distribution block then the Gryphon PowerZone 3 should be high on your list.
November 2024
Bob – Team Reference Audio