PSC SC Power Distribution Block

[Wardsweb]

A log of people were interested in the "AC strip" so I thought I would shed a little light on this high end piece.

First off the one I got doesn't look like the one on the PSC website.

They show a power cord with it and mine did not come with one. That's ok for the $90 I spent. These retail around $1200 and I've seen them around the net for $450.

[Wardsweb]

Now the bad news. We don't pull any punches on AK.

The ac outlets are painted and not well at that or have some kind of film on them. I could scrape it off with my finger nail without even really trying. The thin Walmart outlet covers only help furthur the low end home built look.

The bottom is just a piece of 1/8" plywood.

[Wardsweb]

They epoxied over the screws. Yea, like that's going to keep me out. More bad news it doesn't use solid core silver for the mains. It is at best silver plated copper. At worst it is tin plated copper. I verfied this using a Leica Microscope. I'm not a metalurgist, so I can't determine the actual plating. The ground line is still standed copper. The cutout for the entry module is rough at best.

[Wardsweb]

Closeup shot of one outlet. They doubled up on the conductors, I guess to meet current requirements.

[Wardsweb]

Another closeup, I think they need to invest in some wood working tools.

[Wardsweb]

All in all, the execution of the design was disappointing for what it is. I would hate to think someone would pay retail and be happy with this. From the plywood bottom and the painted outlets to the oversize cutout for the entry module and thin outlet plates, it just seems more garage build cheesey construction than a high end power module. I do like the wood, it's very pretty and you get a shiney name plate. :D

[MikE]

In both the parts quality and construction. Fit-n-finish? I can do better. I'll keep my Shunyata Hydra. It retails for $600 more but you can plug up to six (or more) components and compare the visual impact and build quality.

MikE

[MikE]

MikE

[Wardsweb]

:wtf:

I have edited the above post to reflect what I found out this morning. The units are wired with silver plated copper, at best. With the quality of the rest of the unit, it would not surprise me to find out they were just tin plated copper. By the way, if you didn't already notice, there is NO filtering in this box.

:wtf:

[BrianB]

Wardsweb,

While I often inspect the innards of amps, preamps, etc., that I sell, I never bothered opening up this distribution box. If I had, I would have felt guilty offering it to ANYONE as a piece of "high-end" gear.

FYI, P.S.C. never supplies power cords with their distribution boxes - those are purchased separately. The internal wiring is supposed to be silver-coated copper, although P.S.C. often showed off these units with their own solid-silver power cords. Filtering is claimed to be passive.

To be honest, I was technically a P.S.C. dealer for a couple of months way back when I opened up shop, but I never actually purchased anything from this line aside from a couple of these power strips. The only reason I even considered P.S.C. is that it was being imported by the same distributor as another line that I carry (and one that is DEFINITELY of high quality, both inside and out). But the distributor dropped the line (a good move on his part, I now believe!), and I decided to sell this distribution box.

In my opinion, this is EXACTLY the type of piece that gives high-end audio a bad name. The innards are obviously nothing to write home about, and the current retail price - which I already thought was awfully steep - now seems like highway robbery! I'm glad I never really invested in this line as a dealer.

Wardsweb, I honestly believed when I posted my ad that I was offering this distribution box at a really good price - especially given the typical internet prices for used and demo units. Now, however, I'm not so sure, and in light of your findings, I'd be more than happy to offer you a refund on this purchase. In any event, your investigative reporting here was a real eye-opener to me...

Cheers,
Brian

[Wardsweb]

Brian you are a gentleman and a professional. I appreciated the call today. I've never had a company call me before to make sure I was totally satisfied with the final resolution of a problem. You went above and beyond the call of duty, even though you were guilty only by association.

Thank you sir -

[MikE]

I agree. Brian's actions after the sale and discovery of the problematic build quality, was very professional. He didn't pull any punches or made excuses. He accepted blame for not looking into the matter more closely and offered a refund. I agree the hidden discovery did not serve the associated parties or that product type well. I would also add that this unfortunate transaction gave us an opportunity to see our Vendor host for who he is - a gentleman.

MikE

[Thatch_Ear]

I don't understand how anyone could even consider putting something as slipshod as that into the marketplace at all at any price. Who ever made this piece of crap needs to be called on it.
Hey MikE,
What are those black warts on that snake box ya got there?

[Thatch_Ear]

Previous comment in no way is meant to reflect on Venus or Wards. Only on the person that designed and marketed it. I hope they got their $$ in the bank cause there might not be a whole lot more coming their way.

[grumpy]

Mike

Whats that orange an blue braided wire ? Looks kinda familar ;)

[Wardsweb]

Originally posted by grumpy
Mike

Whats that orange an blue braided wire ? Looks kinda familar ;)

You mean like this:
http://www.wardsweb.org/audio/altec_images/crossover_sm.jpg

:D

[MikE]

Fill me in, what's the story...

MikE

[michael w]

Hi Wards,

Are the "defects" all cosmetic ?

Does the powerboard work as intended or does your dis-satisfaction extend to the unit's operation as well ?

I hate shoddily made products too.
Got to have the performance and looks.


cheers

[Wardsweb]

Originally posted by MikE
Fill me in, what's the story...

MikE

That is one of my Altec Voice of the Theater A7 custom crossovers. The entire crossover and wiring to the drivers is silver. Thinking of making all the interconnects, power cables and speaker cables out of silver also.

[Wardsweb]

Originally posted by michael w
Hi Wards,

Are the "defects" all cosmetic ?

Does the powerboard work as intended or does your dis-satisfaction extend to the unit's operation as well ?

I hate shoddily made products too.
Got to have the performance and looks.


cheers

Well you could say it works. It has voltage in and the same voltage out, but no filtering, as claimed by the manufacturer. I'm going to rebuild the entire rig. I have already totally taken it apart, including the actual outlets.

[Thatch_Ear]

I need to make these things myself. Would you buy one of mine? I have been thinking of investing in some good cable, outlets, plugs, and the things needed to at least build good power cords and maybe some multiple power outlets. Copper, OFC gold plated and put in the cold bath. The cryogenics is what makes the OFC gold plated pluggs and outlets really work. There is one brand of elecrical cable that is supposed to be better than others.
It would be a big investment for me. All cable, plugs etc have to be bought in advance to be cryogenenitally super cooled.
I figure it will cost close to $250 to $300 ot make a meter length of power cably using TOTL conectors. Is $500 too much for a meter of the best power cord you can buy? I can make these things. I know the brand of cable and where to get it cryoed etc. The actual largest investetmemen is in the cable terminations. I can do braided speaker cables and ICs.
How about an Audio Karma label?

[THOR]

"All cable, plugs etc have to be bought in advance to be cryogenenitally super cooled."

Was that last whole post a joke or were you being serious??

*THOR crosses fingers and hopes Thatch was foolin' around*

[Thatch_Ear]

Nah,
Those $5000 power cords are probably OFC that has been crogenitically treated. A friend of mine in New Mexico does it. I have thought of buying a spool of wire and enough of the plugs (that is the real expense) paying to have them cryoed and making some quality cords.
Some of the cheaper but also very good cables are braided CAT 5 that has been cryoed. Nothing secret or hard about it and it would be intersting to have MikE do a Pepsi Challenge with something I can make.
Maybe next month I will check into the cost of getting the Wattgate stuff. I already know the price of the cabling. Another Home Depot item.

[THOR]

Didn't Ted Williams get cryoed??? Mebbe he would make a slammin set o' cords :p:

[Thatch_Ear]

You are just being obstinate! Little Footed Sasquach wannabee! Note the little foot comment.