iFi Audio AC iPURIFIER - Audiophile AC Power Filter

The mains power supply is the ‘gasoline’ that fuels an audio system. And, whether it is clean or contaminated, it has a material impact upon the quality/enjoyment of playback.

It is no ordinary mains purification product. Technologically advanced, it’s an active not a passive product so it goes above and beyond and cancels far more noise across the frequency range than other passive devices.

This chart compares the AC iPurifier (green line), which is ACTIVE, versus generic mains filters (red line) which are typically passive.

The effective noise reduction difference is as different as night and day.

i.     MUCH better at -40dB and
ii.    Effective across the frequency range. A passive purifier filters only in the very top-end of the frequency range.

Every audio system benefits
The AC iPurifier was designed to be used in ANY mains powered audio system. It is particularly effective at dealing with modern audio systems that have an abundance of generic and varied power supplies (see next section for a more detailed, technical explanation).

Where extension blocks are used, the AC iPurifier can be used to isolate certain types of power supplies for the maximum noise reduction.

AC iPurifier – Features

	Latest purification product to benefit from ANC technology Since developing Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) in-house, we have utilized it in all the relevant products from the iPower all the way up to the micro iUSB3.0.The AC iPurifier is the latest product to have onboard ANC. As its name suggests, it ACTIVELY cancels the noise which makes it one of the power accessories, if not the only one, that actively cancels noise.
	Wireless Purification System The Wireless Purification System (WPS) is a complex circuit that reduces power line noise without audible or measured side-effects. This is important because such solutions, while attempting to curb noise, also hamper dynamics. This is not the case with the AC iPurifier.
	Modular design to supress noise With many modern audio systems, there are typically a plethora of mains plugs. All of these add their own unwanted noise issues and pollute the local mains supply.The design of the AC iPurifier is such that it is even more effective if several are used to ‘contain’ the same type of noisy sources.You can insert into the AC mains wall outlet that supplies the audio system OR insert into the mains extension block for the audio system. Try both locations to discover which has the greatest impact on improved sonics.
	Intelligent Ground connection There are more than a few AC clean-up devices that add an extra Ground/Earth but only the AC iPurifier has ‘Intelligent Ground’. You can buy the optional extra 4mm ground cable to give the audio system the best possible Ground/Earth but it will ONLY actively provide a Ground/Earth (if it detects the lack of one*. It will not create a ground loop).
	‘Smart Polarity and Earth’ detection When it comes to mains AC, there are two common errors which people can make when setting up a system. The first has to do with polarity and the incorrect orientation of USA and EU type mains pins.Intelligent Polarity automatically informs you of incorrect orientation by changing to a red LED.The second error is the a lack of a Ground/Earth.In a system where there may or may not be a lack of a Ground/Earth, simply insert the AC iPurifier into the system and it will tell you one way or the other.When the two LEDs (below) light up green everything is in order!
	Overvoltage Surge Protection Last but not least, for the rare instances where there is an overvoltage spike (from a mains electricity surge or lightning strike for example), the AC iPurifier will automatically shut off and stop electricity from passing through your system. This should protect your valuable and highly-sensitive mains equipment from harm.

Part 1: Actively goes where no purifier has gone before

Mains is the fuel that powers an audio system. Whether it is clean or not has a material
impact upon quality and the user’s enjoyment of playback. iFi’s latest ‘power product’, the AC iPurifier, is no ordinary mains purification commodity.

Technologically advanced, it is an ACTIVE not a passive product, so it goes above and beyond and cancels far more noise across the frequency range than passive devices.
It is effective against both:

i. Common mode noise existing equally on both of the power pins, referenced to
the earth pin.
ii. Differential noise existing only between the two power pins – the net to earth is
zero.

They are, in effect, flip sides of the same coin and are the bane of audio systems regardless of the type of power supply.

Nullifies noise others can’t reach
Compared to other generic noise filters, the AC iPurifier is superior because it is ACTIVE as opposed to passive. This enables it to achieve a far more comprehensive termination of noise across the frequency spectrum. As noise exists across the frequency range, this clearly means the AC iPurifier is unparalleled when it comes to neutralizing noise.

This chart compares the AC iPurifier (green line) which is ACTIVE to generic mains filters (red line) which are typically passive.

The effective noise reduction difference is as different as night and day.

i. MUCH better at up to -40dB and…
ii. Effective across a wide frequency range, compared to passive filters which cover
only very high RF frequencies.

Every audio system benefits from the AC iPurifier

The AC iPurifier is designed for use in ANY mains powered audio system and is very effective when added to modern audio systems that have an abundance of digital and analogue components. Typically these systems are powered from a plethora of mains plugs. All of these ‘wall warts’ can add their own unwanted noise issues and pollute the local mains supply. However, the design of the AC iPurifier is such that it is even more effective if several are used to ‘contain’ the same type of noisy sources.
Insert it into the AC mains wall outlet supplying the audio system OR insert into the mains extension block powering the audio system. Try both locations to determine which has the greatest impact on improving any noise issues.

Modular Design to Suppress Noise

With many modern audio systems, there are typically a plethora of mains plugs. All of these add their own unwanted noise issues and pollute the local mains supply. The design of the AC iPurifier is such that it is even more effective if several are used to ‘contain’ the same type of noisy sources. You can insert into the AC mains wall outlet that supplies the audio system OR insert into the mains extension block for the audio system. Try both locations to discover which has the greatest impact on improved sonics.

Part 2: Mains noise. A real bane.

Power supply noise is the bane of every audio system. There are always multiple sources of noise and they come from two main sources – inside and outside.

External noise is all around

This chart shows that noise is anywhere and everywhere and some of it inevitably ends up in the mains that supplies the audio system, due to the mains wiring acting as aerial. Most of the sources, we can do little about as they are found in everyday life such as radios or mobile phones.

The next chart shows the ‘local’ noise sources found in and around an audio system.

Local noise comes from hi-fi components

These sources of noise are found in hi-fi systems and come from three main sources:

i. AC mains power supplies
ii. Switch-Mode Power Supplies
iii. Digital circuitry.