Kemp SNS plug - old and new
Contents
Kemp is a well known brand to many enthusiasts. Your author has at least three SNS plugs. Now we have the latest one. It should bring some improvements. Measurement-wise they are certainly different as you will see in the measurements.
Martijn hears more quietness with the SNS plug. Focus changes (deeper and tighter) and also in the sound comes some more balance. The difference is pretty obvious after the “baseline. This Kemp brings calmness and tightness.
“Placement of the piano is neat relative to the violin,” reads your author in Martijn’s notes. And, “more depth in the notes.” All in all, the SNS plug removes some annoying fray and brings peace and coherence to the whole sound.
LCR Measurements Kemp SNS Plug (New (above) and old)
Response and noise measurements Kemp SNS plug
As with the Isotek and IFI, we clearly measure a filtering effect when we connect the Kemp SNS plug. We see a capacitance of 2uF. What is crazy is the ‘bump’ in the capacitance. At both plugs (old and new). That sway also seems to be reflected in the filter slope at the Prism (the kink). Perhaps a resonance point?
The Kemp filters quite effectively – deeper than the Isotek, as you can see further down. We see a decent compression of noise in both the white noise test and grid test. Without question, a product that does what it promises.
Overall Kemp SNS Plug
| Auditory | Measured |
| Without a doubt more quiet than standard. Imaging is tight, slightly smaller than Isotek. | Clearly a filtering effect. Performs well in all tests. |
These filters are often marketed as being used in a wall AC mains socket adjacent/next to another mains socket into which a power conditioner plugged (ie both AC mains sockets next to each other /side by side are on the same mains circuit).
This is different to your test set up. So my question is…..(given the way these filters are marketed/manufacturer’s recommended use)…. can a power conditioner actually benefit from having a plug in filter along side it on the same AC mains circuit?
I think your test answered the question of the differences between using a power condition (the Aquarius) and a plug in filter….but not the impact of using both together in parallel.
Great stuff as usual in your testing/reviews. Unlike other youtube channels, which shall remain nameless…no egos, no hidden agenda, no human insecurities that require reductionist scientific measurements/calculations to explain the unexplainable (ie you are comfortable within yourselves and have the wisdom to accept what cannot be explained)…your passion is genuine and all purely in service of the music/hobby. Because of your holistic and much more balance and fluidly intelligent approach, i have stopped watching these other channels. Keep up the great work. (Btw a quote which i love and is very apt….”the mind (and by extension one’s ears) is/are like a parachute. They only work when they are open.”😉🙈
Thanks Alexander! Appreciate your feedback!
If you have a decent conditioner, I cannot imagine a parallel filter has much impact. The Aquarius for example already has parallel filters build in. You can use them together, but I never heard a significant difference. I would rather buy a decent power cord. :-).
Thanks Jaap. That makes sense. And yes it is my experience too that power cords can make a signifcant difference and are worth investing in ahead of many other things. Cheers.
Hello Alexander. Thank you for your kind words. Good to read that our intentions in how to test come across.
Parallel filters are often recommended to plug into the wall socket next to a power strip, which is logical. It very much depends on the power conditioner used if this is a wise idea. A lot of conditioners filter, which means that you are stacking filters. As with anything in electrical connections and HiFi, stacking stuff can have an effect which a particular listener very much enjoys, but it is a bit of a hit or miss. Or a very dangerous HiFi rabbit hole where hobbyist really get lost and are getting further and further from what they are looking for.
Thanks Martijn. Yes you are right in terms of marketing being more about being placed in paralell with power strips. Also very wise words about hit/miss &/or rabbit holes….both of which proven to be expensive for me in the past… so always nice to be reminded! Thank you😀
Good job and well done!
Would there be similar blind tests for USB/RCA type noise absorbers such as YUKIMU USB noise absorber PNA-USB01 and The Chord Company GroundARAY in the coming future? thank you.
We can check that out in the future… sure!
Good job and well done!
Would there be similar blind tests for USB/RCA type noise absorbers such as YUKIMU USB noise absorber PNA-USB01 and The Chord Company GroundARAY in the coming future? thank you.
We can check that out in the future… sure!
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/isotek-evo3-aquarius-power-conditioner-review.30223/post-1324437
[ I have only listen to one audio that I know very well, Jacques Loussier – Little Fuge in G Minor.
Conclusion: it sounds worse with any filter. Dynamic is lost.]
I didn’t notice any loss in dynamisch. These are parallel filters… With serial filters: yes… definately.
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/isotek-evo3-aquarius-power-conditioner-review.30223/post-1324437
[ I have only listen to one audio that I know very well, Jacques Loussier – Little Fuge in G Minor.
Conclusion: it sounds worse with any filter. Dynamic is lost.]
I didn’t notice any loss in dynamisch. These are parallel filters… With serial filters: yes… definately.