Ansuz Mainz8 D2 and Mainz8 D-TC Power Distributors
Mainz8 D2 Power Distributor
Starting with the Mainz8 D2 Power Distributor, placed directly on the floor, connected with an Ansuz D2 power cable, and powering my 4 components with the same Ansuz D2 power cables, the character of the sound is completely turned around. Whereas my regular power solution provides an upfront and direct but also slightly dry and matter-of-fact sound, the Ansuz solution provides a tonally fuller, richer, more relaxed sound with markedly deeper soundstaging.
If I’m honest, the sound is slightly less articulate and mostly less incisive on the transients, but there is very little added warmth or thickness, yet the presentation is much more organic and more involving. Amidst the finely nuanced sound, there’s an alluring calmness without obscuring detail. Actually, the low-level detail is now clearer, and especially, longer-lingering, as opposed to slightly more incisive but also being cut off prematurely.
The improved imaging is really quite amazing. The soundstage size has not increased in width, but it does extend much deeper toward the back wall while providing more room for the sounds within it, which are now much more clearly inhabiting their own spaces, presented slightly gentler, and on a more expansive canvas.
While the enhanced imaging provides a more interesting acoustic than my standard solution, I felt that the rhythmic aspect was a little less pronounced. But as I would learn, this is where the Ansuz system approach comes in, for as soon as I applied the Darkz Resonance Control footers, that’s when it all clicked together!
I started with the T2’s with Ceramic balls. Believe it or not, this brought about a transformation that can be considered on the same scale as the change between two power cables, meaning that it is absolutely significant! What these incredible footers do is enhance the perceived speed, impact, and pacing, but without changing anything else, and importantly, while retaining the magic, fluidity, and flow. Particularly, the sound remains relaxed, smooth, and decidedly non-technical. This is where many other footers, especially spiked ones, can sometimes prove too much. Ansuz had actually indicated precisely this on their website, but I’m not one to blindly accept all the claims that manufacturers make. It’s certainly very nice to find that this claim can be reproduced in the field.
This made me highly curious to find out what a change from Ceramic to Titanium balls would do. Musing in advance on what the expected outcome would be, I thought that Ceramic might give a “harder” sound than Titanium. Surprisingly, what I heard was the exact inverse!
Retaining the T2 footers but changing the Ceramic balls for the Titanium balls, of course, one of the balls ran off while positioning the footer underneath the Mainz Power Distributor and I had to chase it on the floor to avoid it from disappearing. I like to think that I am generally very good with my hands but I have to say that this concept with loose balls is a little fiddly and it seems like something that a creative company such as Ansuz should easily be able to fix, certainly at the price of these footers. Anyway, after having replaced the Ceramic balls with Titanium balls, I was in for a new surprise!
With only this seemingly insignificant change of balls, the sound instantly attained more snap, focus, and transient sharpness. It’s not that the Ceramic balls provided less detail or lower resolution, but with the Titanium balls, the transients were certainly more explicit, along with greater perceived propulsion and dynamics. If I had to indicate one potential downside, for some ears or systems at least, it would be that the Titanium balls also made the sound a little drier, compared to placement directly on the floor, or when using the Ceramic balls.
If the Ceramic balls were particularly seductive by providing enhanced speed and impact while still providing a superbly free-flowing sound, the Titanium balls were less dreamy and arguably a little soberer in their presentation. But what dryness had been reintroduced was still considerably less than with my own power distributors cables. For my taste and system, I ultimately prefer the more direct and more rhythmic and toe-tapping-inducing sound of the Titanium balls, but the beauty of having separate balls is that every owner can just decide for themselves.
Next: Mainz8 D-TC Power Distributor
Hi Christiaan,
Have you also tried without any balls and just the darkz underneath the conditioner? I am interested in the single impact of the balls
Hi Mark, I’ve not tried this with the Darkz and due to the ridges in the Mainz’ feet, that wouldn’t have been ideal for stability either. But I could have positioned them directly under the main chassis as one would do with Ceraballs or other aftermarket footers. Alas, I have not tried that. Also, note that one will never bypass all the balls in the Darkz as there are still those between the two discs. Anyway, earlier experience tells me that removing a narrow point of contact while retaining a hard coupling with the main material will result in a slightly warmer and less articulate delivery with less obvious transients and “fatter” bass and lower midrange. It’s not something I would recommend unless the system sounds too controlled or too dry.
Hi Christiaan,
Thanks for the reply. Do you mean it is the same when not applied to the ansuz products, but for example as support for the amplifier?
Yes, it is my experience that pretty much all components respond similarly to support. Somewhat annoyingly, indeed, Darkz and other resonance control devices, spikes, or other couplers can be as beneficial under a power distributor as under a source component or amplifier. I use Finite Elemente Cerapucs under my relatively simple power distributors and they make a heck of a difference. Many times I have wanted to remove them and apply them elsewhere but every time I tried, I no longer liked the sound without them. The Darkz are probably even more effective than the Cerapucs but I have not made that comparison as they were part of the Power Distributor review, it was not a full Darkz review.
Hello Christian,
this was indeed an exciting test for me to read, and it is 100% in line with my own experience. I became aware of Ansuz products the year before last and was also rather skeptical. I have a complete Grimm Audio setup, so LS1be and MU1 as a source and was sure there is not much more to change. What a big mistake that hurt very very much financially, but sonically has brought me to a level that I would not have thought possible. I can also assure you that you would have been even more excited if you had instead of the D2 a complete DTC2 wiring. The DTC cables are just as good as the DTC Mainz8 and both together are incredible. I use a DTC Supreme Mainz8 and DTC2 power cords that are well beyond the value of the speakers and streamer, but I can assure you that it makes 100% sense. Even a single DTC power cord has so far brought the Ansuz magic you describe to every system I’ve been able to try it on. The Darkz are similarly sensational and everyone I told smiled kindly but usually didn’t believe it. All the greater was my joy then to be able to look into the astonished faces when testing.
Greetings Björn
Mainz is the capital of Rheinland-Pfalz/ Germany …nothing more and nothing less! And the sticker prize of these accompanying items is just RIDICULOUS in my humble opinion!
Hello Christian, thank you so much for the nice review. By reading your exciting review, I am interested in Mainz8, now.
May I ask you? In the Mainz8, the top model is D-TC superme. It is very very high price. But, the difference to D-TC is only ‘Anti aerial resonance coil technology’. D-TC superme may be great of course. But are only small upgrade of sound for comparing to D-TC???
Many thanks again,
Hi Messa, I have not heard the D-TC Supreme Mainz8 and while the price difference is indeed enormous, other experience with Ansuz products as well as Aavik products that also use this coil technology tells me that the Annsuz top-tier models will indeed offer even better performance than the lower-tier models. Even if the only difference is something as seemingly trivial as the type or number of coils, this will still result in a large audible difference. Thus far, with Ansuz and Aavik products, that has mostly meant a more organic presentation with deeper imaging.
Hi Christiaan,
Thank you very much! Ansuz are nice manufacture. If you checked the D-TC Supreme Mainz8, please me teach the impression. And, I look forward to your next reviews, too.
Many thanks again
Messa
Hi Christiaan
Thanks for a great review. I have just bought the Ansuz D2 Mainz8 with Darkz c2t / Tungsten balls. And it just sounds so amazing. Just like you describe. Right now I use the Belden cable with Oyiade C004/schucko .
My question is what cable length did you use with the D2 Ansuz cable. I have been recommended to start with the A2 Ansuz cable. Is there a “rule” when it comes to length of a power cable ? Some say it should be 2 m at least
Best regards
Michael Gravlund
Hi Michael, There are many opinions on (power) cable length. Indeed, some say 1,5m, others say 2m. My own experience tells me that the longer the cable, the more you hear of its character or its effect. That can go two ways. A fat sounding cable will usually sound fatter as it becomes longer. The opposite is not always true but I did find it to be the case for GigaWatt LC-2 EVO where the 2-meter cable sounded very noticeably leaner, tighter, and crisper than the 1,5 meter cable. Of course, the “best” length will be the length that has the best synergy with your system and/or caters to your taste. As such, I don’t feel there is an absolute best. I will say that I’m not a fan of ultra-short cables because they will always turn out too short when you chance something in the system. As a result, the cables I use are usually 2 meters or longer. I’m not sure of the length of the Ansuz cable but I think it was 2m.
hi Christiaan.
thanks for your answer. Then I think I have to try different lengths of the A2 before buying. I tried a 2m a while ago and compared it to the Belden combo like you use.
there was a remarkable difference in the sound. there was more “body” to the sound. more punchy if you could say so. But it also make me in doubt, because I felt it was too overwhelming in some way. but in the deep bass the A2 sounds alot better. more tight bass. but you are about the synergy… and thats the tough part LOL
best regards
Michael
What with all the swapping around I did not notice the Mainz8 in your Artesania rack. Did I miss it or is there a reason?
The Artesania racks have a rack-in-a-rack construction that works opposite to regular racks and a bit like a pendulum. The racks sound increasingly relaxed and “free-flowing” the lower the level. This is why I don’t use their bottom levels, and prefer using power distributors on the floor.
Hello Christiaan,
How did the sound check with the Soulution 711 go?
Actually like Soulution 725 and
711 no line filter.
My attempts with poer conditioners on 7 series devices went completely wrong.
To put some numbers into play, I would
Talk about a 40% loss in sound!!
Thank you for the answer.
Kind regards
Jürgen Kress
Sorry Christiaan,
The translator must have swallowed some words!!
Actually like Soulution 725 and
711 no power conditioners .
My attempts with power conditioners on 7-series devices went completely wrong .
Kind regards
Jürgen
Hi Jurgen, I find that not all systems need or like conditioning. The ones I tried have different sonic signatures, but they usually have a huge impact, and their character has to synergize with a given system. I have not tried the power conditioners in Niels’s 711 setup, but we did connect the D2 Power Cable, and that worked very nicely. He normally uses a Cardas Golden Power for his amps, and the Ansuz made for a grippier, more impactful and robust sound that still carried warmth and fluidity, and was delicate and refined.
I have had a Powerplant P12 from PS Audio. but switching to Ansuz Mainz8 D2 made a huge improvement to the sound. more detailed, better bas control. better sound stage etc. The P12 didnt do a thing. And when adding more Ansuz products like cables and Sortz , Sparkz is just kept on getting better. it is a matter of how much money you want to spent on your system. I am a Bricasti fan and own M28, M10 and M21 paired with Franco Serblin Ktema speakers. it has never been better after I have startet with the Ansuz products.