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Isol-8 is a pioneer of high quality power conditioning components distributed in 32 countries. All Isol-8 products are designed and manufactured in the UK.

With a 20 year history of innovation, Isol-8 has a thorough understanding of how noise gets introduced into your HiFi system and then designs power conditioning units to effectviely get rid of this noise. From the start, founder Nic Poulson scrutinized where noise was being generated within an audio system and developed far more effective solutions than most power conditioners that are simply not built to solve.

Where does 'noise' come from?

Certainly mains borne noise can be passed on to your components from the wall outlet. DC voltages, harmonic distortion, radio frequency interference introduced by other users on the power grid gets passed on via your wall socket and there is a contribution from the mains wiring throughout your home and dimmers and other items connected to your ring mains supply. But there is also noise generated by diode rectifiers in the power supplies and circuits of the components themselves. Noise is a by product of switch mode power supplies. This internal noise will vary according to temperature, load, and resonance interactions and can only be partially addressed by the manufacturer of the component. Most importantly this internal noise can be passed on from one component to another locally in your system stack. The high quality components needed to tame this noise would add a lot of cost to each individual component. A dedicated power conditioner however, is actually a cost effective way to reduce noise to all the components connected to it and the effects of this reduction can easily be heard. Clean power can not be taken for granted, it has to be created.

Understanding the job of the dedicated power conditioner

Many power conditioners use a front end filter followed by a chain of outlets connected to each other and simply ignore the issue of cross contanimation from one component to another. They ignore DC in the mains supply - a common occurence - and supposed fixes for common and differential noise often shunt the noise back onto the ground plane where it can still do harm to sound quality through noise floor modulation. With Isol-8's no compromise approach, all of these issues are addressed so that real performance gains are heard and not just promised - right at the start of the Hifi chain.

Comparing power filters

Isol-8 power conditioners only specify continuous power ratings because theoretical peak current ratings can be exaggerated under zero ohm supply and load conditions; a unique situation that does not exist in the real world. What is true is that power filters with a larger current capacity require larger more expensive components. The depth of filtration should be effective across a large enough bandwidth and under dynamic conditions. Specification test conditions may not reflect the real world environment; numbers don't always tell the story although they are often used to draw conclusions. Poor designs don't live up to the optimistic claims made for them and may have a negative impact on sound quality. Through Nic's dedication to quality and comprehensive approach to noise reduction, Isol-8 power conditioning reveals more of what's possible in sound reproduction.


Link to order ISOL-8 power conditioners from kemela


Transmodal Filtering and Axis DC blocking technologies

Mains noise is filtered across both Differential (generated within single conductor current loop)and Common (generated within two conductor current loop, the second loop created by stray capacitance in ground plane) modes. Isol-8's transmodal filter combats both types of noise using the right filter network and appropriately sized components without resorting to the 'shunt to earth' method which is less expensive (saves on set of series inductors) and much less effective while at the same time introducing the problem of a polluted ground plane. When DC voltage is present on the AC mains supply it has a degrading effect on sound quality by distorting the sine wave power waveform. Nic developed the AXIS technology to combat this and championed its use as an important attribute in power conditioning.

Isol-8 Transmodal Filter Isol-8 AXIS DC blocking

Blocking noise transferred between HiFi Components

After designing an effective filter topology, Nic pioneered the use of multiple filter sections to tackle the issue of cross contimination between audio components. Here are the multiple filter section in the flagship LCX source component conditioner which features Mundorf foil Inductors which are normally only found in the highest level loudspeaker cross-over networks. These are very expensive but are audibly superior to regular wire wound inductors.
Isol-8 Integra Mundorf foil inductors

Highest Quality Components

Using the best available components in the right configuration gives effective filtration for power amplifiers.
Isol-8 Substation HC inside

Long Life

All Isol-8 products are built in the UK and designed to last incorporating non magnetic and non resonant CNC machined aluminum. Throughout the range, high quality power outlets with hinged covers (to IP54 standards) protect unused outlets from dust, dirt and little fingers. Internal wiring is all carefully selected silver plated copper with PTFE insulation.
Isol-8 Substation LC and HC side by side


Isol-8 INTEGRA rear view

 
Isol-8 Power Filters Isol-8 Power Filters

Isol-8 InLine

  • Premium build versatile compact single outlet is suitable for source components, medium power amplifiers, all in one systems etc.
  • Features high performance low impedance noise filter circuit with DC blocking
  • Premium components include Evox capacitors, silver plated PTFE insulated wiring, and custom ISOL-8 chokes
  • More information on the Isol-8 Inline power conditioner and DC blocker
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Isol-8 PowerLine Plus

  • A high quality 6-outlet power distribution system popular with NAIM equipment owners
  • Special single pole RFI shunt filter removes noise while allowing direct connection of live and neutral conductors to the load so noise is reduced without impacting peak current delivery
  • Additionally any RF noise in the system earth bus and signal ground is eliminated by a custom high permeability core choke
  • Rhodium plated IEC input socket by Oyaide
  • Silver plated copper wiring with PTFE insulation throughout
  • More information on the Isol-8 Powerline Plus
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Isol-8 PowerLine Ultra 4

  • Perfect 4-outlet power distribution system for many systems
  • Three low/med current source outlets with transmodal filter
  • One high current outlet with shunt filter
  • Surge and spike protection
  • More information on the Isol-8 Powerline Ultra4
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Isol-8 PowerLine Ultra 6

  • Perfect 6-outlet power distribution system for larger systems
  • Four low/med current source outlets with transmodal filter
  • Two high current outlets with shunt filter
  • Surge and spike protection
  • More information on the Isol-8 Powerline Ultra6
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Isol-8 PowerLine Axis

  • This dedicated DC blocking component contains a specialized network that re-centers the voltage axis eliminating any DC voltage
  • Mechanical transformer hum is a symptom of clipped, distorted and asymmetrical mains AC voltage waveforms carrying a significant DC voltage
  • Five outlets
  • Surge and spike protection
  • More information on the Isol-8 Powerline Axis
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Isol-8 PowerLine 1080

  • Perfect 4-outlet power distribution system for many AV systems
  • One specialized video filter and two low/med current source outlets, all with transmodal filtering
  • One high current outlet with shunt filter
  • Surge and spike protection
  • More information on the Isol-8 Powerline 1080
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Isol-8 PowerLine Chroma

  • Perfect 6-outlet power distribution system for larger AV systems
  • One specialized video filter and three low/med current source outlets, all with transmodal filtering
  • Two high current outlets with shunt filter
  • Surge and spike protection
  • More information on the Isol-8 Powerline Chroma
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Isol-8 MiniSub Wave

  • Builds on the powerline series by having a separate filter network on each of the four low current source outlets that eliminates both common and differential noise and reduces component cross contamination so noise from one component in your system does not degrade the performance of the other components
  • Two high power outlets use multistage filter using custom wound components to clean out noise without imposing dynamic limitations on amplifiers
  • Surge and spike protection
  • More information on the Isol-8 MiniSub Wave
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Isol-8 MiniSub Axis

  • A superb power conditioner that builds on the powerline series and MiniSub Wave by incorporating DC blocking Axis circuit filter technology and having a separate filter network on each of the four low current source outlets that eliminates both common and differential noise and most importantly reduces component cross contamination
  • Two high power outlets use multistage filter using custom wound components to clean out noise without imposing dynamic limitations on amplifiers
  • Surge and spike protection
  • More information on the Isol-8 MiniSub Axis
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Isol-8 Substation Integra

  • Combines award winning LC and HC substations into one package for more affordable solution while retaining most of the functionality
  • Each of the four low/medium current source outlet have their own dedicated multistage Transmodal filter
  • Two high power outlets use multistage filter using custom wound components to clean out noise without imposing dynamic limitations on amplifiers
  • All outlets benefit from ISOL-8's DC blocking Axis circuit
  • Premium polypropylene capacitors, Mundorf OFC inductors and custom wound choke
  • Surge and spike protection
  • Low/medium current and high current filter sections individually protected by high quality magnetic circuit breakers
  • 20 amp rated Neutrik latching input connector
  • More information on the Isol-8 Substation Integra
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Isol-8 Substation LC

  • Beautifully built half width ultimate passive power conditioner
  • Half-width all alloy nonmagnetic case allows side by side positioning with the HC partnering high current power conditioner
  • Each outlet has its own multistage Transmodal filter to reduce noise and suppress cross-contimination between all source and low power amplifier components
  • High power DC blocking Axis circuit
  • Built with carefully auditioned proprietary premium components including OFC copper foil inductors
  • Four outlets
  • More information on the Isol-8 Substation LC
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Isol-8 Substation HC

  • Beautifully built ultimate passive power conditioner for amplifiers
  • Half-width all alloy nonmagnetic case allows side by side positioning with the LC partnering source component power conditioner
  • Specifically designed to provide for high current loads while reducing noise using a massively constructed Transmodal filter and high capacity DC blocking AXIS circuit
  • Built with proprietary premium components and using kilos of OFC copper foil keeping series resistance low so there is no compromise in amplifier dynamic performance
  • Two outlets
  • Surge and spike protection and rear panel circuit breaker
  • More information on the Isol-8 Substation HC
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Isol-8 Substation Axis

  • High current version of the of the acclaimed ISOL-8 Axis DC blocking circuit lifts performance of all high end system components
  • Reduces mechanical and acoustical hum due to DC current on mains supply causing sine wave asymmetry that partially saturates a components mains transformer
  • Four outlets
  • Surge and spike protection and rear panel circuit breaker
  • More information on the Isol-8 Substation Axis
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Isol-8 Substation LCX

  • Beautifully built full width version of the LC ultimate passive power conditioner with additional outlets and an additional filter stage
  • Each of the six outlets has its own multistage Transmodal filter to reduce noise and suppress cross-contimination between all source and low power amplifier components
  • High power DC blocking Axis circuit
  • Built with carefully auditioned proprietary premium components including OFC copper foil inductors
  • Custom earth line choke
  • Surge and spike protection and double pole circuit breaker
  • More information on the Isol-8 Substation LCX
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Isol-8 IsoLink Wave Power Cable

  • High purity silver plated copper live and neutral conductors insulated with PFA
  • High Quality NEMA 15-5 mains plug
  • High quality synthetic rubber elastomer jacket vastly superior to PVC
  • Shurter IEC connector
  • Cable rating: 15 Amps
  • Diameter: 10 mm
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Isol-8 IsoLink Ultra Power Cable

  • High purity copper conductors
  • Voids between stands are filled with elastomer to prevent magnetostriction
  • Carbon loaded polymer screen provides 100% shielding coverage
  • All aspects of the design were chosen by audition
  • Rodium plated Cardas mains plug
  • High quality synthetic rubber elastomer jacket vastly superior to PVC
  • Shurter IEC or Neutrik latching 20amp Powercon connector
  • Cable rating: 20 Amps
  • Diameter: 12 mm
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