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ISOL-8 PowerLine Extreme Mains Conditioner

ISOL-8 PowerLine Extreme Mains Conditioner

Reference:

2826

Condition:

New

ISOL-8 PowerLine Extreme Mains Conditioner

The ISOL-8 PowerLine Extreme Power Distribution Unit is the perfect choice for improving the soundstage of your home system. It features four fully conditioned sockets for source components and power supplies, as well as one high-current socket for integrated amplifiers or power amps. With the DC blocking feature, you can count on improved detail, depth, and stability of your soundstage, plus a reduction in background noise. Naim Audio equipment has been thoroughly tested on the Extreme and the results have been nothing short of stunning. Experience improved dynamics and musical timing with no compromise in sound quality. Get the most out of your audio setup with the PowerLine Extreme.

Every system needs a quality power supply to give of its best. PowerLine is a family of compact Power Distribution Units (PDU) that are designed to lift system performance, harnessing ISOL-8's power expertise at an affordable price. In combination with our range of IsoLink shielded mains cables, PowerLine offers a flexible but powerful solution tailored for those who put performance and value first.

All versions feature an anodised 6mm thick CNC'd aluminum top plate. This forms an ideal mechanical foundation: non magnetic and non resonant. Input is by IEC connector with a Neutrik PowerCon an option on many variants. Each high quality power outlet has a hinged cover to IP54, protecting unused outlets from dirt, dust and little fingers. Wiring is carefully selected silver plated copper with PTFE insulation throughout, providing excellent power transmission properties, reliably supplying your system for years to come.

The Extreme combines all the advantages of the PowerLine Ultra and the PowerLine Axis in one.

SPECIFICATIONS

Number of available outlets: 1 High Current / 4 Low|Med Current outlets
Outlet Covers: Hinged covers to protect unused outlets from dust dirt and little fingers
Dimensions: 15.8" x 3.3" x 3.5" (WHD) excluding connectors
Construction: Black steel chassis with silver CNC'd aluminum top panel

World Leaders in Performance Power Conditioning.

Designed and manufactured in the UK, we supply the finest power conditioning and distribution equipment for hi-fi and audio visual systems. If you are looking for power management, a simple performance lift or you are chasing the state-of-the-art, we can provide the best solution for you.

WHY SO MANY PRODUCTS? HOW TO CHOOSE.

There is no "one size fits all" solution when it comes to effective power conditioning. We know this through many years of development and hard won experience.

We offer a range of products so you can benefit from the optimum solution for your system. A good rule of thumb is to spend 10% of your system cost to optimise your power supply.

Why Condition Your Mains Supply?

The purpose of any high fidelity system is to take you as close as possible to the original performance. We strive to reduce the compromises involved and get closer to the emotion, closer to the music.

Each component in our system is an imperfect link in a chain, transforming the energy it receives from one form to another and eventually on to us.

The most fundamental, most overlooked link in the chain is the power supply, the source of our systems energy. We plug into the wall, the device works and we take it for granted. Mains power is in fact the start of the chain, the very foundation on which the music is built and is worthy of greater scrutiny.

Why invest in your power supply?

“Ultimately, every sound we hear is the direct result of modulating the electrical energy provided by the mains. It is this energy, precisely transformed and controlled, that powers every stage of the audio system all the way to the speakers.”

According to Nic Poulson — founder of ISOL‑8 and Trilogy Audio Systems and a key figure in professional audio design — electrical power is the cornerstone of sound quality. Every component in your hi‑fi system, from DACs to amplifiers, depends entirely on the quality of the electricity it receives.

That’s why ISOL‑8 recommends allocating at least 10% of the total system value to optimizing, filtering, and protecting the power supply. In terms of listening impact, this investment often surpasses much more expensive upgrades (such as cables or electronics), because it addresses the root cause of sound: the power itself.

Less noise = More music

Types of noise

There are many forms of noise that an Hi‑Fi or A/V system can be subject to, or that it may generate itself.

If system components emit hum, it’s usually caused by one or more of the following:

Poor transformer design or construction
Use of equipment not designed for the local mains frequency
Substandard mechanical assembly
Excessive mains voltage (surge)
Significantly distorted mains waveform
Presence of direct current (DC) on the power line

If noise is coming from the speakers, potential causes include:

High noise performance from one or more devices
Mismatched sensitivities between components (e.g., power amp too sensitive for a preamp, or speakers too efficient for a particular amp)
Insufficient supply voltage (which may push internal regulators out of their stable range)
Ground loops
Absence of grounding
Poor-quality or high-impedance grounding
Severe mains waveform distortion
Significant radio-frequency (RF) interference on the mains or in the environment
Strong electromagnetic fields that affect equipment or wiring

All ISOL‑8 power filters work to reduce broadband noise conducted through the mains. Both the cutoff frequency and attenuation level depend on the model: as you move up the range, performance improves. Moreover, Axis‑equipped models block DC contamination from reaching your devices. Only a fully regenerated power source can restore a truly pure waveform, free from any anomalies.

Remember: many of the audible improvements from mains filtering come from what you don’t hear. No device is perfect, and even a small amount of unwanted energy — beyond the 50/60 Hz fundamental — can significantly impair how the device handles the audio (or video) signal passing through it. This is particularly true for high-gain gear, where the initial signal may be only a few millivolts.

Why condition your power supply?

The goal of any high-fidelity system is to make you relive the original performance as closely as possible. Our mission is to reduce compromises and bring you closer to the emotion of the music.

Each component in our system is an imperfect link in a chain. Each one transforms energy from one form to another, passing it along until it reaches you.

The most fundamental — and often overlooked — link in this chain is the mains supply, the source of power for your system. Many of us simply plug in and take it for granted. But mains voltage is the starting point of the entire chain — the very foundation upon which music is built — and deserves greater attention.

The problem

A closer look at the mains supply reveals it’s not as clean as one might assume. Examining an AC cycle in detail shows far more “activity” than expected — energy is not used in a clean, benign way. Pollution and distortion of the mains supply are inevitable and ubiquitous.

Countless devices in homes and industries draw power unevenly, converting part of it into noise — whether in the form of RF interference or waveform distortion. We all share this pollution because we share the same grid, which was not engineered with noise immunity in mind.
Many A/V devices are surprisingly vulnerable to this pollution: interference travels through them to sensitive downstream circuits, degrading system performance.

Typical manifestations include:

RF noise causing distortion in transistor junctions
Arc-generated spikes causing audible clicks
Wideband noise from rectifier diodes creating a masking haze
Industrial inductive loads distorting mains waveform
Systems sounding better at night due to lower local electrical activity

This problem is escalating with the proliferation of Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, and switching-mode power supplies, which add more electrical pollution.
And internal noise from each component further contaminates the system. That’s why ISOL‑8 recommends dedicated filters for each device, to prevent cross-contamination.

The solution

Removing noise from the mains can dramatically improve your system. A well-engineered filter or regenerator that isolates every component produces consistently superior performance. These benefits are real and often profound. Other fixes — like exotic mains cables — deliver unpredictable results. Addressing the root issue is far more effective than mitigating side effects.

Optimizing the mains supply is probably the best cost-benefit upgrade available. It typically results in:

Greater clarity
Improved contrast
Tightened rhythm and timing
Enhanced resolution, consistency, and emotional engagement

Cross-contamination: explained

The issue of noise “jumping” between components is often overlooked — but reducing it can significantly elevate system performance.

The key point: every component generates noise back onto the mains, and when plugged into the same circuit, they share and amplify this pollution.

Solutions compared:

Single filter: blocks external noise but won’t stop internal noise from spreading among devices.
Multiple dedicated filters: ISOL‑8’s recommended approach—isolating each device so it doesn’t contaminate others—fully unleashes system performance.

Direct current (DC) on the mains

Ideally, mains power is a pure AC sine wave. In reality, many devices (dimmers, SMPS units, etc.) inject DC, distorting the wave.

Audio transformers are sensitive to DC: it saturates magnetic cores, causing hum and reduced performance even at low DC levels.
ISOL‑8 addresses this with the Axis circuit, which:

Rebalances the waveform to remove DC offset
Maintains current capacity
Suppresses hum and restores system performance

The result is a perfect, symmetrical sine wave without DC offset.

Transmodal Technology

To filter noise effectively, it’s essential to distinguish between:

Differential‑mode noise — noise between live and neutral. Requires series inductors and shunt capacitors — a more complex and costly topology.
Common‑mode noise — noise simultaneously on phase and neutral. Can be managed with common-mode chokes and phase cancellation.

Many budget conditioners use simple “delta” filters (only shunt devices), which dump noise to ground, worsening ground quality.
ISOL‑8’s Transmodal filters:

Combat both differential and common-mode noise
Keep the ground line clean
Deliver maximum filtering performance

“Optimizing mains power and eliminating transmitted noise is probably the upgrade with the best cost/benefit ratio you can make…”
— Nic Poulson, ISOL‑8

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