Sigmas Review
Despite having dedicated power mains for our hi-fi systems, audio grade AC receptacles; upgraded IEC and high conducting material coated connectors, one would still find adding a good power conditioner indispensible to the whole listening experience. I recall the days when I first experienced the original Hydra in my system and the wow it gave me. The waiting period (for my set to arrive) of “unconditioned” days were very difficult to past. It was hair pulling withdrawal (syndrome) and music depression despite my already heavily treated mains and upgraded parts in all things power. Fast forward to present – I was curious and took the opportunity to do a shoot-out of the original Hydra (which I knew so well) with the mid-price Isotek GII Sigmas. Recall the former was a one-time King of the Hill and was high-end in look, construction and price. Isotek GII Sigmas (GII for 2nd Generation) belongs to the upper echelon of Isotek range of power conditioning products. It is a 2-in-1 conditioner combining the essence of Isotek GII Nova (source-only) and Isotek GII Titan (for high power products) while keeping price affordable. Note that the latter pair of Nova and Titan when combined is Isotek’s current top dog power solution and a fully armoured tour de force for audiophiles who demand the very best. The Sigmas on the other hand is no poor cousins either. Scoring on looks and finishing, it is very well built (not over built), handsome and weighty (has a good feel) and importantly practical. With 4 outlets for source components and a pair of dedicated outlet for amplifiers, it is designed to meet the needs of all  discerning audiophiles. The old Hydra while spotting the same 6 outlets is without any distinction of usage of outlets. The Sigmas also comes with Isotek’s high quality Optimum power cord (at no extra cost). It is not your usual kettle or PC power cord which we like to make fun of. Listed at S$650 per power cord, Isotek is giving away some real value. So, in went my source components to the Sigmas – Sony XA50ES CDP, VPI SDS (Turntable Motor) and Hovland HP-200 and I sampled a few familiar tracks with repeated listening. With Sigmas, my system sprung to life. If clean sounding is a “dirty” word in Hi-Fi dialect then I should say real sounding. Music is reproduced with realism and transient whether it is human vocals, acoustic or electric instruments. Music blossoms with more radiant and youthfulness. I began to shake my head. How could this be? Isn’t this the same feeling I got when I first listened to Hydra many years before? Several more LP and CD later, regardless of source my impression was consistent. Sigmas was undisputedly better in every corner. Sigmas did not slow down any pace, sweeten the source but just purified power to feed the components. In Round 2, I added the high bandwidth Goldmund Telos 200 monoblocks into Sigmas with the others intact. The first thing I spotted was the edge and dynamics did not drop proven by the punishing drums of American Idiot - Green Day and the rhythmic drive of I.G.Y - Donald Fagen. In classical music, the better separation and layering made possible by Sigmas improved my enjoyment in big ceremonial symphonies. It is a far cry from Hydra where it gets cloudy and a tad compressed when a complicated or demanding passage gets through. So what happened? How can a modestly priced Sigmas do this? I would put this simply to improved design and technology reaped through later years of research and development in power conditioner. Honestly speaking, I wouldn’t be able to enjoy my hi-fi without any good power conditioner today. A good power conditioner can do wonders to even an already good sounding system.  range of power conditioner gets our unconditional recommendation. If you want to improve your system look no further. | 
