GIESELER Kraftwerk II owners thread

[Gieseler Audio]

This is a thread where owners of the new Kraftwerk II power supply can post feedback.

 

[Snoopy8]

Had the privilege of testing the prototypes of the new 2020 Kraftwerk II range of PSUs.  Currently have 3 models, 12V 2A and a 24V 2A units powering ethernet switches, and a 18V 2.7A unit running an Intel NUC 8i5BEH4.  Please note the prototypes had a fixed voltage, whereas the new models are more flexible with adjustable voltage.

 

The NUC streamer benefited most from the new PSU. It came with a 90W SMPS. Had the option of using a Kraftwerk I (KWI) 18V 70W Gold Tune Enhanced PSU or the new Kraftwerk II (KWII) 18V 50W PSU, with a new choke and active regulator. I did hesitate with the KWII.  Based on past experience, a higher current PSU was expected to be better because it had more head room.  Also, did wonder whether KWII was powerful enough, delivering just over half the power of the SMPS.

 

Was I wrong! In back to back comparisons, KWII beat KWI by providing better body and timbre, a more analogue sound.  The saxophone in  Jan Garbarek & the Hilliard Ensemble: Parce Mihi Domini (ECM) never sounded better.  The piano decay was wonderful in Gjeilo: North Country II (2L).  It reinforced my belief that a better PSU for a streamer had a significant influence on its sound quality.

 

How does the new case compare with the old?  The bigger solid aluminium case looks good and has a premium feel.  An added bonus is that it runs cooler.

Note that you should allow for a burn in time of 1 day, better still 3 days, for the unit to perform optimally.

 

As mentioned earlier, the prototypes are slightly different to the KWII production models. The main change is the adjustable voltage in the production models. There are also further internal refinements which may have increased their performance slightly. 

 

The Kraftwerk II is probably the best locally made and designed external linear power supply,  It will at least match, if not beat many, more expensive overseas PSUs.  Add in excellent customer service, the Kraftwerk II should prove to be a winner.

 

p/s no association with Gieseler Audio, just a happy customer

 

Edited September 19, 2020 by Snoopy8
Typo

[Bricki]

Just wondering when the kraftwerk II will be available to order? I am considering ordering a couple next month... If my requirements are for 12v for my Etheregen,  would there be any difference in sound quality between the lower voltage version running at 12v and higher voltage version at 12v?

[Gieseler Audio]

Hi @Bricki

both the low voltage & high voltage versions are now available,

If you are mainly wanting it for 12v the lower voltage version would be the best one to go for & it will also run cooler at that voltage.

Sound wise both versions have the same performance so the sound should be the same.

Edited November 23, 2020 by Gieseler Audio
Additional info

[Bricki]

Ok thanks... Good to know ... When do you expect the kraftwerk II PSU's will be available to order on the website? 

[Gieseler Audio]

I have stock of the 12, 15, 16 & 18v units  & with the 5,7,8 & 12v units I'm just waiting on the cases which should be here mid next week.

I was planing to show "in stock" when both models were available.

Anyone after the higher voltage version just private message me & I can arrange a purchase.

[Bricki]

4 hours ago, Gieseler Audio said:

I have stock of the 12, 15, 16 & 18v units  & with the 5,7,8 & 12v units I'm just waiting on the cases which should be here mid next week.

I was planing to show "in stock" when both models were available.

Anyone after the higher voltage version just private message me & I can arrange a purchase.

Ok thanks.... I'm probably about a month away from deciding and ordering

[Bricki]

 

Yesterday I received my low voltage version of the kraftwerk II ... very nicely packed and excellent communication and service from @Gieseler Audio

 

It has been powering my Etheregen at 7v (I might try 9v and 12v later) for about 12 hours and even at these early stages of settling in I can already say that this is an exceptional sounding PSU.

 

It has replaced the stock SMPS that comes with the Etheregen and I think that the uptick in SQ is at least as impactful if not better than the Etheregen itself which I find to be a very serious piece of HiFi.

 

Previously I have used a Netgear Gs105 powered by an uptone lps1 at this same location.... The difference with this kraftwerk II/Etheregen combo is extraordinary. The lps1 has gone further upstream to power an edgerouter X.

 

What I'm hearing so far with the kraftwerk II is a more fluid sound. More dynamic but smoother. Better timbre on everything. Better separation. More depth and decay and a more natural engaging sound. You hear more of the room that the recording was made in and more of the size of the venue in a live performance.... There's more detail and resolution but it's not forced and strained or fatiguing instead it's relaxing and smooth. This is my first @Gieseler Audio product and it has exceeded my expectations by quite a bit.

 

Next, I will be comparing a high voltage version of the kraftwerk II to my sotm sps500. The sps500 scales up nicely with good power cords and connectors. The sotm will be using a furutech TCS-31 and an FI-50 NCF IEC plug. The IEC plug alone costs $500. From what I've heard with the low voltage version kraftwerk II I think the sotm is going to have a hard time getting close to the performance even with the power cord. And the price difference between the 2 is massively in favour of the kraftwerk II.

 

So far I'm a very happy customer. I'm already thinking about a kompakt DAC for my next birthday

 

 

[Bricki]

After 36 hours the low voltage version has become a little more focused, images are more solid and bass has more authority and punch...the tone that this PSU has is superb

[Gieseler Audio]

Hi Brendan,

 

thanks for the feedback.

Also thanks heaps for the great detailed post 

Looking forward to the SOtM SPS500 comparo

Cheers

Clay

Edited November 25, 2020 by Gieseler Audio
more info

[Bricki]

 

I have a couple of hours on my high voltage version of the kraftwerk II. It replaced my sotm sps500 with over $1k worth of furutech power cord. It's powering my DAC attached endpoint NUC in akasa fanless case running roon bridge on headless audiolinux 2.6 in ramroot with Apacer industrial RAM... This is a highly modified DIY unit that replaced an sms200 a few years ago. I won't bore you with the details... suffice to say I've spent a lot of time tweaking it.

 

With only a few hours, the kraftwerk II has a long way to go to settle in properly and yet I can already say that it is clearly superior in every way to the sps500/furutech combo....it just sounds so much more sophisticated, articulate and natural.

 

I'm going to be raving on about how good the kraftwerk II is for some time I think. It's an exquisite sounding power supply at a bargain price - I couldn't be happier....I might give an update once both units have fully settled in.

 

 

[Barry J]

On 19/09/2020 at 8:13 AM, Gieseler Audio said:

This is a thread where owners of the new Kraftwerk II power supply can post feedback.

 

I have to confess I stumbled across Gieseler and had no idea that PSU's were being locally made here in Australia.

 

Having been an avid fan of Sbooster BOTW Mark II PSU's in my system I was reluctant to make the change, well I can testify today that I am glad I did!

 

I purchased the below for my system:-

• 2 x Gieseler Kraftwerk II PSU and switched them to 15v

Clay @Gieseler Audio installed a larger Choke in my two units which in turn have helped keep my Chord Hugo TT2 and Chord Mscaler running at a much lower temperature, they have a tendency to run hot even when using their standard power cables.

 

I am now 3 days into listening and super impressed!

 

The big difference I am hearing is in vocals,  it's substantial with much wider soundstage, clarity and detail & separation. 

 

I have heard things in my listening tracks I have not heard previously,

 

 

Guitar strumming in tracks such as Cat Stevens Wild World now sounds more realistic and I had that feeling I was listening to a new recording!

 

The track Liquid Spirit by Gregory Porter, the hand clapping really pops out at you.

 

Piano on the track Moon River by Jacinta was superb and I felt like I was sitting next to her (piano kicks in from the 2.40 mark)

 

I am so impressed I did not hesitate to order a further unit for my Nucleus +  (Roon Core) 

 

Clays service is impeccable and his love of all things audio shines through, I cannot recommend them highly enough.

 

I have no association with Gieseler Audio, just one happy customer.

 

[Duke40]

Just installed a Kraftwerk II HV (I needed 15v to power my Billion modem/router).

 

In the Kraftwerk II Dual owners thread I made a couple of posts of the effects that this power supply had for powering both of my ERs (I have one dedicated for Audio, another for Video), the essence was:

 

"Noticed significant improvements to the following:
- Pace, Rhythm and Timing ... this was the first thing I noticed, a great noticeable improvement. I love it.
- Tone, Timbre.
- Dynamics.
- Transients.
- My enjoyment of music   .

- For powering both my EtherREGENS, the Kraftwerk II Dual even outperformed my JS-2."

 

... anyhoo, onto the impact/impressions the Kraftwerk II HV (used on modem/router).

 

After 4 days of listening, the biggest thing I noticed with the Kraftwerk II HV was the noise floor dropping, revealing more detail, less harshness. Also the qualities I mentioned above for music (when installing the Dual to power both my ERs) have also slightly improved yet again ... a cumulative effect.

 

As an aside, the other thing I noticed when powering my modem/router using the Kraftwerk II HV was for video (this setup is located in a home gym/office rig).

- Less noise/grain

- More accurate colour

- Depth

Especially on Dolby Vision and 4K HDR (much less so on SDR & HD video, it was mainly a bit less grain/noise on this format).

 

Many thanks to everyone who posted in this thread & the Kraftwerk II Dual thread, this helped me make a couple of wise decisions to give this company a go. It has led me to more enjoyment of both music and video, even in a more humble system.

 

Later in the year I have another project which will require another PSU (separating modem & router duties in my AV home gym/office network), and I'll be going for another Kraftwerk.