AudioQuest Niagara 1200 Noise-Dissipation System Mains Conditioner

AudioQuest Niagara 1200 Noise-Dissipation System Mains Conditioner

Please Note: Niagara Noise-Dissipations Systems do not ship with an AC power cable. This gives customers the opportunity to select a cable of the desired length and best possible performance. AudioQuest recommends connecting the Niagara 1200 to your wall socket using an NRG-Z3 at a minimum however to achieve maximum performance, a Monsoon power cable perfectly complements the Niagara 1200.

Both the NRG-Z3 and Monsoon power cables can be found via the following links:

• AudioQuest NRG-Z3 Mains Power Cable
• AudioQuest Monsoon Mains Power Cable

The most obvious difference between the Niagaras 1000 and 1200, other than the 1200’s gorgeous textured bright finish, are the more universally useful shape and surprisingly substantial weight. The 1200 can now sit on a shelf like a component, with all the in and out cables in the back. It can be used ‘face’ down with the outlets in the air, fitting much better in the space between furniture and the wall. And, the 1200 is designed to stand on one end.

The Niagara 1200 includes the addition of a second High-Current outlet, totalling the Niagara 1200's outlets for 7. Now those with a subwoofer, mono amps, or powered speakers, can enjoy the full High-Current benefit that was only available to a single component with the Niagara 1000.

Like the Niagaras 1000, 5000 and 7000, the Niagara 1200 uses capacitor forming technologies that vastly improve linearity and minimize distortion, ultra-low resistance solid-core wiring optimized for low-noise directionality, and low-impedance AC inlet and outlet contacts with heavy Hanging-Silver plating over high-purity Beryllium Copper for superior noise dissipation. The Niagara 1200 includes AudioQuest’s patented Ground-Noise Dissipation System for a full 18 octaves of Linear Noise-Dissipation. Common to all Niagara products, the 1200 features AudioQuest's non-sacrificial surge protection and over-voltage shutdown, ensuring that all associated A/V systems are thoroughly protected from AC surges and spikes.

Specifications:

• 7 AC UK outlets: 2 High-Current ; 5 Linear Filtered
• Available Sockets: UK 3 Pin, Schuko 2 Pin, US Nema
• Direction-Controlled Ultra-Low-Resistance Solid-Core Wiring
• Ultra-Linear AudioQuest AC RF Filtering Capacitors
• Patented Ground Noise-Dissipation System: 2 banks of direction-controlled ground noise dissipation
• Linear Noise-Dissipation Technology: More than 18 octaves of AC differential filtering with linear response, optimized for varying line and load impedance
• Non-Sacrificial Surge Protection: Withstands multiple AC surges and spikes up to 6000V/3000A without sustaining damage
• Over-Voltage Shutdown with Automatic Reset
• Low-Z (low impedance)
• NRG Series AC Power Inlets and Outlets

FAQ's

Q: Does the AQ Niagara Series feature a surge protection warranty?

A: Though the Niagara Series products feature a 5-year warranty, there is no connected equipment warranty. There are two reasons for this. One is that these surge-connected equipment warranties are largely sales features that offer little real protection unless the manufacture sees fit to do so. Careful analysis of these contracts reveals that it’s nearly impossible to pass the warranty requirements. Small refunds do occur, large ones rarely (if ever).

The second and more important reason we do not offer a connected-equipment warranty is that the Non-Sacrificial Surge Suppression and fast-acting overvoltage shutdown circuit assures you will never suffer damage from an AC surge in the first place! Though it is possible to destroy a unit via the signal lines in the event of an electrical storm, it is not possible to damage your equipment with AC surges and spikes from your utility line, unless the strike is severe enough to set the building on fire.

Q: Does the Dielectric-Biased Symmetrical Isolation Transformer make a significant impact on sound quality?

A: Yes. Our Dielectric-Biased transformer has a considerable impact on the sound quality of our Niagara 7000. If it had not been substantial, we would not have gone through the expense or the complexity to build around them, nor would we have patented the dielectric-biasing circuit. This is not to say that the Niagara 1000, which omit the transformers, are not exemplary performers, but, when high performance is the goal, the last 5–10% is hard to achieve and can be costly.

Q: Can you plug one Niagara Series product into another?

A: Please do not. As all of the current Niagara Series products utilize a linearized filter, plugging one into another would place two filters in series, and, in this instance, more is not a better thing… Doing so would create non-linear (inconsistent) filtering via resonance ringing modes. In many instances, parallel operation can work, but the series operation should be avoided.

Q: Does the Niagara’s Noise-Dissipation Technology benefit video quality?

A: Yes, just as it benefits audio quality. The issue, however, is one of signal compression. Most of what is heard in an audio demonstration are the unearthing of the signals that are at least 60 decibels or more below 0.775V (0 VU – line level). This requires source material with dynamic range. If the track is slam-limited for an MP3 dance file, with 3dB dynamic range, the Niagara product will make a positive contribution, but it will be subtle. The same is true for video. Even in this day of High-Definition and 4K video, many signals are in fact pretty compressed. Flat screens from a satellite or cable are a poor test! Use a great projector, properly aligned, and a very high-resolution loop that can be repeated frame for frame.

Q: Are the component Niagara power products rack-mountable? Are ears included or sold separately?

A: The component products (Niagara 7000) are both 3RU components, and both have the same optional rack ears available from AQ.

Q: How does our patented Ground Noise-Dissipation System compare to other brands?

A: It’s patented. By definition, nothing quite like it exists in the AC power market. There are simple variations on this technology utilized by some manufacturers in the broadcast field and even a small company in the UK. However, many key things about what we do and how it’s employed take it many steps beyond anything that’s been done previously, giving the Niagara Series a tremendous performance advantage.

About AudioQuest

AudioQuest has been the largest cable supplier to the high-end specialist market for many years. AudioQuest is sold in several hundred outlets in the US and in over sixty countries. Bill Lowe (Founder) is especially pleased that this success has been possible despite his insistence that the foundation of the company, and the foundation of AudioQuest marketing, must be the performance of the product. In the audio world, many professionals have learned that it is not always convenient to listen to the products they sell … they might learn something they don’t want to know! Bill has always understood the challenge of basing the existence of AudioQuest on the performance of the product. However, to Bill, this is the only reasonable way to do business and the only acceptable way to combine his passion for music (and all things high performance), with his need to make a living.