Audio T Verdict
The IsoTek V5 Aquarius is a serious whole-system mains conditioner, offering six independently filtered outlets within one substantial component-width chassis.
Four medium-current outlets are intended for source and control components, while two high-current outlets provide an appropriately rated connection for integrated amplifiers, power amplifiers, active speakers and powered subwoofers.
Each outlet receives its own dedicated power-cleaning network, helping reduce Common Mode and Differential Mode mains noise while limiting electrical cross-contamination between the connected products.
IsoTek’s Adaptive Gating technology adjusts the filtering applied to the four medium-current outlets according to the connected load. The high-current section is designed around low resistance and strong current delivery, rather than placing an amplifier behind the same circuit used for lower-powered source equipment.
With 65dB of published RFI reduction, progressive surge protection, System Link expansion and an EVO3 Premier power cable included, the V5 Aquarius provides a well-equipped foundation for a complete hi-fi or home cinema system.
IsoTek V5 Aquarius Six-Way Mains Conditioner
The IsoTek V5 Aquarius is a six-outlet mains power-cleaning and distribution system for high-quality audio, home cinema and network-based equipment.
Rather than passing every connected product through one shared filter, the Aquarius contains six dedicated power-cleaning networks. This allows each component to receive its own conditioned supply while reducing the opportunity for electrical noise generated by one product to reach another through the mains distributor.
The outlets are divided into four medium-current connections for source and control components and two high-current connections for amplifiers, active speakers and powered subwoofers.
Choose the Correct Outlet Group
The four medium-current outlets share a combined rating of 6A or 1,380W at 230V.
The two high-current outlets share a combined rating of 16A or 3,680W at 230V. The maximum total load across all six outlets together is also 16A or 3,680W.
Six Independent Power-Cleaning Networks
Every connected electronic product can introduce its own electrical noise back into the mains supply.
Digital source components, televisions, network devices and switch-mode power supplies can all generate Differential Mode noise between live and neutral. Radio-frequency interference from Wi-Fi, mobile communications and other wireless devices can also contribute Common Mode noise in relation to earth.
The V5 Aquarius provides a dedicated conditioning network for each of its six outlets, helping reduce incoming interference and limiting noise passing between connected components.
Four Medium-Current Outlets
Four outlets are intended for relatively modest loads such as CD players, streamers, DACs, music servers, phono stages, turntable power supplies and preamplifiers.
The four outlets share a 6A thermomagnetic circuit breaker and a combined maximum of 1,380W at 230V.
While the total capacity is generous for most source-based systems, it is shared across all four connections rather than being available from every outlet independently.
Typical Medium-Current Components
- Network streamers and music servers
- CD and SACD players
- Digital-to-analogue converters
- Preamplifiers
- Phono stages
- Turntable power supplies
- Headphone amplifiers
- Routers and network switches
Adaptive Gating Technology
The four medium-current outlets use IsoTek’s Adaptive Gating system.
This technology responds to the connected load and adjusts the level of Differential Mode filtering applied to the circuit.
The aim is to provide useful noise reduction without applying an unnecessarily restrictive filtering arrangement to every product, regardless of its power consumption.
Two High-Current Outlets
The two high-current outlets are intended for components with greater or more rapidly changing power requirements.
These include integrated amplifiers, stereo and mono power amplifiers, home cinema receivers, active loudspeakers and powered subwoofers.
The two outlets share a 16A thermomagnetic circuit breaker and provide a combined maximum capacity of 3,680W at 230V.
Typical High-Current Components
- Integrated amplifiers
- Stereo power amplifiers
- Mono power amplifiers
- Home cinema receivers
- Active loudspeakers
- Powered subwoofers
- Large televisions and projectors where appropriate
Low-Resistance Power Delivery
A power amplifier can draw quickly changing amounts of current as the music moves between quiet passages and demanding peaks.
IsoTek has reduced the direct-current resistance of the V5 Aquarius circuit compared with the previous generation, while increasing the amount of copper within the circuit board.
The high-current section is designed to reduce mains noise while maintaining a low-impedance connection for suitably matched amplifiers and powered speakers.
Do Not Add the Outlet Ratings Together
The medium-current and high-current figures describe the limits of the two separately protected outlet groups.
They should not be added together to suggest that the Aquarius can provide 1,380W plus 3,680W at the same time.
The maximum total rated load across every connected component remains 16A or 3,680W at 230V.
65dB RFI Reduction
IsoTek currently publishes radio-frequency interference reduction of up to 65dB for the V5 Aquarius.
The amount of noise reduction achieved within an individual installation will depend on frequency, source impedance, the incoming mains supply and the connected equipment.
The Aquarius is designed to address both radio-frequency Common Mode interference and Differential Mode noise produced by electrical equipment.
Reducing Cross-Contamination
Electrical noise does not only enter a system from the household supply. It can also be produced by the products connected to the conditioner.
A streamer, network switch or television may introduce high-frequency switching noise, while an amplifier places a changing demand on the supply as it operates.
Providing a dedicated power-cleaning network for each outlet helps reduce the extent to which one component affects another through the distribution system.
KERP Equal-Resistance Power Path
IsoTek describes its internal distribution arrangement as KERP, meaning Kirchhoff’s Equal Resistance Path.
The architecture is designed to provide a consistent resistance and power path to the outlets rather than connecting them in a simple series arrangement.
This works alongside the dedicated filtering networks and fully star-earthed layout.
Fully Star-Earthed Network
Protective-earth connections are arranged around a central reference point within the Aquarius.
This star-earth layout is designed to provide a consistent earth path for the connected equipment and is retained when compatible IsoTek products are added using System Link.
The Aquarius is a Class I electrical product and must be connected to a correctly installed mains supply with a protective-earth connection.
Silver-Plated OCC Internal Wiring
The internal wiring uses solid-core Ohno Continuous Cast copper conductors with silver plating.
OCC production is designed to create long copper crystal structures with relatively few boundaries, while silver provides a highly conductive outer surface.
This internal wiring is intended to maintain low resistance between the mains inlet, filtering circuits and output sockets.
FEP Virtual Air Dielectric
A Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene helix is wound around the internal conductor before a further FEP layer protects and insulates the assembly.
This minimises the amount of solid dielectric material touching the conductor and creates what IsoTek calls a Virtual Dielectric of Air.
The construction is intended to combine electrical safety and mechanical stability with a low-dielectric internal power path.
Resettable Thermomagnetic Protection
The medium-current and high-current outlet groups are protected by separate thermomagnetic circuit breakers.
These provide overload protection without relying on a conventional user-replaceable wire fuse within each outlet circuit.
If a breaker trips, switch off and disconnect the connected equipment before investigating the load and resetting the protection.
Do Not Repeatedly Reset a Tripping Breaker
A tripped breaker may indicate an overloaded outlet group, damaged equipment or another electrical fault.
Disconnect the connected products and seek suitable technical assistance if the cause is not immediately clear.
Progressive Surge Protection
The V5 Aquarius includes IsoTek’s sequential and repeatable protection network.
IsoTek specifies 81,000A of instantaneous protection and 40,000A of continuous protection.
This is designed to help protect the conditioner and suitably connected equipment from abnormal surges and voltage spikes, although no device can guarantee protection from every electrical event or a direct lightning strike.
System Link Expansion
A dedicated System Link outlet allows a compatible IsoTek conditioner or distribution product to be connected to the Aquarius.
This can extend the available outlet arrangement without requiring another wall socket, while retaining a common star-earth reference between the linked units.
A suitable IsoTek System Link cable is required and should be selected according to the connection used by the additional product.
System Link Does Not Increase the Available Mains Capacity
Any linked products and their connected equipment remain part of the same electrical supply.
The combined load must remain within the rating of the Aquarius, System Link cable, wall socket and household circuit.
Supplied EVO3 Premier Power Cable
The V5 Aquarius is supplied with a 1.5m IsoTek EVO3 Premier power cable.
The cable uses a C19 equipment connector to match the Aquarius’ 16A IEC C20 mains inlet.
Position the unit close enough to the mains socket for the cable to reach without tension, tight bends or a tightly wound coil of unused cable.
Black or Silver Finish
The V5 Aquarius is available in Black or Silver, allowing it to complement a wide selection of hi-fi and home cinema equipment.
The aluminium chassis measures 450mm wide, 110mm high and 350mm deep, making it suitable for many conventional component-width equipment racks.
Its 9.5kg weight requires a strong, rigid and level shelf.
Installation and Ventilation
Position the Aquarius on a stable surface with its ventilation openings clear.
Do not cover the unit, install it on a soft surface or place it where liquids, excessive heat or naked flames could reach the chassis.
The mains plug is used as the primary disconnection device and should remain readily accessible.
Planning the Outlet Layout
Before connecting the system, list each product and check its published mains consumption.
Connect source and control products to the four medium-current outlets, while reserving the two high-current connections for amplifiers, active speakers or powered subwoofers.
Where a system contains more than two high-current components, a second compatible conditioner or a revised power arrangement may be required.
Example Medium-Current Group
- Network streamer
- DAC
- CD player
- Preamplifier
Example High-Current Group
- Power amplifier
- Powered subwoofer
Installation Guide
- Check that the shelf is stable and properly ventilated
- Confirm the power consumption of each component
- Switch off and disconnect all equipment
- Connect the supplied C19 power cable to the Aquarius
- Connect source products to the four medium-current outlets
- Connect amplifiers and powered speakers to the high-current outlets
- Keep each outlet group within its published capacity
- Keep the total system load within 16A or 3,680W
- Arrange cables without sharp bends or tension
- Connect the Aquarius to a correctly earthed wall socket
- Switch on the Aquarius before the connected equipment
- Check for normal operation before playing the system
What Might You Hear?
Reducing mains noise and electrical interaction between components may allow a suitably revealing system to reproduce low-level information more clearly.
Depending on the system and incoming supply, possible improvements can include cleaner bass definition, clearer separation, a quieter perceived background and more stable stereo imaging.
The scale of any change will depend on the mains supply, connected equipment, existing power arrangement and resolution of the complete system.
V5 Aquarius or V5 Sigmas?
Choose V5 Aquarius When
- Six conditioned outlets are sufficient
- Four source and two high-current connections suit the system
- A 6A medium-current group provides enough capacity
- A full-width conditioner is required
- Strong whole-system value is a priority
Choose V5 Sigmas When
- Seven conditioned outlets are required
- Three high-current connections are needed
- A higher-capacity medium-current group is useful
- Greater filtering and protection are preferred
- The larger chassis and additional cost suit the system
The IsoTek V5 Sigmas provides four medium-current and three high-current outlets for larger systems.
Related IsoTek Products and Audio T Guides
Key Features
- Six-way mains conditioner
- Six independent power-cleaning networks
- Four medium-current outlets
- Two high-current outlets
- 6A or 1,380W medium-current group
- 16A or 3,680W high-current group
- 16A or 3,680W maximum total load
- Adaptive Gating on medium-current outlets
- Designed to reduce Common Mode noise
- Designed to reduce Differential Mode noise
- 65dB published RFI reduction
- Dedicated filtering reduces cross-contamination
- Resettable thermomagnetic circuit breakers
- Fully star-earthed internal network
- KERP equal-resistance power distribution
- Silver-plated solid-core OCC copper wiring
- FEP Virtual Air Dielectric construction
- 81,000A instantaneous protection
- 40,000A continuous protection
- System Link expansion outlet
- 16A IEC C20 mains inlet
- 1.5m EVO3 Premier C19 cable supplied
- Black or Silver finish
- 450mm component-width chassis
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the IsoTek V5 Aquarius?
It is a six-outlet mains conditioner with a dedicated power-cleaning network for every connected component.
How many outlets does it provide?
It provides six UK mains outlets plus one System Link connection.
What should use the four medium-current outlets?
They are intended for products such as streamers, DACs, CD players, music servers, phono stages and preamplifiers.
What should use the two high-current outlets?
They are intended for integrated amplifiers, power amplifiers, active loudspeakers and powered subwoofers.
Does each medium-current outlet provide 6A?
No. The four medium-current outlets share a combined 6A or 1,380W rating at 230V.
What is the total maximum load?
The maximum load across all six outlets together is 16A or 3,680W at 230V.
What is the published RFI reduction?
IsoTek currently specifies RFI reduction of up to 65dB.
Does the V5 Aquarius include surge protection?
Yes. IsoTek specifies 81,000A instantaneous and 40,000A continuous protection.
What is System Link?
It allows another compatible IsoTek product to be connected while maintaining a common star-earth reference and using one wall socket.
Does System Link increase the total power available?
No. All connected products remain subject to the ratings of the Aquarius, System Link cable and household circuit.
Does the V5 Aquarius block DC on the mains?
No. A suitable IsoTek Syncro Uni product is required where DC offset is causing transformer hum or vibration.
Does it regenerate the mains waveform?
No. The Aquarius is a passive power conditioner rather than a mains regenerator.
Is a power cable supplied?
Yes. A 1.5m IsoTek EVO3 Premier cable with a C19 connector is included.
What are its dimensions?
It measures 450mm wide, 110mm high and 350mm deep, and weighs approximately 9.5kg.
Why Buy From Audio T?
- Specialist IsoTek demonstrations
- Complete system power-consumption checks
- Medium-current and high-current outlet planning
- Amplifier and source-component matching
- System Link expansion guidance
- Comparison with V5 Sigmas and V5 Titan
- Power-cable and connector advice
- Equipment-rack and ventilation guidance
- Home demonstrations where available
- Ongoing installation and system support
Contact your local Audio T store to discuss the power requirements and correct outlet arrangement for your complete system.