The be quiet! Dark Power Pro 1500 W is a high-performance power supply, among the best in the very high wattage category. It uses a new CWT platform of high build quality, one capable of dealing with harsh conditions well. It comes with tons of connectors. Only two of these are EPS connectors, however, which seems to be the new trend, and since be quiet! also builds cases, cable configuration is excellent—this PSU won't have any compatibility issues with large full-tower cases.

In terms of performance, the transient response at +12 V is good, which is among the most crucial performance factors, and load regulation and ripple suppression are good as well. This is an efficient platform, but it has to deal with formidable competitors that use cutting-edge platforms with bridgeless PFC converters (EVGA SuperNOVA 1600 T2) or the new bridgeless totem-pole PFC converters (AX1600i) for up to 3% higher efficiency in that stage compared to conventional PFC converters. If the P12-PRO-1500 were priced below $400, I would put it into another category where it would be the best, but with an MSRP of $450 it is only $50–$60 removed from the performance king, the Corsair AX1600i. Besides a higher capacity, the latter also offers control and monitoring capabilities through software, and its overall performance is notably higher, while being quieter than the P12-PRO-1500. Cybenetics has evaluated three Corsair AX1600i units, with the quietest of those achieving 23.25 dBA average noise output, which is incredibly low for a 1600 W PSU.

The flagship of the Dark Power Pro 12 line with 1500 W maximum power output is a very good power supply—built like a tank, it oozes quality. However, I wonder why be quiet! didn't go after Corsair and instead settled for a place below both digital platforms from Flextronics and Wentai with GaN MOSFETs and a totem-pole PFC converter. This high-end PSU category is like the Formula One circuits; you have to use the best technology to prevail and take the performance crown. Someone looking to spend this much money on a powerful PSU won't mind spending a bit more to get the absolute best instead of settling for a "less capable" platform.