Power Conditioner use and recommendations for systems with Preamp/Source separated from Amp(s) ....

joeinid

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I was thinking about systems, like mine, where you have your gear separated. The Preamp/Source on one wall and the amp(s) on another wall. Do you need 2 of the same, read expensive, conditioners? Do you put a better conditioner on the amp(s)? I like to keep my gear away from my speakers and take advantage of dedicated outlets so how do you best utilize power conditioners and dedicated outlets. Thoughts and advice appreciated. :bonkers:
 
Joe, when you look at most high-end setups, with $120,000/pair of loudspeakers, and $60,000/pair of monoblocks, and a $40,000 TT or a $20,000 CD/SACD player; do you usually see power conditioners?

Oups, forgot the preamp. :)

Usually when I see systems like that, they've dealt with the power filtration at the panel or put in an isolation system so what gets to the sockets/outlets is pristine, negating further conditioning. ;)
 
Hey Joe,

As you know, I'm putting together my listening room right now. Like you, I plan to have my amp on one wall and my source components on another. I'm going to have a dedicated 20amp line for the amp in the front, and another 20amp dedicated line for source components. I don't plan on using a PLC for the amp (at least right now, fear of current choking) but will have one for my source components (Shunyata or Bit). At least that's what I'm thinking right now.

Interested in others' thoughts as well.
 
Usually when I see systems like that, they've dealt with the power filtration at the panel or put in an isolation system so what gets to the sockets/outlets is pristine, negating further conditioning. ;)
Yes, I just saw that today myself - something from EquiTech or Torus, correct?

But I remember some posts saying that line noise from the street isn't too bad, it's more the electronics within the home (the hair dryers, the vacuum cleaners, etc.) polluting the quality of the line inside the house. Or did I read the wrong?:what:
 
Good wall outlets which filter out noise is ideal. Furutech ones are supposed to be good and I can personally attest to the effectiveness of the MIT ones.
 
Yes, I just saw that today myself - something from EquiTech or Torus, correct?

But I remember some posts saying that line noise from the street isn't too bad, it's more the electronics within the home (the hair dryers, the vacuum cleaners, etc.) polluting the quality of the line inside the house. Or did I read the wrong?:what:

You are correct. I'd be curious what you end up doing.
 
Joe...I agree with Allen. He made two excellent points:
1) Place a power conditioner on your sources and preamp but plug your power amp directly into the wall (again because you don't want the conditioner to be limiting cirrent delivery to the smps in any way).
2) While you can certainly deal with the incoming electricity at the panel level with units from Equitech and Torus (big $$$s), you still have to deal with line noise from all the other appliances in your home. So if you have a dedicated line you mitigate some of that but some people still find a benefit to a power conditioner because there will be some noise on the line produced by your equipment itself, especially if you are also going to have things like a cable box, tv, disc spinner with moving parts, a computer/music server, etc... The internal electronics of all these pieces of gear produce line pollution themselves and can inhibit SQ if not treated.

Also, I am not a fan of regeneration units (like the PS Audio stuff) because these can have a tendency to kill dynamics. I prefer passive conditioning units and am personally a fan of Shunyata but I have not heard all the other excellent units from Audience, Synergistic Research, etc...

Hope this helps.

Cyril
 
I agree w Cyril. The noise that is the worst comes from anything plugged in to the same circuit. The farther away from your system the less it will affect it.

Starting from scratch I would have 4 dedicated circuits. 2 for the amplifiers in case you ever used mono blocks. and the 2 for the sources. 1 for the computer etc and the other for DAC TT preamp etc. And as long as we are being picky, lets have the 4 dedicated circuits on the same phase in the main circuit breaker box on the cleaner side - no fridges etc. Also to help the impedance for the grounding - lets have the wire lengths as close as possible to the same length.

From there try conditioning various places and see what works for your system and your likes and dislikes.

Personally, I like the Shunyata Triton/Typhon and find it to lower the noise floor without any loss of dynamics. The way the Typhon works without being in the direct line of current probably has a lot to do with not reducing the dynamics

I have the Triton/Typhon on my sources with amps plugged direct into the wall. I am using the Shunyata recepticals, I've never used the frutech but I did hear a positive improvement over commercial hospital grade recepticals I had before.
 
Jock,

Thank you for you clear description of a well isolated setup. I have some parts of that covered. I do have 4 dedicated outlets, 2 for the amps and 1 each opposite sides of the room. I left myself some flexibility but did not think to separate the computer/dac/tt gear like you recommend. I have already noticed better sound for the current setup but I guess we could always do better. Thanks!
 
I was thinking about systems, like mine, where you have your gear separated. The Preamp/Source on one wall and the amp(s) on another wall. Do you need 2 of the same, read expensive, conditioners? Do you put a better conditioner on the amp(s)? I like to keep my gear away from my speakers and take advantage of dedicated outlets so how do you best utilize power conditioners and dedicated outlets. Thoughts and advice appreciated. :bonkers:

Hi Joe, i would think that with gear like you own you should have dedicated circuits and if you do there is NO reason for power conditioners in the first place for me the second best investment there is in your system is the JUICE #1 being the room with all that great gear that you own i'm sure you can afford a very good budget on your JUICE.:)
 
Hi Joe, i would think that with gear like you own you should have dedicated circuits and if you do there is NO reason for power conditioners in the first place for me the second best investment there is in your system is the JUICE #1 being the room with all that great gear that you own i'm sure you can afford a very good budget on your JUICE.:)

Ha!

Thank you Andre. I do have 4 dedicated circuits which I feel are miles ahead of what I had before. I did have a DC line problem but that is largely gone now. My room/setup is not ideal, but I am making the best of it. My system is still in some state of flux as gear is still getting rotated through and I have not settled on one final combination.

;)
 
I have UberBuss for AC powered gear, and BatteryBuss for my DC gear.
I'm very pleased what the UberBuss and BatteryBuss help to improve the sound.

Thanks Trung,

I was looking at them also. Seems really nice.

UberBUSS



UberBUSS - 120-125VAC Power Conditioner
3 Cryo Pass & Seymour 5362 Receptacles w/ choice of Furutech Gold plated
IEC C14, Bulgin nickel plated C20 inlet or Neutrik 20A Powercon
Highest level of EMI/RFI noise reduction with a large passive PFC network
Upgrade to 3 Cryo Pass & Seymour 5362A Extra Heavy Duty receptacles:


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