Do power conditioners make much difference?

[wes]

Hello audiophiles.......

Well, do they? List some of the improvements that you noticed..... Do they also need a break in period?

-Wes

[Jeffrey]

Hi Wes,

I think they're all different. Which one are you referencing?

BTW, ya may wanna ask a Gort to take this to the Audio Forum. It may get more responses over there. :)

-Jeffrey

[SVL]

A lot depends on how much noise/interference you had in your power lines to begin with. Depending on that, you can hear either major improvement, or no/marginal difference.

[wes]

Originally posted by Jeffrey
Hi Wes,

I think they're all different. Which one are you referencing?

BTW, ya may wanna ask a Gort to take this to the Audio Forum. It may get more responses over there. :)

-Jeffrey

Well, I'm not referencing any right now.......... I'm sort of doing research trying to learn about them before I decide to audition one.

-Wes

[Gary]

My answer: Yes.

Especially if you have noisy power lines (like the stereo is plugged into the same circuit as the 'fridge or stove or TV or washing machine or... )

I have a Foundation MKI.

[Jeffrey]

Originally posted by wes


Well, I'm not referencing any right now.......... I'm sort of doing research trying to learn about them before I decide to audition one.

-Wes

Hi Wes,

I would strongly recommend auditioning one or more. If ya can take a demo home, why not? :)

-Jeffrey

[wes]

Originally posted by Gary
My answer: Yes.

Especially if you have noisy power lines (like the stereo is plugged into the same circuit as the 'fridge or stove or TV or washing machine or... )

I have a Foundation MKI.

Noisy power lines.......... You mean with the system turned on, no music playing, audible noise? There isn't any that I know of.

Gary, is that Foundation MKI also a surge protector?

-Wes

[wes]

Originally posted by Jeffrey


Hi Wes,

I would strongly recommend auditioning one or more. If ya can take a demo home, why not? :)

-Jeffrey

Good idea

-Wes

[Gary]

Originally posted by wes


Gary, is that Foundation MKI also a surge protector?


Hmmm don't know. But they are up to "Foundation III" these days.

Here's my story. Listening to stereo, Wife turns on clothes washer. Fuzzzzzzz! You can definitely hear interferance! I had to turn off the stereo. After the power conditioner was installed, no Fuzzzzzzz when the washer went on! It cleans the power nicely.

( I know, I know - no respect. Music is simply not that high on her priorities list! )

Sounds weird, especially since I never believed in that stuff, but it works in my application. Seems to create a "black" background - sonically speaking, of course!

You may find that it works for you, too! :)

[wes]

Cool! I'll have to check out the foundation III's....

Can you also hear a diff with the washer and other noisy electronics off, and just doing A/B testing with/without the foundation I?

-Wes

[SamS]

I think there is money better spent by running a dedicated 20amp circuit for your gear.

[wes]

Originally posted by SamS
I think there is money better spent by running a dedicated 20amp circuit for your gear.

Really, how much would that cost? You mean just get an isolated power source that's dedicated to the stereo?

-Wes

[Blair G.]

I'm planning to run a dedicated circuit for my stereo, luckily I have a direct route and know lots of electricians.
But I still intend to look at power conditioners regardless. It's my understanding noise can still be introduced from other components in the system regardless of what they're plugged into, especially digital sources.

[Gary]

Originally posted by wes
Cool! I'll have to check out the foundation III's....

Can you also hear a diff with the washer and other noisy electronics off, and just doing A/B testing with/without the foundation I?

-Wes

Oh, yes! :thumbsup:

Don't forget that you can have line fuzz from your next door neighbour, in the area you live in, etc. Some people believe a dedicated line is best. Remember some people claim that music listening is best after midnight? Less draw on the power lines.

I say "Hey! Whatever works for you!" :)

The Foundation series has different filters. It's one big box you plug into the wall and has filters (outlets) specifically for digital sources, power amps and analogue sources. I'm not saying it's the only thing out there or it's the best thing - it just works for me! :)

[Gary]

Originally posted by Blair G.
I'm planning to run a dedicated circuit for my stereo, luckily I have a direct route and know lots of electricians.

Me too, Blair!

Well - almost. I know one electrician.... :D

[BradOlson]

I use a Tripp-Lite surge protector I bought for $30 at my local computer shop.

[SamS]

Originally posted by wes


Really, how much would that cost? You mean just get an isolated power source that's dedicated to the stereo?

-Wes

If you buy some of the things you need at Home Depot (Romex, the outlet, the breakers) having an electician come out will probably be $150-$250. That is much cheaper than one of the nicer surge units. I would also recommend a "whole house" surge protector installed at the breaker panel. It does the same thing as the after market protectors your equipment into, but it covers the entire house. You can then plug your gear that draws lots of power directly into the wall with little fear of any spikes/surges.

I went through the entire process back in August:

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=21866&highlight=surge+romex

[Grego]

Power conditioners try to recreate the perfect sine wave (60 Hz 110-120v) that electronic devices expect. Many things can disrupt the sine wave like dryers, TVs your neighbours... Running a dedicated circuit for your system will protect you against interference on that circuit, but not from anything less than perfect signal from the local grid. Most interference comes from the local circuit though.

A good power conditioner will help your sound a lot if your power is dirty, less so if the power is clean. A home audition is always worth a try, it'll probably be fun too.

[Tullman]

Ken Stevens, the designer of my CAT preamp, told me not to use a conditioner on the preamp. However my TV/sattelite do introduce some noise when plugged in. I have everything on dedicated circuits. I know the preamp is not the problem. With the Krell there is really no noise, just the damn sattelite and TV. I wonder if a conditioner on them would reduce the noise. I am a little baffled, the dimmer switch in the other room makes noise through my stereo too. The dimmer switch is not long for this world I already have a new switch ready to install.

[Gary]

Great comments! That's why a conditoner is really "electrically dependant" - as opposed to system dependant. ;)

Try and see if it works for you!

[Blair G.]

I have read that it's best not to plug your power amp (and maybe pre-amp too) into conditioners. Something about limiting the current or voltage....(I'm over my head on the deeply technical stuff :))

They say a well designed amp should be able to deal with crappy power, but noice generated by otherdevices maybe another story.

Time to audition. BEFORE I put in the new circuit. I'll try again afterward and then decide. The only decently priced stuff in my market arethe Monsters. I'm thinking the 3600. The 5100's $1100.

[Metralla]

Originally posted by Blair G.
The only decently priced stuff in my market are the Monsters. I'm thinking the 3600. The 5100's $1100.
That's a lot of money. Do you feel that you have a problem with your mains supply?

If you have good after-market power cords, decent outlets (like the P&S), and a dedicated line (if that's possible), you have all the fundamentals covered. If you were in a position to home trial various conditioners, I guess it would be fun. I've heard so many stories of folks thinking they liked what they heard, going with it, and a year later removing same to suddenly hear dynamics again.

The auditioning of these may be tricky. A lower noise floor (deeper "blackness" from which the music emerges) may be initially compelling, but in the end may be due to constrained dynamics.

The only one that interests me is the Hydra and I would only connect the SACD player to it. Still too much money, but I'd love to hear one in my system.

[Blair G.]

Will definitely put a decent outlet. Have heard Hubble's are good, supposedly "medical grade" (?).

Better power cords....did you find it made a difference? One for the CD, another for the integrated....cheaper than the conditioner for sure.

[-=Rudy=-]

I think if you're on the same transformer as your neighbors, you're susceptible to noise from any other house in the same circuit. But like Gary mentioned with the washing machine, lamp dimmers (which are notoriously noisy themselves), and even something like my X10 controllers, dedicated lines may not help in these cases, as the wiring in your house is more like a grid and will transmit the interference anywhere there's 120 volts. Almost like a giant antenna in a sense. Dedicated lines are great for power amplifiers though...you keep the voltage drop more in check with a dedicated line.

The point with power amps is that the amps draw a lot of current, which the power conditioners aren't made to handle. If you try to pull too much current through one, you'll probably damage it.

[Upstateaudio]

I have a Chang Lightspeed 6400. I run my preamp and sources through that.

My power amp is run without it. I tried to put it on the Chang, I found dynamics restricted.

There are conditioners designed specifically for power amps. They are pricey though.

I do recommend the Chang for my uses, I bought it used for $250. It surpasses the Panamax that it replaced by far. Try the used market on Audiogon or Ebay.