2. misc-audio
  3. 193545-178608

AC Power

I have a relatively nice system, but have done nothing with my AC power, with the exception of upgraded PC’s and a cheap iFi plug in power conditioner. My question is multi fold… do I need to do something, and if so what? Dedicated line (15A or 20?)? Quality power conditioner? Both? Which one first? How do you tell?

My system is a combination of HT & 2 channel & I tend to use both simultaneously as I like to watch sports while listening to music.
My amp is (I think) a relatively low draw… Moon 330A, Rythmik sub, BHK pre, Aurender, Qutest w/Sbooster, R11’s. No high power amps are in my future & never listen above 75db. I do currently plug my amp directly into the wall. All my wall warts are gone. For my HT, add a 75” Sony TV, Marantz 7015 AVR & a Klipsch sub (although at zero volume the AVR & sub should not come into play).

I am considering buying the Furman IT-Reference 15i or 20i first as they are well reviewed & are priced very well on Amazon ($1,400 / $1,900). Before I pull the trigger, should I go dedicated power & at what amperage (my nephew, an EE & audiophile thinks I am drawing no more than 5 amps) as that will dictate the Furman model?

Interesting, my nephew thinks neither are worth the investment. His statement: “Do you have appliances on the circuit now? What kind of interference can they inject?...voltage drops would come from current draws...which trip breakers.
Not steady 60hz a good power supply handles. So it all comes back to was the power supply engineer dropped on his head as a child.”

”Personally I think it’s something audio people do when they have run out of gear to buy.”

Any thoughts or recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

signaforce

Showing 1 response by mswale

mswale
270 posts
 

Always funny how this place just forces us all to spend 3-5x the cost of what we are thinking. Come in thinking one thing, come out thinking very different.

Asking about a power conditioner, now we are doing a couple dedicated circuits! Think I need to check my HT outlets, have a feeling they are all backstabbed. But did replace a couple outlets with cheap audio grade ones. 

My HT system has a Panamax PC, has both voltage and amp gauges on it. Everything is plugged into it. Voltage is usually 122v, depending on what I'm watching, 1.6-3.5a this is a 9.4.2 atmosphere setup, with a 80in TV, and an Xbox.

My 2ch has a Furman 15i, just with voltage gauge. My 2ch voltage goes from 115-124v, usually around 122. I can drop the voltage when listing at high levels. Also found out, that they hooked up the microwave to the living room outlets! When the microwave kicks in, voltage drops to 115v. I know that needs to be fixed. Also thinking abut 2 dedicated outlets.

Here is my point. On the HT side the PC really helps, picture is better, and sound is better when plugged into it. Almost everything there is digital. On the 2ch setup, the sound is cleaner with the PC, have plugged the sub and amp directly into the wall, and the PC. Could not tell a sonic difference. Also can not hear a difference when the microwave is turned on. This tells me the Furman is making a difference for the better.  The 2ch setup is vintage, I use the Furman to power it all on/off instead of using the components power switches. 

One question I do have abut dedicated circuits, is it worth the extra money to get magnetic breakers over the cheap other ones?

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