2. cables
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Advice needed on power cables, wall warts, conditioning, electrical outlet

Hi everyone,

I would appreciate any advice on power cables, wall warts, power conditioning, better electrical outlet,  etc. 

If I have a power conditioner, with all of my equipment plugged into it with their stock cables, would upgrading the individual components’ power cable, wall wart etc. really help to improve the sound quality?  If yes, in what order of priority would you suggest?  Looking to make some low/moderate cost "tweaks" where it makes sense.

FWIW, here’s my setup:

  • 15 amp dedicated electrical circuit with standard home grade grounded electrical outlet.
  • Furman PL Plus-C power conditioner (repurposed from my music equipment studio rack) plugged into this AC outlet.  (Furman has a hardwired power cable, so I cannot easily swap it out)
  • All of my audio equipment plugs into the Furman: e.g. integrated tube amp, DAC, Sound Expander, ethernet to optical converter, Sonore Optical Rendu (feeds the DAC via USB), and Small Green Computer Roon server.
  • All components have their respective manufacturers’ standard issue power cord or wall wart.  (Sonore Optical Rendu with their Small Green Computer standard LPS).
  • TrendNet ethernet switch, not on the conditioner and uses wall wart.  CAT 8 to upstairs to my Asus router also wall wart and not on conditioner.
  • Asus router to Verizon FIOS ONT via CAT 8 ethernet.

Any advice and comments would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks a lot!

bogbeat

Showing 4 responses by cakyol

cakyol's avatar
cakyol
940 posts
 

@terry9 

you have about the only believable post on this subject. And since the isolation transformer provides a good low impedance supply, you see the better transient improvement. 
 

Power cords, unless they are thinner than your house romex, will NOT make an improvement. 
 

cakyol's avatar
cakyol
940 posts
 

"@alexberger: Toroidal transformers are the worst for amplifier power supply."

The above is COMPLETELY UNTRUE. Toroidals are the BEST transformers for noise and efficiency.

Here is an isolation transformer you cannot beat. At 3000VA capacity and at 2.5% regulation, it can even drive a welding machine... quietly:

 

cakyol's avatar
cakyol
940 posts
 

Hi @alexberger,

Our suggestion for using a transformer, especially a toroidal transformer is for the purposes of isolation and smoothing. Both SS and tube amplifiers, low or high power, can always benefit from the low impedance mains supply an isolation transformer brings, regardless of whether it needs to be used IN the amplifier. We were suggesting it on the MAINS side, not necessarily IN the amplifier as a part of it.

cakyol's avatar
cakyol
940 posts
 

There is no need to spend ridiculous amounts of money on power cables.

Check the below out for example. Its current carrying capacity of 90 amps at 10 awg is a testament to its quality. And for short runs, its stray capacitance & inductance will not matter. It only costs about $2.60 per foot.

www.mcmaster.com/6276T19/

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