Balanced vs standard power

Ngjockey - Am assuming you are referring to mechanical noise / 60 hz hum, which is a good point regardless of vendor choice. I.E. something to look out for.
I'm not sure why you think an oversized sola ('oversized' per other posts) would not provide excellent stability under dynamic load conditions?

Good info Ngjockey. I just picked up a Signal DU-5 on ebay. I'm going to use it wired in balanced mode for my amp (Almarro 318B). I've got a Signal DU-2 for my source.

The Signal DU series is a great isolation transformer. Wired in balance, it droped the noise floor substantially.
If anyone buys one off of ebay, PM me and I'll send you the wiring diagram for Isolation or balanced.

The DU-2 (2KVA) is plenty for sourse components in balanced mode. The DU-5 (5KVA) is plenty for high current amps in balanced mode.

If you check out my virtual system, you can get an idea on the box I've made to hide it. I used a Porter port for the outlet and a Furutech IEC for the inlet.
You don't have to use an IEC for the inlet, but it leave the option for rolling PC's.

Used both balanced and isolation with general purpose step-downs and various others.

http://mysite.verizon.net/vze22yzp/id10.html

For amps in general, never found much benefit for balanced AC. In fact, my Plinius amps are completely indifferent, other than needing a stethoscope to detect any noise, but I still keep them on a 60/60 diet because it doesn't do any harm. My Genesis 1600W bass amp is the only piece plugged direct to "the wall". For class A/B or D amps, even with 10X capacity, a transformer can still be a "speed bump" because those amps recharge capacitors in less than a cycle. Class A amps, with a steady amp draw, are a good load for isolation transformers.

On the other hand, preamps and sources have responded well to balanced AC. In some cases, like the SFL2, which has a power supply larger than many amps, the difference was shocking (sorry, bad pun).

Agree with Zman that multiple smaller isolation transformers are better than one. That is the point of isolation. Do you realize the weight of a 15KVA transformer?

Code issues with distributed (through wall) balanced AC that Equi=Tech has dealt with but that doesn't apply to boxes in room or on the rack.

There's also the running cost. Although they're quite efficient under load, they have an "idle" or exciting current (typically 10% of capacity). Although larger transformers have a lower percentage of exciting current, it's always more.

Gotta disagree with Jeff about the Sola CVS (and MCR) regulated transformers. They are great for their intended purpose but they're noisy and don't respond well to dynamic loads. The CVS series provides less isolation and noise reduction.

Prefer standard EI core transformers rather than toroidal for this purpose even though toroids make for better packaging. Enough online and archived discussions about this already.

Saw a NIB Signal DU-10 on Ebay for about $1200 (retail) and there's pages full of 5, 7.5 and 10 KVA GP step-downs (240V required) under $500. Doesn't sound like cost is an issue for you. Just gotta say... there's good power and better power but ain't no such thing as audiophile power.

I have a BPT 20 amp balanced AC transformer the past 3 years. My entire system is plugged into it, everything improved with it`s use,dynamics,sense of scale,much lower noise floor, nuance, inner detail etc.
I have`nt experienced any negative trade offs, none.

The only aspect I would question in your case is the 'super sizing" of the transformer. I don`t believe the added size and expense is necessary. 10x the requirement of your system does`nt seem logical and is simply overkill IMO. It`s the same as having a 300-500 watt amp, when using reasonably efficient speakers, at most listening levels your speakers are only requiring 1-5 watts. Sometimes the headroom arguement is carried to excess(under real world conditions0.

Best of Luck,

This is what I'd look at http://www.solahevidutysales.com/cvs_hardwired_series_power_conditioner.htm for what it is worth. They've been around quite a while, work fine and last a long time.

I just want to add that I think that you're thinking very clearly of a high power unit.

I was told by three different audio component manufacturers that, like a power amplifier, the more power, the more headroom for dynamic bursts and an easier handling of the load on the unit.

All three said to allow a 10x power handling capability, and I found that to be true. I started with a 1.8 Kva unit, then a 2.4, then 2.5, then 3.0 and finally a 5.0 Kva unit. I only had two components on mine, and when I finally put the 5.0 Kva, the soundstage opened up and expanded, as well as the decrease in the noise floor and a lot more micro details emerged.

Chuck

I agree with Elizbeth.
I use Signal Isolation transformers wired in ballanced mode. The difference was a much lower noise floor that transmitted into a more spaitial soundstage and more three dimensionality.
A 10kva will be plenty for most systems. I would recommend one 5kva for the source and one 5kva for the amp.