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Dedicated 20 amp circuit - Electrician laughed!

I brought my electrician out to my house today to show him where I would like to install a dedicated 20a circuit for my system.  He laughed and said that's the stupidest thing he's heard and laughs when people talk about it.  It said, if you're going to do it, you have to have it separately grounded (shoving a new 8 foot rod into the ground) but even then, he sees no way there can be an audible improvement.

Now, he's not just an electrician though. He rebuilds tube amps on the side and tears apart amps and such all the time so he's quite well versed in audio electronics and how they operate.

He basically said anyone who thinks they hear a difference is fooling themselves.  

Personally, I'm still not sure, I'm no engineer, my room's not perfect, and I can't spend hours on end critical listening...  But, he does kinda pull me farther to the "snake oil" side and the "suggestive hearing" side (aka, you hear an improvement because you want to hear it).

I'm not taking a side here but I thought it was interesting how definitive he was that this not only WILL not make a difference but ALMOST CANNOT make a difference. 
dtximages

Showing 3 responses by jbrrp1

jbrrp1
423 posts
 
I use a PS Audio P20 for powering my whole system, and my system definitely sounds better with a massive Elrod Statement feeding the P20 from the wall instead of their supplied basic power cord or even a VH Audio Airsine.  Now, I have only run it off my dedicated 20 amp circuit (wired with 10 gage for overkill!), so I cannot specifically speak to the dedicated vs. non-dedicated circuit question.  But the fact that the power cord can improve things certainly tells me that even the upstream configuration makes a difference with a regenerator.
I have switched from standard house circuits to dedicated lines twice in my life, and both times I was well pleased by the sound improvements rendered (more powerful dynamic performance, better micro-dynamic contrasts, fleshier palpability in the imaging, among other improvements).

I am with Millercarbon on this - - everything matters.
jbrrp1
423 posts
 
I don't doubt Brownsfan's experience, but mine is different (albeit on a different regenerator).  My amps sound better on my P20 rather than direct to the wall (both for my PS Audio BHK 300 mono's, or my Luxman M900u stereo unit).  I'd suggest trying it both ways and hearing what you hear.
jbrrp1
423 posts
 
A couple of times I have tried a transformer between my panel and my dedicated run to the stereo, using a Topaz 5 kVA, 0.0005pF model.  I never really heard sonic improvements, frankly, and the thing did buzz nicely (was in a separate room!) and wasted a lot of energy in the form of heat.  But they do kill any DC on the line.  I took it out both times, and have found actual sonic improvements with the PS Audio P20 (P10's before that).
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