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dedicated power circuit for amp

I have a mark levinson 336 driving a pair of b&w nautilus 802's. I have run a dedicated 30A circuit for the amp. I used #10 gauge solid wire. I swapped out the 30A breaker for a 100A breaker and the sound improvement is substantial. Deeper bass, more solid, and most of all, a much fuller sound. If I were reading this post right now I'd be thinking the same thing you are. But it's the truth... I am at a loss to explain it. I don't want to leave the 336 on a 100A circuit. So am going to replace the #10 gauge wire with some other wire that is stranded instead of solid. Probably #6 gauge. The run of wire is about 60 ft from fuse box to amp. Any one know who makes/sells really good wire for this type of application, or have any other ideas on why the 100A breaker sounds sooooo much better then the 30A breaker???

Thanks in advance.
jjurich
3 responses Add your response
gregm
3,405 posts
 
Hi Jjurich. The freer flow of power (i.e. larger gauge wire) allows the equipment to "breathe" better. I had a similarly ear-opening experience when I ran a 32A dedicated line from the fuse box to my listening room, and hooked up the whole system.
Protection is a problem: have you talked this over with a qualified technician, esp. one that deals in industrial applications? Good luck.
abstract7
541 posts
 
Interesting about the 100A breaker. I have heard that replacing the breakers with actual fuses has a similar effect--with the same amperage rating. You might try it. You would have the protection and perhaps the full sound you have acheived at the expense of convenience. If you do try it--let us know--I might make the same change to my dedicated lines.
alexanderj
139 posts
 
My idea (I'm not a metalurgist and I didn't design your breakers)of why your 100 amp breaker sounds better is due to the construction of the breaker with it's bimetallic strip and contact surfaces both of which would be larger in a 100 amp breaker. For your safety and to stay code approved (6 gauge is still way to small for 100 A) you're going to have to put in some current limiting device somewhere before your amplifier. A simply constructed (not slo blo) cartridge type fuse may be a good option.

Besides a commercial electrical contractor you might want to contact mega buck home theatre specialists (in your area) for who they sub contract the electrical portion of their installations. Commercial contractors mostly use smaller fuses for motor protection, not specialized audio installs.
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