Experience with power conditioners

I agree with Fathertime (how can you not agree with someone called Fathertime?). I recently had to address the shortage of outlets for my components. I thought about various products, from Shunyata to PS Audio and Monster. I ended up buying the Monster AVS2000 Voltage stabilizer. I know this seems like an overindulgent way to solve this problem, but I had a good reason. I have arc welders on the corner of my block. When they fire up their mig and tig machines, power delivery to my apartment suffers in grand fashion. City life. Luckily, it's mostly during the day when I'm not home. With the AVS 2000 I'm noticing a clearer, more concise sound across the board. I'm still A/B'ing the unit, but so far I like it alot. At the moment I have my CD player and DAC / Preamp plugged into it. The amp is plugged into the wall. My preliminary tests with the amp suggest that channel separation / soundstaging is better with the amp going through the AVS2000, but dynamics might be slightly better with the amp plugged into the wall.

Cheers.

I found myself in the same boat several months ago. My system just seemed to be lacking sound quality in comparison to the same equipment I demoed at my local dealer. I had already spent big bucks on a Parasound HCA 2205 yet I was still disappointed with the sound. At that point I was considering buying new speakers. Instead I thought back as to how my dealer had their equipment hooked up. Sure enough I recalled Monster Cable power conditioning equipment being used. So I went ahead a splurged on yet more equipment. Power conditioning equipment made my budget system sound magical. It improved the sound quality across the board while lowering the noise floor. I literally pulled out old movies and watched them again listening for those details I had missed for such a long time. I stand amazed and wonder how many upgrades in speakers and equipment changes I would have gone through had I not made this change first. Many may disagree as to the quality of Monster Cabe gear but I'm Lov'in it! Think about it this way as you review types of equipment used in budget and high end system as reviewed in many audio/video magazines. Do they use power conditioning equipment when they put together systems for their clients? You bet they do! I can't recall one that did'nt.

I know everybody says this is all system dependent.--- My system went up several notches with the Adept Response---From my perspective I can't see this NOT HELPING--- but that's just me.(I live in a 95 unit complex)

Short of a full tilt power regenerator, which is going to be pretty darn expensive for a very limited amount of current with a lot of heat generated, a heavy core high current low capacitance Iso will get you the most bang for the buck. I think that Bob's comments basically confirm his experience with smaller individual toroidal based designs being far less effective. Parallel line filtration, like in the Hydra, can also work well, but work best at the individual component level in conjunction with a a very high grade, high current iron core isolation tranformer that filters the system as a whole. This is just my opinion based on research and experimentation though, so take that for what it is worth. Sean
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PS... Bob, check your system thread. I just found that based on your comments here and have some ideas that may help you out.

Gandme, Dedicated lines help minimize AC noise induced by appliances and dimmers in your home and help ensure that your amplifier is getting all the juice it needs for those dynamic and/or complex passages.

But dedicated lines will not cleanse the bi-directional digital noise from making it's way back to the service panel and back into the dedicated lines to your other components. Nor will dedicated lines cleanse the dirty/noisy AC everybody (yes everybody) gets from the street and power station.

Robertje, You might consider the Foundation Research LC-1 and LC-2 passive and dedicated bi-directional in-line power conditioners.

Marty DeWulf of Bound for Sound rated these line conditioners the best he's heard back in the Aug. 03 issue and purchased the review samples for his 'big rig'. But that review was for the original versions. The new versions is simply multiple times better than the old.

-IMO

The real question is how much high frequency noise you have riding into your components through your power lines. You probably won't know for sure just how good or bad your power is until you try a high quality conditioner and listen for the effects.

In my case, I always had a treble frequency response spike in my system that I had attributed to an inherent in-room design problem with my speakers (Revel Salons). This explanation seemed logical to me at the time because the frequency response spike had been a measureable "problem" in my system for years despite many upgrades of my electronic components. I also have a friend who is running the very same speakers and who has had a nearly identical treble frequency response hump that has been present in his system for years despite various front end component changes.

However, I recently learned that I was being horribly unfair to the Revel Salons and that they are not at all to blame for my treble frequency response problem. It turns out that the problem was in my power lines. When I installed the isolation transformer in my system in January, the effect on the sound of my system was astounding. My treble frequency response suddenly reverted to perfectly flat. Subjectively, the bright edge to the sound of massed violins, for example, was completely "cured."

This was proof to me that the effect of power conditioners can be not only audible but measurable as well. Indidentally, I had previously been running devoted PS Audio High Current Ultimate Outlets on all of my components. While they made some subtle improvements to the sound of my sytem, they seemed to do nothing to eliminate the high frequency noise. I have since removed the Ultimate Outlets from my system.

Needless to say the quality and effectiveness of your power conditioner are very important.

Good luck!

I too would like to know what gives with Power Conditioners.
I have 2 dedicated 20 amp circuits run to my 2 channel system. I've split the load between the 2 circuits. Can I improve the quality of sound with a conditioner? Or am I just adding more bright lights to my "look"

Just for fun, if you use the modestly priced, flimsily constructed, top of the line version of Mapleshade Records power strip with its built-in power cord, there will be a pleasing improvement in performance. That way, while you research everything else that is available, you're simulating dedicated lines, and elaborate power conditioners.
When visitors see what has enabled clear, natural sound in my systems there is disbelief. Not hard to re-sell if your results are not equally satisfying.
If your system benefits then you rush out and load up on recordings to listen to after saving so much money.

I think you'll find a ton of info on this subject and many will agree and disagree on the same product depending on system.If you weed through it all you'll find that if you don't need it don't buy it.Try dedicated lines first and then proceed with caution...I am sure all the products mentioned are fine products but who knows you may not even need any....