2. amps-preamps
  3. 1064329059

Help with Bad Power

I just moved into a new apartment, and the electricity is just horrible. The lights dim when I turn on my equipment, and I can hear pops from my speakers if I switch anything (lights, ceiling fan, etc.) on. The worst thing is, I can hear a constant buzz coming out of my speakers. It's not super loud, but it is still audible from a distance of 2-3 feet. AND IT IS DRIVING ME CRAZY!

I had all my equipment shipped to my new apartment (I was moving from out of state), and there were never any problems like this before. I don't think anything was damaged during shipping. All my equip looks fine.

I've been surfing around on various posts, but what's the best solution here? A cheater plug? A power conditioner? Will a simple surge protector help?

I have pretty severe budgetary constraints here. My system is about at my budgetary limit, and I am not willing to drop $400 on a PS Audio power generator, or whatever the hell they are called.

Any help will be GREATLY APPRECIATED!!! Thanks!

My System:
Adcom GCD 750 CD Player
Adcom GFP 750 Pre (Passive Mode)
Rogue Audio 88 Magnum Amp
Proac Response 1sc Speakers
roguetubes731e
jdombrow
371 posts
 
Check out Sutton Designs NETSavers line conditioners (models LC600 and LC1250 ):

https://ssl-001.9netave.com/~ux243077/index.html

These are not necessarily designed for audiophile use, but they provide clean, stable power at a very reasonable price.
ceb222
15 posts
 
Hello,
I suggest you tell your landlord that there is a potentially dangerous electrical situation in the apartment
and get an electrician to fix it. Your stereo
will be fixed but that's the least of the problem. Anyway
it won't cost you anything. Good luck.
Carl
audionutge2e5a
9 posts
 
Lifting the ground is a bad idea. What you need to do is isolate your system from the house. This can either be achieved by using a isolation transformer like a Plitrom Medical Grade Type 1 or by using a balanced transformer (60/60) (BPT, Equi-Tech, etc). In either case make sure you purchase a transformer that not only handles the max load of your system but also has a little extra because all transformers convert energy to heat. So to make sure dynamics are not restricted I would look at a transformer 25% to 50% larger than your system needs.

Regards,
Alan Maher
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