Installing Dedicated Power Lines -- Need Advice


My general contractor is hiring a licensed electrician to install dedicated 20A lines for my audio system as part of a whole-apartment rewire and gut renovation.  While I'm sure the electrician is very capable, I'm also pretty sure he doesn't know anything about audio systems either.  Can any of you recommend a consultant or electrician who specializes in audio electrical I can hire to advise my electrician on how to best set up these lines?

Thanks!
dkidknow

Showing 5 responses by dkidknow

Thanks very much for the responses.  Miller, your system looks mighty fine and you've obviously put a lot of thought into your power needs.  I'd love to pick your brain further.

1.  Will definitely advise the electrician to use 10ga if he hasn't already specced it.
2.  I've already purchased two Furutech GTXD-NCF duplexes with matching NCF covers and GTX Wall Plates.  Does each duplex need its own breaker to isolate from the other?  My architect says our main panel is getting crowded and is urging me to limit to two breakers for the audio rig.
3. I will be purchasing some kind of power conditioner/distributor.  Can digital be plugged into the same conditioner as analog?
5. Would I plug my tube integrated directly into the outlet or can it go to a power conditioner?
6. If I buy speakers that each have an onboard Class D amp for subwoofers that need to be plugged in, can they be on the same circuit as the power amp?  I'm considering getting two single outlets closer to the speakers to avoid a long power cable run to each of them.

Lastly, did your electrician know this stuff and advise you or did you have to educate yourself completely?  

Thanks!
Thanks very much Millercarbon for your thoughtful and detailed response.  I now understand I'll have both outlets on one circuit.  One clarification-- does plugging in different components to different outlets on the same circuit create ground loops or just plugging into two different circuits? 

Point taken on plugging the amp into the power conditioner and thanks for the Decware suggestion.  My dealer who sold me the Line Magnetic amp also carries Shindo and is suggesting I get a Shindo Mr. T.  It is, as you suggested, a bit more than twice the price of the Decware.  I will take my time with the conditioner and power cable part of this since I'll be plugging into a really new system with new speakers in the new apartment and want to wait until I'm in the new place before making any decisions.

Since the walls (hopefully) will only be open once, I am considering wiring the whole audio circuit with JPS Power AC In-Wall 10 gauge wire.  

Whart, thanks for your suggestions.  Since we are gutting the entire apartment, permits have been pulled for everything, plus landmarks approval, etc.  Expediting this project has been no small feat! I'm confident our GC will only use a good electrician.  We are in a prewar building in Manhattan, so downside is the same creaky electric infrastructure you had in Brooklyn, but upside is buried cables not particularly susceptible to surge and outages.
Jdoris, that’s some pretty solid reasoning, although it’s scary to think these are the things we require to sleep well at night.

FYI I’m already stepping my speakers up several levels because my little Merlin monitors won’t be able to fill the 28’ x 20’ room they’re moving to. The Merlins are moving to a home theatre in the den with a sub to round them out. Still not sure exactly what I’m going with for the main rig, but have basically narrowed my focus to Bache 002AB or TriBeCa, Focal Kanta 2 or Devore Super 9.
In NYC vinyl jacketed cable is not up to code. The JPS Labs wire I selected
would have to be in a conduit. The electrician has already wired with armored BX cable but can still replace with the JPS. It’s a 70 foot run, so would cost $2100. The Synergistic Research PowerCell 8 UEF SE will be just a few hundred more than that, so I’m thinking (as Millercarbon suggested) I may get more bang for the buck spending the money on the conditioner. However, it’s not strictly a zero-sum equation here. This is a big renovation (all old panels and wires are being replaced as a matter of course) and I just got quoted about $2k for each dining room chair, so am feeling particularly justified in spending a bit more on something that tickles my ears rather than simply supporting my derrière.

All things being equal, is there a better bang for the buck spending $2100 on JPS labs in-wall cable or upgrading my power cables? The advisor I’ve been speaking to at the Cable Company has suggested
it’s more cost-effective to supply better power from the source (in-wall) than to correct it between the outlet and component through power cords. Would appreciate responses on this last question only from those who would spend ANY money on upgrading power in the first place. 

Electric is close to done and walls
will be closed up soon, so would appreciate responses!
I spent an afternoon listening to my amp with the O96 at In Living Stereo (where I buy a lot of my gear) and while I enjoyed the experience, i didn’t walk away loving them so much. It’s all moot with those speakers because my listening room at the new apartment will also be my living room, and there just isn’t the space for 18” wide speakers.

I’ve had the LM amp since 2014 and could easily relate to what Herb had to say about it when he wrote that review. The Super 9s will fit in my space and are quite nice, but I’m actually most excited about the Bache Audio speakers, which are also a Brooklyn product. I’ve spent an afternoon with the designer Greg Bellman, listening to his 002AB and Tribeca speakers at his showroom near the Navy Yards and will likely end up with one of those. Highly recommended for their immediacy.