I have had the opposite experience. in both of my systems I have found having the amps plugged into power conditioners improved the sound. May be it is the case due to the "quality" or lack thereof of our local power.
Not sure for power conditioner my amp or not.
Hi, I have an VTA ST-120 I built using KT88C’s for my 2 channel. I have all my equipment running through a Torus Power TOT MAX Toroidal Isolation. I have heard 2 different versions on what to do. As far as what to plug my amp into. The wall or the TOT’s? I know this isn’t a "power conditioner" such as PS Audio sells. Should I keep everything plugged into the TOT, so all my grounds are the same and it has the optional surge protection? Or straight into the wall? I tried the wall once, but didn’t hear a difference really. But I didn’t test for long and not sure I ever got to the point of drawing too much power from the amp. Which is the best way to leave it? Thanks! Scott
Showing 6 responses by facten
@bikeboy52 I have a whole home surge protector and my electrician told me that it is advisable to still have surge protection units at critical equipment. Good advice as I have had lightening take out whole home protectors twice which you don't know has happened unless you take off the panel cover and check them every now and then. |
@hsounds "Then plug it right into the wall, wait three days, and play the same three songs."
help me understand what the 3 day wait is all about |
@hsounds - Thanks for your response. Regarding tube equipment, I don’t know what other folks do but I turn my tube equipment off after each listening session. My experience with each listening session is that after the tubes warm up 30 - 40 minutes that the SQ settles back in . That being my case, if I was going to do the wall vs conditioner test I’d wait 15 minutes after turning off the tube amp to let the tubes "settle" before starting it back up with the power cord in its new position , let the tubes warm up again and then play the same tracks and assess what I hear. Net net I think folks can determine the interim timeline for assessment based upon their normal listening experiences |
@emergingsoul - Maybe an option for protecting your amps would be a ZeroSurge or Brickwall unit |
@smoorenc - I've incorporated ZeroSurge units into both of my systems and I haven't heard any sound degradation |