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Power Conditioner Architecture. Discuss Differences?


Audiophile

 

Posts: 520
Joined: September 21, 1999



   		 From the way I see it there are three basic types of power conditioners in our hobby. At least the serious ones.

1. Isolation Transformers. Perhaps the most common and have the possibility of being current limiting.

2. Capacitive ones, or large banks of capacitors. Blue Circle incorporated this, and the advanate is non-current limting

3. Regenerative tpyes, PS Audio Power Plants. The new Class D based ones offer the most output, but its essentially an amplifier so it has a theoretical limit of output and current.

What would you consider the benefits or each type and their greatest limitations? If you were to select one, which would it be?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
neonknight

Showing 2 responses by carlsbad2

carlsbad2's avatar
carlsbad2
1,382 posts
 

I like the old style regenerative ones that weigh 80 lbs. Never current limiting.

I really like how you’ve hit the nail on the head with current limiting as the major failue of these devices.

I haven’t done a lot of research since I found the regenerative power conditioner and never looked back. But I have read a lot of stories on here of people figuring out (eventually) that the wall outlet sounds better than their power conditioner, often on name brand equipment.

You asked my recommendation:  Last generation PSA, PP10.

JErry

carlsbad2's avatar
carlsbad2
1,382 posts
 

@glennewdick you need to look at your understanting.

A regenerator is a rectifier and an inverter. Their current capacity can be 1000 KW if that’ what they are designed for.

I do have a dedicated line run for my stereo.  That can't change the sine wave coming to my house.  It has about 4% THD.  After my regenerator it is about 0.1% THD.

Jerry

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