Power conditioner help

Arsh,

I use a Bryston AVR20 isolation transformer and love it.  It's the exact same thing as a Torus AVR20, just branded by Bryston, so any review you read on either can be substituted for the other.  The AVR series has surge protection, power isolation/conditioning, and voltage regulation.  Without voltage regulation it becomes the RM series for Torus or a BIT if carrying the Bryston brand.  I love mine and recommend it without hesitation.  The 20-series are the 20A versions.  Peak current output is 400A for 1/2 second, 200A for 1 second, and 100A for 10 seconds.  The 15-series are the 15A versions and 300/150/75A for the peak current specifications.  Both Torus or Bryston would be very responsive if you were to ask them which series would be most suitable for your amp.

I run my system on a 20A dedicated line with a Wattgate outlet, which was about $135 at the time I got it years ago.  Since we are on the subject of power, I use Kimber PK10 Palladian power cords throughout my system and can recommend them too.

Cheers,

John

Arsh,

The Bryston plugs into the wall, my amp and media player plug into the Bryston. The Torus/Bryston 20-series is a beast. I use a Kimber PK10 Gold to run from the wall to the Bryston, and the PK10 Palladian power cords from the Bryston to the amp and media player. The Palladian cords are also seriously good, by the way - what they do with the bass is astonishing... and great extension in the high frequencies too. I got them before I got the Bryston so the above configuration is the only way I’ve run the rig. In my opinion the AVR20 lets the system live up to its full potential.

I occasionally demo the system for friends by running straight from the wall for a few tunes and then I’ll connect the AVR20 back in.  It's not uncommon for people to ask if they are listening to the same CD.  The system sounded quite good before the AVR20, but it nonetheless made quite an impact. I went the isolation transformer route because it suited me on several levels: it’s old school, well-understood technology; it’s passive; it’ll put out a prodigious amount of current; and as someone who likes his watts by the pound, it suits me.

I hope this helps, but certainly feel free to ask if you have additional questions.

Cheers,

John

Arsh,

My experience with the AVR20 mirrors Vic’s experience with his system as I have not experienced any limitation in current, compression of soundstage, etc. In fact, quite the opposite has been the case. Also, Vic and I use the same amp (Ayon Triton III; I also have an Ayon S5 media player that runs off the AVR20) and if his experience is like mine, the current reserves and eliminated noise floor have let his Triton sing with more authority and clarity than ever.

The AVR20 replaced a Panamax 5500 in my system. The Panamax sounded only slightly better than the direct-to-wall connection. The Panamax is a $550 unit and the AVR20 a $4500 unit, so the latter should have demonstrated its superiority - which it did, and for me its contribution to my system was unquestionably worth its price.

I know the folks at Bryston and Torus are very helpful and could help with a recommendation for your system - and it sounds too from Vic’s experience the same is true of PS Audio. When I was going through my decision making process it ultimately came down to which technology I wanted to pursue, and as I stated in my previous post, I gravitated toward the isolation transformer - passive technology, and that 400/200/100Amp current waterfall was really attractive to me. I have never regretted its addition into my system and it certainly has a permanent home.

Cheers,

John

Arsh:  An opportunity to demo at home is always a great way to go in my opinion.

@vicweast:  I didn't want to hijack this thread so I sent you an email regarding my Ayon + KT150 tube experience.  I have both a Spirit III (office system) and Triton III (main system) each running the KT150.

Arsh,

I got my Bryston from Audio Advisor.  They were great to deal with.  Music Direct carries the Torus.  Both carry the P10.  I think both might have return policies that will give you the opportunity to demo and return if that should be your decision.  Double check that, though.

John

Vic & Jay,

From my experience I’d say you are both correct in your comments. I was in the shop one day and saw a couple of Tripp Lite isolation transformers laying around. One was an IS1000 (8.3 Amp rating) and the other was an IS500 (4.2 Amp rating). I figured I’d see what they’d do since the current readout on my Panamax 5500 usually read 3.4 Amps when playing both components in my system. I put the amp through the IS1000 and the media player through the IS500. The noise floor of the system dropped significantly but it was also obvious the system was being choked. The PRAT suffered terribly, as did the sound stage, dynamics, etc. But hearing what it did with the noise floor was certainly enough to make me want to investigate a unit appropriate for my system. In conversations with Bryston I learned that as a result of their testing in order to avoid the detrimental results I had experienced with the undersized isolation transformers they actually use a 30 Amp transformer in the 15-series units and a 40 Amp in the 20-series units. So, from my experience, I can attest to the ill effects from an undersized power conditioning piece, but likewise, when the unit was right-sized for my system (actually a bit of overkill I’d say) the results have only been very positive.

Cheers,

John

Arsh,

I looked back through the thread and must have missed the reference, but what is the PIR and the XLPC?

John

Arsh,

I see the route you’re going. Thanks for the added info.