Power Help - What Conditioner - WHERE?


I have a large HT/Audio system and have accumulated a good number of power devices, but want to use them for maximum effect and ask for your thoughts.  Here is a list of my Conditioners:

1) Emotiva CMX-2 (Thought I had DC issues a few years ago, only has to outputs)

2) Sound Application XE-12 (not used currently, but many outlets labeled analog & digital)

3) BPT BP-2 (I have one of the originals with 8 total outlets (1500va I think)

4) BPT BP-3.5ish (Chris Hoff built this as one of his final builds using a 3000 or 3500 va transformer)

5) Various Power Strip for connection of wall warts etc.

I need to connect the following (long list). I have a dedicated 15a and 20a circuit to my rack.

a. Emotiva XMC-2 Processor/Preamp

b. Oppo BDP-203 MultiDisc Player

c. Rega P8 Turntable (Wall Wart)

d. Musical Surroundings Nova III Pre w/Linar Power Supply (Wall Wart)

e. Apple Mac Mini (Std 2-prong power cord)

f. Western Digital (2) USB HD to the Mini (Wall Warts)

g. Drobo Raid HD (2) to the Mini (Wall Warts)

h. Eversolo DMP-6 Streamer (IEC)

i. XBOX (Std 2-prong power cord)

j. CableBox (Wall Wart)

k. Adcom 7300 5-Channel Amplifier (Powers Rear 4-Speakers) - IEC 

l. EAD PowerMaster 1000 50Channel Amplifier (Powers Center Only) - IEC

m. Parasound 2125 v2 Stereo Amplifier (Bottom bi-amp of Main) - IEC

n. Custom 60w Tube Amp (Top bi-amp of Main) - IEC

o. Router/AP for Basement - Wall Wart

p. 8-port Network Switch - Wall Wart

q. DIRAC Network - Processor box (Wall Wart)

r. NHT SA-3 Subwoofer Amplifier (IEC)

If you are here - THANK YOU for reading. How would you suggest I connect everything? Should I only connect via the 20A circuit, or use the misc (Network etc) connections to the 15a service/circuit. What would you connect to each other. Redoing my rack is a HUGE task, and I would like to get power - RIGHT. Thanks for your help.

 

Jeff in Detroit

drdetroit

Showing 1 response by steakster

Basic set-up 101:

- Plug the digital components into the BPT 3.5 balanced power conditioner.   Plug this conditioner into the 15amp circuit. The digital components don’t draw much load. 

- Plug the analog components into the XE-12.  Plug it into the 20amp circuit. 

- The XE-12 does not appear to be current limiting.  It should easily be able to handle the amp.  Listen with the amp plugged into the XE-12 and then listen directly into the wall.  Be sure to wait at least an hour before critical listening.  A quick A/B comparison means nothing.

- If possible, put the cable box/modem/router/switch on a completely different line and/or room. Plug these into the BP-2 power conditioner.   Or - temporarily run a heavy-duty extension cord from a 3rd circuit in a different room for these digital units.   This experiment will give you an idea if it’s improving the SQ.  Make sure that the 3rd circuit is actually independent - and not shared by the same leg on a common wall.

- - -

After everything settles in for a few days, unplug only the HT gear completely.   Critically listen to the 2 channel audio only for a few hours.  Then start plugging in the HT components one by one - and turn each on.  You’ll hear how the SQ changes.

- - -

Isolating analog from digital is very important.    And isolating digital from digital is also important.   Digital components regurgitate noise back into the system circuitry which affects the other components - both analog & digital.  It’s a cumulative effect.