Re-wiring the listening room: Questions

Use MC Cable (metal clad). It provides a metal shield around each circuit home run. But you must have steel bracket boxes, plastic will not work. 

@britamerican I have 6 dedicated 20A circuits with 10awg wire, I'm only using 4 dedicated circuits at present, but there are no ground loops, and none of my equipment is using balanced connections.

Nagel-

I didn't know cryo-d romex was a choice, and thanks for the "aftermarket" cable suggestions!!!

You know the wire in your walls in not going to change the frequency response of your system right? Outlets won't either.

I think non-cryo romex has a sound too, 12ga is more balanced, but 10ga while better in dynamics, seems to have a hole in the lower-midrange to mid-bass. Definitely get good outlets, I'm planning to install an SR purple to see what it does for my EQ hole as compared to my Furutech GTX-R. The newer GTX-R with NCF is supposed to be more balanced in EQ.

@gthirteen are you running balanced between your amps at 12 and electronics at 9? If so, another run at 12 would be there if you need it. If you are no running balanced, plugging into multiple spots is asking for trouble. 

Don't cheap out like I did with 3x 10ga romex lines. At least spring for cryo-ed romex, but I'd suggest either Hidden Treasure or AP Oval 10, so you're not tempted to rip out your walls again later. I think non-cryo romex has a sound too, 12ga is more balanced, but 10ga while better in dynamics, seems to have a hole in the lower-midrange to mid-bass. Definitely get good outlets, I'm planning to install an SR purple to see what it does for my EQ hole as compared to my Furutech GTX-R. The newer GTX-R with NCF is supposed to be more balanced in EQ.

I don't have analog but do have a large HT system built around 2-channel, and haven't noticed any noise from using 3 outlets. If you do multiple runs, ensure that all are from the same hot leg. Let us know how it worked for you! This and the thread on surge suppression are timely for me.

Thank you so much everyone, some great information and experience here.

I appreciate it!!

@gregdude

Sorry, maybe I am not writing clearly. What I am suggesting is three separate circuits from the same circuit box (I did not mention this… just in case you have two), each with a separate breaker … . The important point is they are going to be run without anything else on the line (hence they are called direct lines). I have run them on the same or opposite legs of the box (220 in box has two legs with a breaker on both). Many folks advocate having them all on the same leg. I have never had a problem either way

Typical home wiring runs all over the place such that a single breaker will not support outlets next to each other, but will support a bunch of outlets and can have who knows what plugged into it. Also with multiple outlets there can be resistance in old outlets.

99% of the value of the dedicated line is for the amp.

two locations, two power protection, everything plugged into the two power protectors

= two separate circuits, 1 at 9, 1 at 12.

IF your panel breakers are 20 amp, then 20 amp ckts; however many panels are 15 amp breakers, thus a 15 amp circuit works, unless you think you might upgrade the panel in the future.

So, you have 1 and add 1 power protector: I went for this one with 45 amps peak reserves. Note: it is a 15 amp device. (note: you want the PFR version)

https://furmanpower.com/product/15a-prestige-power-conditioner-w-power-factor-technology/

there is always someone having it on sale, this one currently

https://www.proaudiostar.com/furman-p-1800-pf-r-power-conditioner-surge-suppressor.html?utm_source=Google_Shopping&gclid=CjwKCAjwxaanBhBQEiwA84TVXBlW2WzLYdu8pNo-l9ZOiYjiubDKSCFTLkNADi0tu5BZVr8NxpFSJhoCRuQQAvD_BwE

Next, for a lamp or two, record cleaning machine, any equipment not audio signal related, a 3rd separate circuit with duplex or quad outlets looped to 9 and 12. A beer/wine cooler!!!!

@ghdprentice Personally, I would run three dedicated lines. One line at 12:00 and two lines at 9:00. That should cover any additional growth and give you an opportunity to keep digital equipment on its own line.

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ghdprentice

5,081 posts

08-25-2023 at 03:35pm

+1

that sounds an awful lot like 3 separate circuits, each with a possible different ground potential. 

I believe you intended to suggest 3 branches on the same circuit. Please clarify if I misunderstood 🙂

@gregdude

Not true. Ground loops are created by plugging in to two different circuits with different shared outlets… creating a differential in resistance. There is a trickle of current between the two,  When you have dedicated lines that does not happen.

All the above advice sounds like a ground loop just waiting to happen. 

Some thoughts/feedback I got from when I ran my dedicated lines…

• If you can, run at least three dedicated lines — one for digital, one for analog, and one for your amps (that you may prefer to run straight from the wall) as it’s not terribly expensive to add another line.  Separating digital and analog might not be as important depending on how your Niagara is designed.
• Run 20-amp lines with at least 12/2 romex.
• Run all lines off the same leg, and don’t share the lines with other household equipment.
• Get some good outlets.  I’d recommend CruzeFirst Maestro outlets for both performance and value…https://www.cruzefirstaudio.com/maestro

Hope this helps, and best of luck. 

@gthirteen Yes

Cool, and great suggestion guys.

For the 9:00 position, do I put two outlets there, so a total of 4 receptacles?

@lak 

+1

Yes, you want a direct line at 12 for the amp(s)… and at least one for the rest at 9. Two at 9 will certainly not hurt. The incremental cost should be very small  for the third.

Personally, I would run three dedicated lines. One line at 12:00 and two lines at 9:00. That should cover any additional growth and give you an opportunity to keep digital equipment on its own line.