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Sources for information and/or advice on dedicated AC lines desired

I have relocated, and the new house will allow me to at long last have dedicated AC power lines in the music listening room. Halleluiah! I’ve seen the topic discussed over the years, and have a general idea of what is needed, but can I get recommendations of sources of information about the details of what the optimum power and wiring system is, and exactly what to have done by a professional electrician (in the event that is necessary) to achieve it? And/or personal advice on wiring and power sources (excluding power conditioners---I mean just raw power. I already have Shunyata and Bybee units for conditioning) required for optimum sound quality? For instance:

- How many separate lines from the main panel to the room? Separate lines for sources vs. amps, analog vs. digital? My system sources are LP, analog tape, digital, and FM radio. Three tube pre-amps, a couple of tube and three SS power amps. And ESL speakers and powered subs also needing AC, of course.

- Amperage advisable for each line? 20 Amps?

- What to look for to determine if the already-installed wire is sufficient? And if it is not, the type and gauge of wire to have installed? 10g Romex?

- Grounding---metal rod into the earth?

- Anything else of concern not listed above.

Thanks for any recommendations of sources of information. Personal recommendations and/or advice also welcomed!

bdp24

Showing 10 responses by bdp24

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bdp24 OP
10,110 posts
 
Oh, and if there is a particular high performance-to-price ratio AC outlet anyone wants to recommend, be my guest. I'm open to having my skepticism regarding them dissuaded ;-).
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bdp24 OP
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Found the thread Bill, did a post. Hope it wasn't too long-winded!
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bdp24 OP
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Great, thanks fellas. Your insights and referrals have given me a good start. So far I have concluded to proceed thusly:

- Verify the availability of empty spaces on the electrical panel (there is no sub-panel; it's just a moderately-sized three bedroom house) in which to install four 20A lines of 10g Romex wire (dgarretson, I'll check into the Cardas), each terminated in a duplex outlet---one for analog sources, one for digital, one for power amps, and a fourth for the remotely-located ESL's and subs). Sufficient? Ghosthouse, you state you had three duplex outputs put on the end of each line; so if I use the already existing outlet wall locations, I can have more than one outlet on each line? That sounds good, because the left and right channel ESL's and subs are of course on opposite sides of the room from each other, therefore obviously needing to be on different outlets (or really long power cords!).

- Alternatively, would the benefit of having a sub panel installed (feeding only the music room) justify the cost to do so?. Does a sub panel provide a good amount of isolation from noise-causing appliances (heater and air-conditioner, washer/dryer, computers) on the main panel?

- No separate ground needed; in fact, not a good idea (or, apparently legal!).

I'm not going to go crazy with this, just basic, like you ghosthouse. I'm becoming more bothered by noise as I get older, plus my system is more transparent than ever. Whart, the only negative in this house is a suspended wood floor; I've been on a concrete slab for years now, which I love. On the other hand, far less seismic activity up here in the NW compared with S. California! The equipment will be located by an exterior wall, the stiffest part of a suspended floor, but I'll get under the house and jam some 4 X 4's between the ground and floorboards.

Thanks for the link Erik (love that spelling---wish my parents had used it instead of a "c"!).

The music room itself already sounds good, with no flutter echo (and I haven't put in my 13 ASC tube traps yet), and it's 15' width will allow me to set up my Tympani T-IV's. I'm stoked!

Ghosthouse, I too thought of checking with my new local high end shops (I already miss Brooks Berdan, Ltd., his son Brian Berdan at Audio Elements, and Randy at Optimal Enchantment) for an electrician recommendation, and paid a visit to Pearl Audio in downtown Portland yesterday morning. Store hours on their website and storefront window state they open at 10:00 AM. I waited until 11:00, when I had to leave. Uh oh, not a good sign.

bdp24's avatar
bdp24 OP
10,110 posts
 
Sure would Bill, I’ll get over there and find it. I gotta include that Forum in my daily routine; I’m not a regular like I should be. I met Steve in the Tower Records in Sherman Oaks in the mid-90’s, and arranged to interview him for Mike Fremer (to be published in The Tracking Angle). Never followed through!
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bdp24 OP
10,110 posts
 
Oh, it is Ghost! Thanks again everybody, the research continues. Thanks for the invite FF; I'm actually just across the border in Vancouver, Washington. A nice, quiet, all-residential single-family home neighborhood---no light industry or other noise creators. Portland's teeming with construction, bulldozers everywhere! I coincidently had already checked out your room and eq in the virtual section. Wow, I'm embarrassed ;-( ! 
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bdp24 OP
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euchlerera---I too had thought that was something that might be done, but in reading the various threads I was referred to here (thanks again guys!), I learned that it absolutely should NOT be done, and is illegal anyway! The grounding arrangement is for the entire panel, not for separate breakers on it. You would install new grounding only if you have a separate new panel installed (as mentioned by ghosthouse) in the house. But I seem to recall Harry Pearson years ago saying that he looked into doing just that in the house in Sea Cliff, and was told that two separate accounts to the same residential address was not permitted. Perhaps that is a local or state issue, or perhaps Harry was given incorrect information, I don't know. I don't think I would do it anyway! 
bdp24's avatar
bdp24 OP
10,110 posts
 
I think most people would be considering installing a new sub-panel, being fed from the main panel and dedicated to the system room, not a new, separate service line from the street to a new, second main panel. With the sub-panel, no new grounding need be nor should be installed. A new, second main panel would require it’s own grounding, but I don’t think many are contemplating that, though ghosthouse would like one. I wouldn't mind one myself, but that's not gonna happen!
bdp24's avatar
bdp24 OP
10,110 posts
 
Like solar panels? Great, now that I've moved to the dark, cloudy Pacific NW!
bdp24's avatar
bdp24 OP
10,110 posts
 
Well, I have looked into the matter of AC outlets, and I do believe I'll pay to find out if my natural inclination towards needing to see a technical rational for a supposed source of sound difference is too strict. I'll get a Furutech GTX-D(R) and see if I can hear an improvement in the resolution, depth, and lack of grain in my system. If I can't, will I admit it ;-)? Is my system transparent enough to allow me to hear it? $150 is not too much to know I have good electrical continuity, in any case.
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bdp24 OP
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Something occurred to me today: Doesn’t the fact that a digital device is connected to a, say, pre-amp negate the benefit of having the two on different circuits? And if that is the case, is it so only if the connection is unbalanced? If the connection is unbalanced, by being electronically connected don’t the two therefore share a common ground, which facilitates the transfer of noise? My two digital pieces are connected to the others via balanced cables with XLR’s; does that, plus being on a different circuit than the analog pieces, insure that their self-generated noise will be kept out of the pieces they are connected to? That would be nice.
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