To power strip or not


Hi, folks

To many this mayn’t be a question, or rather an option at all, but do you all use a power strip in your hifi setup where a range of components are used? If not do you connect directly to a series of wall outlets, or other? In my case I’ve skipped a power strip and replaced it with screw terminals for the lead and return wires respectively (and ground ditto, if used), all bundled in a small box. This way the bare conductor ends of my DIY power cables meet each other directly without connectors or other in between. Sonically, to me, this is the way to go, although it’s less practical when disconnecting, adding or switching components.

Using power strips what are your thoughts on their different incarnations - be they the cheap Home Depot style version of more (expensive) audiophile ditto - and their effect on the sound in your setup? What do you yourself use? If you've experimented comparing power strips with wall outlets-direct or other also, please share your thoughts here as well. 

/M
phusis

Showing 1 response by almarg

I use a Wiremold UL210BC ten-outlet power strip, which does not provide any surge suppression or filtering. It is plugged into a two-outlet Audience aR2p surge suppressor/power conditioner, which mounts directly on the wall outlet. To minimize the possibility that high frequency noise that may be fed back into the power strip by my digital components or power amp may couple into other components via the power strip I have a Shunyata Venom Defender plugged into an outlet on the power strip. Although with my particular components the Venom Defender doesn’t seem to be making much difference. (In that regard it may be relevant that my amplifier operates in class A, and therefore does not draw amounts of current that fluctuate significantly with the dynamics of the music, in contrast to class AB or D amplifiers).

I am happy with the results. Like the previous poster I live in an area having clean power.

Regards,
-- Al