What to do with dedicated power lines..help please

I just did the same thing a few weeks ago. Here's what I did. First, I upgraded the outlets more (I already had upgraded to some Pass & Seymours). After much research, I decided on Furutech FP-15's. Oyaide has lots of fans as do Porters, Hubbells PS Audio, Shunyata etc. Now, I run the High Current vintage receiver directly into the outlet and the DD, fully-auto TT into a Brickwall PWR2AUD Surge Protector, then the outlet. I've come to believe that a dedicated circuit and a high quality outlet are more important than various pieces of equipment. I had no idea what my stuff REALLY sounded like until the power is right. It's like having new equipment. Congrats on your upgrade.

Most people feel that separating the analog (i.e. amps, pre-amps) from the digital components is the first and most important step with your AC (upon installing dedicated lines)....... I have four dedicated lines in my listening room and have designated them: digital, analog front end, amp, and sub/amps (for my AVG's). Even with very sensitive speakers there is no AC noise that I can detect.

I have upgraded my PC's and will be upgrading my outlets soon.

Chris

The digital should be segregated from everything else, preamp, amp and analog sources on the other line. A third and fourth line are nice to have but segregating digital and analog will get you most of the way there.

Detebbutt, You pose good questions. But the correct answer is not necessarily so easy as there are numerous things to consider. For example:

o Why only two dedicated circuits/lines? You obviously have more than 2 components and the ideal situation would be to dedicate one component per curcuit/line.

o Is your amplifier a high-current drawing amplifier? If so, then even a low current drawing component like a preamp consuming only 36 watts on that same line as the amplifier may be just enough to choke the amp and strip away the dynamics rendering your system as lifeless.

o Are you aware that your digital components generate a digital noise that is bi-directional? In other words, without proper line conditioning the digital noise generated by these components go back into the wall, all the way back to the service panel, and then induce sonic harm into your preamp and amp even though they may be on different circuits.

Moreover, if you don't have any line-conditioners in your arsenal, then you might want to consider acquiring proper line-conditioning as they will provide far greater improvements than what you witnessed by installing the dedicated circuits/lines. The key word here being 'proper' line conditioning. All too often people seem to think that dedicated circuits/lines eliminate AC noise and grunge. They will help isolate your components from AC noise generated from within the house ie dimmers, microwaves, refrig and air cond. motors, blenders, etc. but dedicated circuits/lines do nothing to purify or condition the noise on the AC lines coming from the power station.

And if you are willing to acquire proper line-conditioning, then there's a whole other series of other questions but I'll save that for another time.

But assuming you have no line-conditioning for now, your best bet may be to install your digital sources (cd player, dac, etc) on another non-dedicated circuit/line, all of your analog front-end components (preamp, turntable, etc) on one dedicated circuit/line, and your amp on the other dedicated circuit/line.

-IMO

I have heard the same thing about ground loop issues,that all should be on one line.Maybe one of the more experianced members can comment.

I also have read that you should seperate the digital components from the rest of the gear. Digital components are supposed to put artifacts into the line, I do not know as I have not tried. There are purists that say you should have everything on one circuit, you can do that with all your analogue sources and amplifiers, which is what I do.

Like I said above, I have four seperate lines and my system divided among them. I have never had any grounding issues, but I can't tell you what the issues are in this regard.

Chris

Whatch out, are these separate lines from different sources or do they come from the same cable just splt apart.
Be sure to check them positive (current) with positive, with your volt meter so they dont add up to 240 volts!!!
The same positive should give you 0 volts, positiveo to ground 110 volts (of course) but if you get positive to positive 240 volts be careful because if you mix, say digital on one line and amps on the other you can be sending 240 volts through the ground!! (say you switch you plugs around)...

If they add up to 240 use only one line.
If they add to 0 use both; digital on one and the rest.

All the Best

Thanks everyone...they are two separate lines from different sources JS..They are about 15m from the service panel Bob..(if by sp you mean fuse box/circuit board). I havent had time to play around with swapping the sources yet but thanks for the input from all
dave

Tuesday morning, I am having an electrician run two dedicated lines in my finished basement/listening/HT room. Currently (pun intended!), my equipment (pre, power amp, AV receiver, CDP, DVD player, tuner, DirecTV receiver, VCR) are plugged into a "normal" circuit, ie, one that just has a couple outlets running around two adjacent walls in the basement. The other basement circuit on the opposite adjacent wall feed my Velodyne sub and Sony HD RPTV. Nothing else is on these circuits. My amp is a McCormack DNA-225, so not hungry enough to *need* its own circuit.

Here are my thoughts after the new circuits are in: Plug the McCormack into one of the new circuits with a non-shielded power cord (VH Audio Flavor 4 perhaps); plug the rest of the analog gear into the other new circuit with non-shielded PCs (Flavor 2s perhaps); plug the CDP (Music Hall CD25.2) into the old circuit with a shielded PC (Flavor 1.) Does anyone have any different or further suggestions/comments. I imagine down the road, I may introduce some AC line conditioning on a trial basis. My guess is I may want to filter any digital noise from the CDP getting back to the breaker box.

Other info: I only have capacity (and reasonable budget) to pull two new circuits. Fortunately the breaker panel is only 8~10 feet from where the circuits are being terminated. Walls are sheet rock. I'm planning on using Porter Ports for the new circuits and replace the existing outlet(s) with them also.

TIA for any words of wisdom. I have read many here and look forward to more.

MikeB.

Divide video and audio..

Cheers

Remember to install a dedicated ground. Dedicated lines will benefit greatly from them.

There are a ton of good outlets to choose from.