2. tech-talk
  3. 193413-112139

WHICH POWER CONDITIONER IS BETTER PASSIVE OR ACTIVE WITH ISOLATION TRANSFORMERS

Looking to purchase a Power Conditioner to reduce the noise floor in my system as well as to protect my system from electric spikes. The two types of conditioners seem to be as follows:

  1. Passive conditioners such as an Audience AR-12 T4 which claims that passive conditioning with the use of chips is the way to go because their filtering is better accomplished without the use of isolation transformers. The proponents of passive seem to claim that the use of isolation transformers adds noise to the components in the chain.
  2. Active or non passive-An example would be the Niagra 3000, 5000 &7000 by Audioquest which all use Isolation transformers to accomplish the filtering. Most of the conditioners I see advertised seem to accomplish filtering with the use of isolation transformers.
  3. My question is what type is better and why? Any recommendations would be appreciated. My budget is $4000-$5000.00, would consider used, a/k/a pre-owned. 
  4. Thank you for your input. 

 

kjl1065

Showing 2 responses by erik_squires

erik_squires
16,592 posts
 

I returned it and bought a Furman Elite15 PFi. The amplifier outlets on the Furman brought the noise in the electricity to 0.0. The other outlets on the Furman added noise to my electricity.

 

That's interesting.  So Furman uses LiFT, linear filtering, which is an active technology to clean up the noise.  The problem with EMI gadgets is understanding what frequency they are working at.  It's possible that LiFT is increasing noise well above audibility but decreasing it below 20 kHz.

In any event, I think what you discovered is the filtering capabilities of the series mode protection (SMP) built into the Furman which works at about 3kHz and higher.  

Personally in bad, apartment complex like environments I could hear it when my Furman was not in the system.  Everything sounded more hazy.

erik_squires
16,592 posts
 

I’m not really onboard with the definition. In all other situations I know of, active means powered. That power is being used in addition to the input and output. Isolation transformers by this definition are still passive.

The PS Audio power regenerators are very much active. Furman with LiFT is active.

Personally, I prefer voltage regulation over isolation. Day in, day out, winter and summer it keeps the voltage at my gear solid. Furman with AR (auto regulation) plus SMP for surge suppression is really hard to beat at a great price point.  Of course, you can also get Furman with AR, SMP AND isolation... but that's above my budget.

More to discover