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
jsalerno277
302 posts
 

@langla4 Galvanic isolation is a type is active power conditioning as well as a safety circuit to prevents high current from flowing to sensitive components or prevent shock.  It uses electrical (isolation transformer) and physical isolation (gap) to assure the input and output is separated.  Passive power conditioning uses capacitors, inductors, and resistors to filter noise from the power without actively changing the signal rather than isolating circuits.  Theoretically, galvanic isolation prevents ground loops and potential differences between circuits by completely separating them, while passive power conditioning filters electrical noise on the mains (high-frequency disturbance).  So, application is similar to prevent noise, but slightly different as well.  

steakster
1,967 posts
 

My electricity is very noisy. 

For my source components, I use both an active balanced power conditioner and a passive conditioner (in series).   For my amplifier, I use just a passive power conditioner (non-current limiting),

goose
720 posts
 

I had the reference Furman conditioner and switched it to the Puritan PSM 156.  It was more effective in AC line noise reduction and I didn't have to listen to the faint transformer hum.  Isotek is another good company that are audio club uses but depending on the configuration they can get expensive.  This was purchased before the Puritans were available.  A famous speaker designer in our club also uses the Puritan and he is very picky.

som
77 posts
 

Like others here, I only use my Bryston BIT-20 on the front end. All power amps are plugged directly into the wall as per manufacturers recommendations. The Bryston is an isolation transformer. The reason why I went with it after auditioning a few is because it was one of the few that didn’t add or subtract anything to the sound of my system. I’m using very high efficiency horn speakers and have to put my ear up to the speakers to hear any noise and that faint noise that I do hear is from my hybrid tube pre

mlapenta
110 posts
 

dont forget the receptacle in the wall.  I put in a dedicated 20amp circuit and the very highest end Furutech receptacle and it made a huge difference.  

More to discover