Who Tried Power Conditioners Over The Years and No Longer Use Them Today, Any Why?
Been thinking back to when I started in Audio and how good the system sounded with no power conditioners or fancy power cords. Then in the '90s slowly they both became a huge profit market for stores and manufacturers of them. If you used one on front end gear only or whole systems I will be interested in your real-world experience you could share with us all. I have a few so I am not against them, but I do at times have questions.
I used to work on electronics and daw 1st had what happens to cash registers when not on a power conditioner. They might or might not help the sound of the system but protect against power surges.y power goes from 121 to 127
It was eyebrow raising to read one article after another with Michael Fremer's power troubles in Stereophile. I wasn't at all surprised that he found what he did as technitians, electricians and more investigated his house power starting from the AC transformer supplying his house. And then there was the generator switch, or whatever.
>>>> So, after years of applauding different audio devices whether they be related to AC power or not, should we believe it?<<<< He had the worst case scenerio, maybe. I think that what I found before having my home rewired, my incoming AC replaced and much more still makes me wince.
It is all like driving on bad roads with your new Farrari!
I didn't have the experience the OP asked about - rather I'm having the exact opposite experience. A couple months ago my PS Audio PowerPlant 15 quit initializing. I didn't think I missed it that much but since I got it back on Tuesday I have not been able to stop listening. It sounds so so good - more space between instruments, better soundstage, fuller tones.
PS Audio wasn't forthcoming about what was wrong with the unit but it was repaired under warranty. I was told it was "upgraded to that latest Rev “B1”" without further detail. I won't be ditching my regenerator anytime soon.
I think some of the difference in experience may be attributable to the quality of the "unconditioned" or dirty power. I don’t use any line conditioners on my main system except that the 10kVa isolation transformer on which the system depends has a surge protection board. And I have a basic, "whole house" surge protector.
I have used various aftermarket surge protector power conditioners over the years and though my experience may be dated, found that they all altered the sound. To the extent of throwing "baby out with bathwater" I concluded that the conditioners I tried at that time were compromising the sound, but I could see instances where a conditioner might improve the sound of the "dirty power."
PS> I listened to the system without the iso transformer for almost two months before it was installed, and though a little "bright" at first--burn in?- the addition of the iso transformer did not change the voice of the system. I think the infrastructure where I am near downtown Austin is far newer than that which I had in NY metro. So, I’m not sure that there is a universal conclusion applicable to alll systems. What’s your power like out of the wall? And what can you do to improve the quality just using. basic best practices, without voodoo. That’s where I’d start, before adding any black boxes (of which I have plenty).
Reading through all this suggests to me that we all have different power cleaning needs depending on what comes into the house and our HiFi equipment choices.
In my case with dedicated 20 amp line, all top end C-J tube equipment and dCS front end, an AQ N5000 made no difference vs. a 20 yr old Shunyata Hydra 8. Then I tried a new Shunyata Denali 2 with good result. Still using the great AQ Hurricane cables. The C-J class A amp still goes directly to the wall however. One nice change was to to isolate all the digital power supplies, Roon Core etc. into a separate Transparent power strip, still pluged into the 20 amp outlet. Now all is quiet and dynamic..
Yes, we all have different power and therefore power conditioning needs. Our neighborhood has buried power cables, I have two direct lines... but alas a power conditioner makes a big difference.
in a nutshell, unless your CERTAIN your power feed's voltage is a +/- under 5% 120VAC, I urge you to consider a conditioner w/voltage regulation. My APC H15 SAVED my previous pre/pro from my former* home's electrical system. Further I believe the H15 doing the same for my (Same brand) current pre/pro.
*rental on a grid close to a lot of businesses & a junior college.
Even today** I witness the "Trim***" LED frequently light up on the H15 for several hours at a stretch several times a week. Because of "compromised" hearing****, I won't swear it "greatly improved" the SQ, but I'm VERY confident it's protecting my system's delicate microprocessor-containing components from the above and the brief effects from AC, freezer, & refrigerator etc startups.
**4 1/2 years in a rual neighborhood.
***circuitry activated when the line voltage exceeds 132VAC
****unprotected on tank ranges; 10th row seating at concerts; extended listening to insanely powered car audio systems - all when I was young & stupid
Your system's electrical "sweet spot" is 120VAC +/- 5V. Continue "Unprotected" at your peril.
High end power cords? I wholeheartedly agree, heavier is better. Beyond that; maybe, but... Read my "compromised hearing" explanation from my previous reply.
I recall from another forum a member having "ah hah moment" from, he claimed, bass response from upgrading from the stock removable 18 ga to an inexpensive 14 ga upgrade. I plan to mod what gear I can to take advantage of this inexpensive, undeniable upgrade. Currently, of my system's 11 amps & subs only one of them has a removable PC. That 230VAC sub came to me needing some surgery to make it work. While I was at it was easy enough to install the EIC not to mention a generic 4' PC.
I’ve used a Shunyata Triton V2, V3, and Typhon as well as the PS Audio Power Plant Premier and P10. Previous to that I had used a Furman voltage regulator/conditioner.
I no longer use any power conditioning in either of my 2 systems. I didn’t have power "problems" so ultimately, these products were just tweaks that changed the sound to me. Taking the cost of those products and putting it toward better sounding components and cables was a better use of time and energy for me.
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