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Whole House Surge Protection

I have tried a vast array of surge protectors and power conditioners in my system ranging from belkin to monster to ps audio and richard gray and have found them all to detract in some way from the sound of my system. Or, to put it differently--I really like the sound of my system as it is now--feeding directly from the wall.

However, running all this expensive gear without surge protection makes me very nervous. I am considering installing WHOLE HOUSE SURGE PROTECTION along with dedicated lines, but am really scared it will change the sound. Please note, I am very, very particular and can hear every subtle change introduced by cabling etc. My question is this--have you installed WHOLE HOUSE SURGE PROTECTION and if so, were there any audible differences? If so, how would you describe them? Are there any particular brands and models I should look for?

Please help. I would hate to have all this installed only to turn around and have to pay to have it removed.
glnagrom

Showing 3 responses by cipherjuris

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cipherjuris
145 posts
 
A few years ago, I rewired my entire house. The new meter from the power company's meter has a built-in surge protector. Right behind the meter is Square D's commercial grade power center with large copper bars that feed 2 commercial grade switches, one 200-amp for the house and another100-amp dedicated to the AV system. Each feeds into its own Square D QO Load Center which has its own built-in lightning grade surge protector. i.e., one panel for the house and the other for the AV system. An 85-foot long armored, cryo'd and cooked 00-awg copper cable connects the the 100-amp switch to the AV QO Load Center, which has 5 circuits dedicated to the AV system: 1 for each monoblock, 1 for the digital components, 1 for the analog components and 1 for the projector. Each of those terminates in an audiophile grade receptical. PAD Anniversary PCs then connect to Transparent PowerIsolator MMs which have non-current limiting surge protection that reacts in pico-seconds instead of the usual nanoseconds.

This change actually improved the sound dramatically (a truly dead quiet background) with no sonic sacrifices whatsoever. And I sleep better at night and feel far more comfortable when I'm away from the house.

Hope this helps.

Ed
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cipherjuris
145 posts
 
Unplugging when you leave the house for an extended period or when you know that thunderstorms are likely is the best and wisest protection.

But there are other types of surges in the mains that are random and unpredictable, such as when a transformer blows or when a generator is taken off line or when power is simply interrupted and then comes back on. These surges, especially an accumulation of them over time, will damage your system. Extremely fast, high quality surge protectors are a defense against damage caused by these surges.
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cipherjuris
145 posts
 
Tpreaves,

I agree with you. Still, I believe my equipment will will last longer on spec with the surge protectors than without them. I do unplug when lightning is anywhere nearby, so except for the odd "bolt out of the blue" as it were, my equipment is not at very great risk to lightning. I'm more concerned about the normal surges on the mains, which are death to the equipment by thousands of cuts.

Ed
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