Should Amps be plugged into a power conditioner?


Greetings,

After reading about the amplifier hum, it was mentioned that some knowledgeable people say NOT to plug an amp into a power conditioner. Plug it directly into a wall outlet. Thankfully, I do not have a hum issue, but am curious as to what others say about where to plug your amp into. 

Thank you!

lovehifi22

Going on 25 or 30 years ago, a dealer in Philly sold me on these power conditioners he carried (a brand I've never hear of since).  He was skilled at selling me on stuff, and he swore up and down that ALL my eqipment should be plugged into it and (I paraphrase) it would make the background blacker, soundstage deeper, and just about every other good thing you could do to a sonic presentation.

Anyway, after I bought it I called Cary Audio up to see how they felt about me plugging my amp into it (this was back when they still provided telephone tech support), and the gentleman I spoke to sort of gave me the impression that he was not all that crazy about the idea.  I have used that power conditioner off and on, but I don't plug amps into it.

Depends upon the amp and the conditioner.  Conditioners that allow many amplifiers to function without limiting the headroom are very expensive.

This ^^^^^.

Some amps (mainly higher end amps) go to great lengths to optimize the power supplies in the amps.  Others can definitely benefit from a good conditioner.  It's just not a one size fits all rule of thumb.

I got a chance to buy a used Lightspeed 3200 for $10, so I gave it a try.  Wow....really nice with my old tube amps, but can't say what it'd do with other amps.  YMMV

 

In general no unless perhaps if one has a power conditioning device capable of delivering the power and current the amp demands without breaking a sweat. Pencil neck conditioners need not apply with most power amps. Otherwise the power conditioner will be a bottleneck to performance rather than a help.

Thanks to all for your feedback. I should have mentioned what my model my amp

is. It is a AR 300.2. Kind of old, but still a very good amp

Prior to purchasing the Shunyata Everest 8000 and a bank account’s worth of power cords, I spoke with various people and researched the topic of plugging power amps into the wall.  My integrated amplifier, the MA12000 at 300 watts per channel of not class D power had a definite McIntosh recommendation of plugging it directly into the wall.  My MA12000 and two REL S812 subwoofers each plug into their independent circuit on my Everest and I’ve never found anything but benefit from using the Shunyata.  Take a look at this review with reference material and components used at the end of the review.  I’m not suggesting that you do the same.  In fact, as previously mentioned, I purchased these with a ninety day guarantee of 100% refund if returned.  I fully expected to return the Shunyata and their Midas power cables.  I didn’t…