Power Conditioners - Best Set-Up

Lrm1jmf, You have obviously provided more than enough dedicated power for your system. If you are running 90wpc you should have more than enough power available at the wall. Now the question is, what to do with the power in terms of processing.

I very rarely get involved in threads that involve mentioning brand names. I find it is about the easiest way to start the packs of wolves to come "out searchin for ya". This site could be a tough environment. But, OH WELL!

I use an Exactpower EP-15 active power conditioner. The EP partially regenerates the AC waveform. The PS Audio units completely regenerates the AC waveform. The PS Audio, because of this, is not very efficient. The reason being, the PS uses almost as much power as it regenerates. So, if you're generating 600 watts, you're using 600 watts. The EP uses 35 watts. On the 15 amp EP, 1600 watts in, approx. 1550 out. That's pretty efficient.

The EP regenerates an AC waveform that is pretty much devoid of any AC distortion. If you were to look at the AC waveform coming from your wall, you would more than likely find that the waveform is corrupted on the tops and bottoms of the waveform peaks. That's AC distortion. Now think of what happens when you send it to your AMPLIFIER. The EP is about the only unit (other than the Accuphase @ $8000) that does this. Although Paul McGowan over at PS Audio will soon be releasing a unit that is somewhat similar to the EP in terms of design. But, I didn't say that.

Unfortunately, neither of these units provide filtering or isolation for the other components. That is why I use a passive conditioner containing filtration for the rest of my components. I think you may find the filtering portion of the equation to be as important as the regeneration portion. Filtering the digital portion of your system is probably the most important. Digital nasties backfeed into you AC power and can create a general "haze" in the overall sound of your system. Electric motors, such as in your VCR, or if you were using a turntable also send AC grunge back into you AC.

There is a rule of thumb that you can follow in regards to AC power processing and conditioning; Remove the distortion, generate a clean AC signal, and don't let the distortion get back in. (Regenerate, fiter and isolate). If you follow that path, you will be guaranteed clean power and sweet sound.

Do a little reading on the Exactpower unit, which is now available in a 20 amp version, and also do some reading on the PS Audio. After that you will need to figure out what you will want to use for a filtering device (passive).

It's taken me over 3 months of auditioning to get where I'm going with this whole AC thing. It pisses me off that I have to correct the garbage that my utility company is providing me. But, that and 10 cents will get me a cup of coffee. Oh Well.

Nguyenchiro, you forgot one conditioner, a BPT balanced power conditioner w/ Bybee`s. If you havn`t tried one, you should as they`re a very musical conditioner. The Plitron NoLo torridal transformer is well regarded for their musicality and the addition of 2 Bybee`s further it`s depth perception. Regards, Robin

Robin, thank you for time. I went to BPT's website. It appears that their power conditioners focus on noice reduction common with a shared circuit, i.e. air conditioners, refrigerators, etc. I'm not sure they would be helpful with a dedicated line for the audio.

Nguyenchiro, thank you for your help. I haven't found All Pro's web-site. Do you know it?

Buscis2, once agin your answers were very helpful.

Lrm1jaf, Good kuck with your research in this somewhat confusing world of power conditioning. I have learned a lot by doing some intense reading and by having discussions with some of the people whom represent the manufacturers.

I have concluded; passive power conditioning units do a great job of filtering and isolating from component to component. But, junk in, junk out. I have found no passive conditioning device that will correct the AC waveform, nor will they stablize voltage. If, for instance, your AC line voltage was 115 volts going into the passive device, that is exactly what will come out. Probably less after you consider the draw from all components. Passives cannot correct for that.

If you provide a CORRECTED AC waveform with a stabilized voltage @ 120 volts, and remove the distortion from the AC waveform, there will be nothing left but to filter and isolate the corrected waveform. The Exactpower SP-15 acts as an isolator between components, filtering, and now provides balanced power. That in conjunction with the EP-15 correcting the waveform is making the AC about as clean as you are going to get it.

Best of luck in your selection process. You will find that you will be rewarded with much cleaner and sweeter sound.

It doesn't get any better than that.

Careful with "audio grade" filter products...be very careful. Not that I don't use them, but the ones I use were so good the manufacturer stopped making them. Even more, they'll deny they made them since they're way superior to what they currently produce.

Buscis got the basics right. Now, powering amps via regenerators (full or partial) is rather challenging. I have a 10 amp medical grade Elgar regenerator and I made a test--plugged in my little Makita hole shooter (just that). Starting it took the current needle almost to 10 amperes! The internal wiring is not as beefy as it should be, either. We're talking about a 70+ lb device...

I separate this subject in four areas:

1) Power delivery
2) Power filtration
3) Preventing cross contamination of filtered power
4) Not ruining the music in the process

So, Buscis and I have very similar viewpoints on how to do this. However, I did not get good feedback from the Exact Power. Someone I trust used it and got rid of it. Said it was harsh and unmusical.