No More Power Conditioner?

Early B.

I recently purchased a cheap power conditioner to replace a Monster Power Center that I sold. I felt there was a veil over my music, so I plugged my gear directly into the wall and poof! -- the veil was lifted.

OK, so here's my question -- there are brownouts and blackouts all the time in my neighborhood. What type of protection against these issues is typically built into a tube amp and CDP? How much protection will the fuse in my amp afford me? Or should I forget about taking the risk and re-install a good power conditioner/surge protector?

Thanks.

tryrrthg

You're damned if you do, you're damned if you don't...

Everything I've read on the subject is unless you're ready to spend a decent amount of cash it's protection and veiled sound, or no protection and unveiled sound. What you decide to give up is up to you. I thought I lost some dynamics when I was using a power conditioner. So recently, I made myself a beefy DIY power extension so basically all my gear is plugged into the wall. Now I only have my gear plugged in when I'm using it - the best protection you can have. I haven't had the time to do some listening comparisons between conditioner and DIY power strip...

steveinaz

Early
Try only plugging the power amp into the wall, the rest into surge protection. Usually amps are affected the most by conditioners.

szhleppy

steveinaz wrote:

Early
Try only plugging the power amp into the wall, the rest into surge protection. Usually amps are affected the most by conditioners.

My experience exactly. All but the amp are plugged into a Panamax 5510.

F1nut

Get a PS Audio UPC-200, used on Audiogon for about $350.00. Peace of mind and no veil.

Holydoc

steveinaz wrote:

Early
Try only plugging the power amp into the wall, the rest into surge protection. Usually amps are affected the most by conditioners.

I second that as well. My amp has his own little hookup. He does not like to share his toys.

F1nut

If a power conditioner/surge protector is causing problems with an amps performance, it isn't the right one for the job. You need one that allows for unrestricted high current.

Early B.

Gonna try a TrippLite isolation transformer. I've had good success with TrippLite isobars in the past and a few Polkies around here use their line conditioners. I'm not ready to fork over $300 - $400 for surge protection.

BobMcG

I cannot speak out for or against any of the more mainstream conditioners in use as I'm only familiar with what I own. So, that being said, here is another avenue.

I was afraid of creating a problem when I was looking at power conditioning for my main 2ch rig. I decided to stay away from having isolation transformers separating-filtering the amp section from the analog and digital sections of the conditioner. I'd read from different sources that sometimes this could result in certain frequency restrictions on the signal and I made a choice accordingly. I decided to use separate conditioners. One is a dedicated amp p/c just for my amps.

Skynut

F1nut wrote:

Get a PS Audio UPC-200, used on Audiogon for about $350.00. Peace of mind and no veil.

Is this one good for the amps?
I just realized that my subs are not hitting as hard as they use to and I have them going through my p/c. I think this may be my problem.

Can my amps (subs and main amp) be plugged into this unit? If so I will use my Panamax for everything else.

F1nut

Sky, works great with my he-man amp. Here's more info to help you decide, http://www.psaudio.com/products/upc200.asp

Skynut

Thanks for the link.
I am reading right now.
I am seriously wanting to add or replace my p/c right now and this just might be the ticket.

madmax

I have a couple of Tripplite LCR2400's and notice no veil with them. They offer brownout and spike protection.
madmax

Skynut

I had been looking for an APC s15 but I don't want my amps unprotected.
I am planning on plugging my amps into the wall tonight to see if I hear a difference.

BobMcG

Skynut wrote:

I had been looking for an APC s15 but I don't want my amps unprotected.
I am planning on plugging my amps into the wall tonight to see if I hear a difference.

The API (Audio Power Industries) PowerWedge 110 is just for amps...

Skynut

I will look into those also.

Thanks

Early B.

Early B. wrote:

Gonna try a TrippLite isolation transformer. I've had good success with TrippLite isobars in the past and a few Polkies around here use their line conditioners. I'm not ready to fork over $300 - $400 for surge protection.

Got it today. Sounds great, meaning -- it makes no sound at all, (i.e., no hum), and it doesn't seem to add any darkness to the music, either.

So far, so good. Gonna do some critical listening tonight.

For $45 NIB off ebay, it's hard to beat. Small, rectangular, black metal box around 20 lbs. See it here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-TRIPP-LITE-IS-500-FULL-ISOLATION-TRANSFORMER_W0QQitemZ9711916017QQcategoryZ32830QQcmdZViewItem

tommyboy

sorry to be the dumbass out of the group, but here goes. are you guys saying that the amp is affected only by the "power conditioner" or that everything including the amp is hooked up to one surge protecter

In other words, am I better off getting just a surge protecter without any line conditioner?


The monster ones are just surge protecters up to 80 bucks, then from there up are "line conditioners". I wouldn't spend more than 100 dollars on one just because my system isn't that great and not worth it

Skynut

Surge rotectors are to protect against surges.

Line conditioners are to remove electrical noises from the power lines.

Apparently if you do not have the right power/line conditioner for your equipment it will have a bad effect.

Example: I hooked all my equipment through my power conditioner and after a couple of movies I realized my sub was not hitting as hard as it used to. I read this thread and decided to run my subs straigt from the wall and the power was back.

I never realized how the conditioner could hold the equipment back.

Now I am going to try F1nut's sugestion for PS Audio UPC-200.
It will be in the very near future that I will buy a couple of these for my amp duties.