Power Conditioners

Flash21

Power conditioning is an area of possible sound improvement I have ignored to a large degree, but am starting to think about it a little. I have had a Monster MP-HTS2500 power conditioner for some years. But I am reluctant to spend a lot in this economy...my job could not be called secure.

I would like to have a Power Plant Premier, but I can't (won't) afford it. No way.

Anyway, if anybody has experience with these, my specific question is: would a PS Audio Power Director 3.5 be a worthwhile step up from the Monster 2500? They look roughly similar in function and features, but the 3.5 originally sold for a lot more than the 2500. There are a couple of generally favorable reviews of the 3.5 in Positive Feedback and Stereophile. Haven't been able to find much on the Monster to compare.

See sig for system...

doctorcilantro

Not sure offhand, but I picked up a balanced Power Tech. 3 Signature and sold it when I realized that my Panamax 5510 also does balanced power which works upon the same principles as balanced audio cabling geometry. I'm downsizing and feeling like if I start with balanced power filtering the juice do I really need a boatload of expensive cables?

I'd say try to pick up a BPT used or similar device that offers balanced but I'm not an expert on power conditioning.

Be aware the BPT CPC units don't do balanced power, thus their affordability. I believe balanced power is also referred to as AC regeneration.

DC

CoolJazz

doctorcilantro wrote: »

I believe balanced power is also referred to as AC regeneration.

No. Actually regeneration refers to a unit that is basically a 60 hertz oscillator and power amp. It generates it's own signal and then amplifies it to the 120v level using the incoming power to power the osc and amplifier stages.

On the other hand, balanced power is saying that one leg of the AC is at about +60 volts at the moment the other leg at -60 creating the same 120 volt difference. In normal 120vac, the hot leg is 120 volts above the neutral which is close to zero. Either way is the same thing to the units power transformer. On the balanced feed, the fields cancel in a twisted wire and radiate little energy compared to unbalanced.

CoolJazz

Systems

CoolJazz wrote: »

On the balanced feed, the fields cancel in a twisted wire and radiate little energy compared to unbalanced.

CoolJazz

Essentially,like balanced audio signals it will have high common mode rejection thus noise common to both the +60 and -60 halves will be cancelled.

Flash21

Does balanced power require special cords/connectors, like balanced interconnects do?

Systems

Flash21 wrote: »

Does balanced power require special cords/connectors, like balanced interconnects do?

No special cables required,its done by the transformer.Normal 120 volt AC is fed into the transformers primary,which then outputs 2x60 volt feeds from it's secondary winding.

doctorcilantro

I found an article on my Panamax and guess I should have read it more carefully in the past. Interesting stuff.

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Panamax+5510+AC+regenerator+power+conditioner.+(Components).-a0104439789

Flash21

From what I have read, I have to believe the Power Director 3.5 is going to sound better than the Monster. Which is not terribly surprising as the 3.5 retailed for 3x the price of the Monster. The Monster is probably the weak link in my system now, having recently upgraded the ten year old CD player.

Flash21

For those anxiously awaiting my decision :rolleyes:, I found a better deal than the PD 3.5... a PS Audio Quintet, which according to PS Audio is an improvement over the PD 3.5 with much the same general features. NIB for $300 :cool:

I think this will serve me well for the time being, and by all accounts should improve sound quality over the old Monster.