Questions about cleaning up AC power

inspiredsports

When we had a new breaker box installed a while ago, I had the electrical contractor install a separate dedicated 20A circuit for my audio equipment. The otherwise very high quality Siemens breaker box featured a 99 cent "contractor special" ivory grounded duplex outlet.

I guess I've worked in "reverse" over the past year of upgrading as I modded my speakers first, then upgraded wires and interconnects, had pre-amp/amp rebuilt, and finally purchased power cables and a power conditioner.

The last weak link in the chain was that 99 cent duplex outlet.

Last night I took advantage of a MusicDirect.com 10% off code (enter SUM-10 at checkout) and purchased a PS Audio Power Port Premier to replace that cheap duplex outlet.

Then I got to thinking and wondered if it might not be redundant. Doesn't my power conditioner (APC H10 Blk) do the same thing? Or is there an advantage to cleaning the power up before it enters the APC?

sTiLlLeArNiNg

I'm a beleiver in "garbage in, garbage out" take it how you like

inspiredsports

I believe everything is as good and short as is reasonable.

1) The duplex outlet is now just 1 foot of 12 gauge Romex away from the dedicated 20A circuit breaker.
2) A 6' Signal Cable MagicPower cable connects the duplex outlet to the APC H10Blk Power Conditioner.
3) 4' to 5' Factory or Signal Cable/Groneberg/Shunyata power cables connect components to the APC H10

I'm just now second-guessing whether or not the PS Audio Power Port Premier will yield any benefit at all as the APC is essentially supposed to perform the same function.

inspiredsports

The tracking number shows that I'll be installing the PS Audio Power Port Premier about this time tomorrow.

I'm curious to learn if others have experimented with power cord placement.

What I want to know is if you use a lesser cord from Outlet to Power Conditioner, and then a better cord from Power Conditioner to Component, if it is better or worse than the opposite placement of the cords.

I have 4 brands of power cords with several Shunyata Diamondback Platinum's being the supposedly the best. I'm going to swap cables around from Outlet to Power Conditioner to Component to see if there are any apparent differences from brand to brand, specifically between the Outlet and Power Conditioner.

Another question that I'm investigating is if running a quality IEC cord to a turntable (which powers the motor only so it's not technically in the audio path) makes an audible difference. I guess here the quality of the ground path may make the biggest difference.

sTiLlLeArNiNg

I would use the better power cord for the conditioner and to answer your question about the TT: changing the cord will make no audible difference from what i have been told.

inspiredsports

sTiLlLeArNiNg wrote: »

I would use the better power cord for the conditioner and to answer your question about the TT: changing the cord will make no audible difference from what i have been told.

Putting the best component closest to the source makes sense to me also.

It's ironic some manufacturers go to the trouble of putting an IEC outlet on a turntable with no apparent benefit for the effort.

sTiLlLeArNiNg

inspiredsports wrote: »

It's ironic some manufacturers go to the trouble of putting an IEC outlet on a turntable with no apparent benefit for the effort.

IMO it's so they can charge more for the product. You wanna upgrade cable's on your TT? Swap the tonearm wire for some cardas or vandenhull or put some better RCA cable's/end's on. Then you'll notice a difference

comfortablycurt

sTiLlLeArNiNg wrote: »

IMO it's so they can charge more for the product. You wanna upgrade cable's on your TT? Swap the tonearm wire for some cardas or vandenhull or put some better RCA cable's/end's on. Then you'll notice a difference

Actually IEC connectors were originally designed so that you could use components in different countries by simply swapping the power cords. So, it's not totally pointless, it just doesn't net any audible improvement in this situation.

sTiLlLeArNiNg

comfortablycurt wrote: »

Actually IEC connectors were originally designed so that you could use components in different countries by simply swapping the power cords.

Good point! I forgot about that

inspiredsports

comfortablycurt wrote: »

Actually IEC connectors were originally designed so that you could use components in different countries by simply swapping the power cords. So, it's not totally pointless, it just doesn't net any audible improvement in this situation (turntables).

For other components though, I'm sure glad whoever invented the IEC concept did so

I'm having a great time experimenting with various power cables and am just amazed they can make such a tangible difference in sound quality.

The PS Audio Power Port Premier has been powered up for more than 200 hours now so I think most of the benefit is evident. It has dramatically dropped my noise floor.

With my current budget I'm pretty much done upgrading. I'll be able to concentrate on listening, and performing some lower cost cap upgrades in my quest for ever better sound (at least I keep telling myself that, but like a crack addict, I'll probably be trying to get my hands on something else if I see a deal ).

sTiLlLeArNiNg

What kind of power cable's have you been testing and what have been the difference's you've noticed? I've been looking at supplies to build my own upgraded cable's and was wondering what type's of improvement's i could hope to experience

The power pro premier is a wall receptacle correct? I'd like to swap mine out as well in favor of some cryo'd Hubbel hospital grade

inspiredsports

sTiLlLeArNiNg wrote: »

What kind of power cable's have you been testing and what have been the difference's you've noticed? I've been looking at supplies to build my own upgraded cable's and was wondering what type's of improvement's i could hope to experience

The power pro premier is a wall receptacle correct? I'd like to swap mine out as well in favor of some cryo'd Hubbel hospital grade

I picked up the PS Audio Power Port Premier at http://www.cryo-parts.com/ps_audio_power_port.html. When installed, it looks similar to just about any 99 cent duplex outlet you buy at Lowes, but at about 110 times the cost .

I've only had it drawing current for about 200 hours and they say it can take up to 500 to fully season. Right out of the box the most noticeable improvement was a dramatic drop in the noise floor. Noise is nearly non-existent.

My current power cable inventory is:

(1) - 6' 20A Signal Cable MagicPower
(2) - 5' 15A Shunyata Diamondback Platinum
(2) - 5' 15A Groneberg Quatro Reference
(1) - 4' 15A VH Audio Flavor 1 Cryo with Furutech FI-11 Copper Connectors

I am just getting things settled to where I am moving cable around. It's very time consuming as you should let things settle a bit before critiquing so I haven't had a chance to make too many comparisons.

I've really just critically listened to the power cables connected to my Yaqin CD1 Tube Buffer between CD player and pre-amp..

The Shunyata's are the most neutral in terms of tone, and support the widest soundstage and best pinpoint focus of vocals and instruments.

The Signal Cable and Groneberg's are very similar. The soundstage seems to be a bit narrower and they tend to enhance/increase bass by a bit.

The VH Audio cable has been a surprise in that the "Flavor 1" is said to be "designed for digital and video components", but it sounds very,very good attached to the tube buffer which to my way of thinking is an analog component (although it is buffering a digital CD signal). The soundstage and focus are about the same as the Shunyata's, and it imparts just a tiny bit more bass.

The Shunyata's are my overall favorite. I'm not sure if they are still discounted, but MusicDirect.com recently had them at half-price plus there was a 10% off coupon code of SUM-10 that made them $118 delivered anywhere in the U.S. instead of their normal $256 delivered price

As always, everthing above is qualified as "In my Opinion . . ." Synergy is very system-specific and your results may vary .

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P.S.: You mentioned building your own power cables, and an EE friend of mine swears by Supra Lorad Power Cable sold by the foot at Madisound and elsewhere . . . http://www.madisound.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1336. Furutech or Wattgate male/female IEC ends are a good affordable match.

inspiredsports

Lasareath wrote: »

I also have one of these and i think it works pretty well.

http://www.psaudio.com/ps/products/description/noise-harvester?cat=cables-accessories

Hi Sal,

The MIT cables certainly do look cool , and I love my Shotgun 2 Interconnects and Speaker Interface Cables so I have no doubt a Z Cord will find it way into my system soon. Let me know if you ever decide to let one of them go as I love to buy in the CP Flea Market!

As far as PS Audio, MusicDirect.com sometimes runs 10% off online coupons and their shipping is very fair so that is a way to get them discounted. The Power Port Premier dropped my noise level below my hearing capability and I can't recommend it enough.

I just thought it was unique to get the cryo version from cryo-parts.com because it would be one of the few places in my system where I could (albeit temporarily) go one-up on Raife .


P.S.: I wonder if putting them in the freezer in your kitchen counts ?

Krazyz1

Go to Lowe's and buy a hospital grade isolated ground recept. 10.00. There are alot of power conditioners out there. My personal favorite for AUDIO is the A.R.T. WITH APF filtering. I had a Buckcherry DVD , and the sound quality SUCKED!!!. Put in said power conditioner and W O W!!!. It now sounds as good as the original CD. Just my personal experiance.

inspiredsports

Does anyone know the technical difference between standard and hospital grade outlets?

I know electrical codes are generally set up to provide protection for people in the various structures. I wonder what protection are they trying to provide in a hospital that they don't think is important in a home?

sTiLlLeArNiNg

Like Krazy mentioned they have an isolated ground, better material's and better "clamping" from what i have read/heard/seen

dorokusai

The tolerances are much tighter since you wouldn't want your breathing machine to fall out of the socket when you go into a seizure during the night.

sTiLlLeArNiNg

Just FYI i went to Rona/Home Depot and their outlet's seem to be priced around $30-$35, anyone know of better place's to look here in the great white norf? I'm always looking to save a few buck's! Truth be told the more i can save the more i can buy lol

dorokusai

www.porterhouseaudio.com

He's alot higher than he used to be.

sTiLlLeArNiNg

dorokusai wrote: »

www.porterhouseaudio.com

He's alot higher than he used to be.

Thank's for the link Anyone using this style of outlet (20a) from what it look's like to me you would lose some clamping force due to the one terminal being a T shape no? Of course this would be with using a standard 15a plug

dorokusai

That's for another style of plug.

sTiLlLeArNiNg

dorokusai wrote: »

That's for another style of plug.

I'm aware of that, the 20a plug's/socket's have a T shaped prong whereas the standard 15a plug's/socket's use the standard flat blade. I was asking if there would be a loss in clamping force if using a standard 15a plug in a 20a socket?

dorokusai

Not in that style of plug, it has clamps for each side.

inspiredsports

dorokusai wrote: »

The tolerances are much tighter since you wouldn't want your breathing machine to fall out of the socket when you go into a seizure during the night.

I love it!

Krazyz1

Hospital grade recept has high purity copper. Also has tighter clamping fingers internally and make 3 contact points on plug rather than 2 on standard recept.There are actually different grades of hospital recepts. Some have the copper silver plated. The reason for different grades is the requirment difference lets say between average patient room compaired to the needs of radiology or the lab. I just use the ugly orange 20 amp standard hospital recept. Works great. 10.00 at Lowe's. If in dought go to home improvement store and grab a plug out of the bin. Shove it into a general purpose house recept.Feel the force needed to fully engage plug. THEN do the same to a hospital grade. Takes considerable more force to seat the plug. Should make a believer out of you!

Krazyz1

I just looked at the ones from Porterhouse. Those are the chinsy ones and you all are being raped!!!!! Go to www.cooperwiringdevices.com . Look up hospital recepts. Part#IG8300RN-SPL. Theese even have plastic latching doors to cover terminal screw heads for more than half the cost of Porterhouse.Most home improvement stores carry them and no shipping to pay. Just doesn't get any better.

dorokusai

Cooper was the one I was trying to remember....scratch the Porterhouse. They used to be $20 a pop before all that cryo stuff creeped into the picture.

WilliamM2

Krazyz1 wrote: »

Hospital grade recept has high purity copper. Also has tighter clamping fingers internally and make 3 contact points on plug rather than 2 on standard recept.There are actually different grades of hospital recepts. Some have the copper silver plated. The reason for different grades is the requirment difference lets say between average patient room compaired to the needs of radiology or the lab. I just use the ugly orange 20 amp standard hospital recept. Works great. 10.00 at Lowe's. If in dought go to home improvement store and grab a plug out of the bin. Shove it into a general purpose house recept.Feel the force needed to fully engage plug. THEN do the same to a hospital grade. Takes considerable more force to seat the plug. Should make a believer out of you!

Purity of copper? The contact points are brass, not copper.

The tighter contacts are required because if the plug is yanked out, it can spark. Not a good thing with oxygen tanks around. For home use if you step up to standard 20amp outlets (about $4) they also have much better clamping for than the standard 15 amp outlets.