ANybody use a "power strip" on the equipment

I am in need of a powerstrip. It would be nice if it also had the capability to do "line Conditioning". Does anybody have any suggestions?

 

Johnny,

You may want to check here. http://www.amusicdirect.com/products/search.asp?cat=260&rljs=1

 

Hi John,

I've found that some components do better and some worse when connected to a line conditioner. Kinda have to try each one, one at a time, to figure out which to connect. As usual for us audiophiles, a lot of time can be spent on this endeavor. About half of my components are on a powerstrip and half are on a line conditioner.

-Jeffrey

 

For a powerstrip, you can go to your local Home Depot, Target, Wal-Mart, etc. and/or you can also turn a 2 plug plugin to a 6-plug plugin which also works great for stereo equipment.

 

I use one of the Monster power strips. It seems to work fine. My system or my ears aren't high resolution enough to tell if it's doing sonic good or damage, per say, but it sounds good to me and I like the re-assurance of having a little protection there.

 

Thanks for the input

I think that I'll get a reasonably priced (less than $50) power strip that is designed for computers.

I have seen special "audio quality) power strips advertised for hundreds of dollars. I can't believe that they would make my system sound any different than a $50 power strip.

 

Re: Thanks for the input

Hi John,

IMO, all power strips are not created equal. I think the differences are more signficant when discussing line conditioners. With $15k invested in a HT, ya may wanna test something beyond the $50 range. Just a thought.

-Jeffrey

 

Re: Re: Thanks for the input

Jeffery,

You may have a good point. I guess that I should try a high quality product. My initial post about a line conditioner happened because my system has recently developed a 60 Htz hum. The loudness of the hum is constant and does not change in loudness when I turn the volumn control. I have been changing things around a lot lately, so it is hard to pin point when the hum started. Next week, I'm going to start the detective work.

This is my game plan:

1. Disconnect everything from the wall outlet.
2. Disconnect all interconnects from the power amp
3. Connect the power amp to the wall outlet and check for hum. If it hums, I'll try a "cheater" plug.
4. If no hum, disconnect the SACD player, DVD player and turntable from the processor. Connect the processor to the the wall outlet and connect its interconnect cables to the power amp and check for hum. If it hums, I'll try a cheater plug.
5. If no hum, I'll connect the players to the processor one by one and check for hum.

This will be a tedious job that will be no fun.

 

If you are looking at line conditioners, they can get pricey. If you plan to plug amplifiers into them, you'll need one designed for the high current demands of power amps or you may notice some loss in dynamics in the music.

 

Re: Re: Re: Thanks for the input

Hi John,

As usual for us audiophiles, a lot of time can be spent on this endeavor.

Hope it brings ya improvements,
Jeffrey

 

Go to the meter outside and make sure it is properly grounded. Make sure your phone and water line is properly grounded. To check get the power company, phone company and cable company or code inspector to check. Also check to see that your two incoming hot feeds are of equal in voltage and of adequate voltage. Sometimes pole connections and transformers and loads on the line change over time needing attention from the power company.

Then install a surge protection device directly to the circuit box after the meter inside your house.

Check with a simple device to be sure polarity of the power outlets and that their grounds are in good shape.

Then purchase a surge protection strip that protects all legs of the line and ground. Usually ones that come with insurance coverage meet this requirement. You do not have to spend lots of money.

Power conditioners are another subject and should not be needed to address issues such as hum.

 

I don't have unstable power problems where I live. I always *was* going to get a Powermax but I just use a Monster strip.

 

Be very careful. This is exactly how a lot of us got sucked in into audiophilia.

BC

 

John,

Try disconnecting your DVD player first especially if you have it hooked up to cable. If you're lucky and it is the problem...the remedy is only $10.00-$20.00.

 

Thanks for the suggestion. However, I do not have cable TV or Sat. TV currently connected to my system. ALl of my components are connected to the same breaker on the electrical panel. From what I have read, this should elimante the possibility of a ground loop problem. I don't know if this is true or not. Does anybody know for sure?

 

Generally anything that draws heavy current shoud be plugged directly into a wall receptacle eg: power amps. A dedicated line or at least one on its own circuit breaker should be used for A/V if it can be accomplished. The "micro electronics" such as players, dac's and things can be plugged into a power bar with protection as surges are more likely to affect these products in a detrimental way.

 

I use power strips from NBS and XLO Electric... CD player and power amp.

 

Johhny, what concerns me about most "Power Strips" is that they just shunt any spikes they get.... Not a good thing at all!

 

I agree, Ken Stevens the designer of my CAT preamp told me not use a conditioner or power strip on his product. I also plug my power amps into a direct dedicated circuit.

 

I unplugged my DJ mixer and plugged it into the wall receptacle.

 

I would suggest not going this route.
I think you'd be better off with a strip without the RFI,MFI,Surge Protection.
I have read that these will starve the components of juice at times, making for bad sound. Better to run a strip straight without the "protection" until you can buy a good one.
The computer grade ones will act like a bottle neck on the mains.

Sorry I qouted the wrong post. I have read the Monster Cable Units are good.

 

A 6 plug adapter for a 2 plug wall receptacle with or without surge protection is a good option as well. The ones without surge protection actually are cheaper than those with surge protection.