Power conditioner making sound worse

Just set up a new Sanus Euro stand for my gear the other night.
In the process, I moved my Monster power conditioner from the HDTV setup to the stereo system. This is one of those strip conditioners, not the fancy ones that look like a component all their own. I switched it because it had more real estate than my simple power strip for accomodating a wall wart that powers my phono stage.

When listenining to it last night. I noticed that the sound did not have the sparkle, open-ness, and dynamics of my simple power strip; it sounded duller.

Couldn't figure out what was going on until I remembered I had switched the power strips.

My only conclusion is that the filtering provided by the Monster Power conditioner is slowing down transient current delivery, affecting the dynamics and making for a duller sound.

I don't know which Monster conditioner this one is, but I will post the model no. when I pull it out this evening.

Anyone else notice that using a power conditioner makes their system sound worse?

 

Cheap power strips do make the system sound worse. Plug your critical components (digital source, preamp and amp) directly into the wall.

 

It's not a power strip, it's a power conditioner I am referring to. That's just it, the cheap little surge protector-type power strip sounds markedly better than the Monster "power conditioner" strip.

The amp is already directly plugged into the wall...have to figure out a system for getting my peripherals power, because right now, the other socket is for the power strip. Cheap one is going back in right now until I figure out a solution. I have five things that need plugging in (amp, pre, TT, CD, and phono stage), and only one outlet near the system wall.

 

Sorry, I classified the Monster as cheap power strip. In fact, it's worse.

 

If the "cheap" one works well and doesn't ineterfere with the sound, why not just keep using that one? You mention the cheap one has "sparkle, open-ness, and dynamics".

To me, that sounds like the easiest - and most affordable - solution.

 

I have Audio Power filter strip... the oldie one. I know it makes everything sounds better, even TV. It is only a filter unit but everything is massive... the power cord, the plug and even the wedge... it is called the power wedge.

Like you, I was upgrading the AV rack and I installed my new APC H15 Power Regulator and the sound is way way better. I know the AV rack made some difference but I wasn't expecting this much difference with APC.

I suggest you try out the APC H15 Power Regulator... you should be able to find someone who sells it at $150. Last I tried... Tigerdirect did have it once in a while, do a manual search there and you might see two listing for it at different price... even though same color and model.

 

I agree - the APC H15 made a tremendous difference in my AV system and my dedicated audio system (I was so impressed with the first one, I bought a second). I was able to get them for something like $130 each including shipping.

 

Puma Cat - You might want to check how you've paired components with each duplex. Digital noise from a CD player might be contaminating other components.

 

Agreed...directly into the wall outlet is the WTG

 

LOL! You are right.

 

CD player? CD player?

I don't use the CD player (Playstation 1), except on rare occasions. It's kept powered off most of the time.

Vinyl all the way, baby!

 

That's the plan....going to move it back tonight. The wall wart takes up an additional socket, unfortunately.

 

I think I am going to try the Mapleshade Audio power strip.

 

Okay, so I pulled the Monster Power conditioner out tonight; it is a Monster Power Center HT800.

http://www.monstercable.com/productdisplay.asp?pin=592

I can't recommend this power conditioner for audiophile-level sound systems. This one notably flattened the dynamics, resulting in a duller sound.

I went back to my cheap surge protector, and stretched it from another outlet. It now only has the TT power supply, the phono stage wall wart, the lamp and the CD player plugged into it. The pre and amp are plugged directly into the wall.

 

Hello, yes I've tried a few power strips and power conditioners and all degraded sound. Sure the Monster strip could be a detriment. I have my stuff plugged right into the wall but a straight-ahead "hard wired" no frills strip such as what you might be able to find at some home improvement or construction supply places may be worth a shot. I'm not presuming anything about high end power conditioners as I've no experience with them. Of course one should consider the local power supply if possible and use appropriate power protection if you do feel it wise.

 

The Mapleshade looks like a piece of junk.

 

LOL

 

I don't care what it looks like, I only care about how it sounds. They have a good return policy, so I may give it a try. I am also thinking about the MIT Z duplex in-wall conditioner.

 

The el cheapo surge protector I was using is an SRW model S-5 surge protector with EMI and RFI filtering.

I listened to the preamp plugged straight into the wall and plugged in my SRW S-5 surge protector, and it actually sounds better in the surge protector than in the wall socket; maybe the EMI and RFI filter is doing something. I now have the power amp plugged into the SRW rather than the wall, and I am trying that out. Not sure yet, but I think it might sound better in the surge protector, also.

I am going to continue comparing with the Premier 11A plugged in the wall and the SRW, and see which one sounds best.

 

Jeez, I would never buy anything that looks like this!

 

Would you use something that looks like this?



Yet this one little thing can make a dramatic improvement in your sound system.

Like Optimus Prime, there's more to some things than meet the eye.

 

Yes! Even used one until my cat started trying to sit on my cdp.

 

I have no direct experience with a power conditioner yet, but I have been keeping my eyes open for reports on the SQ from trustworthy sources.

The Monster power conditioners actually happen to be rated very highly by some people but all Monster strips are not the same.

The ones that have had really good reports audio wise have "Stage 2" power conditioning. This is advanced conditioning that many people say is terrific and still very inexpensive when compared to most "specialist" conditioners.

You listed a conditioner as having only "Stage 1" conditioning. I've not really read many (if any) comments on the stage 1 conditioners. The stage 2's are more expensive but not too much more.

I'd really try the stage 2 power conditioner before spending any $$$ on anything else! If you buy it and don't like it I think you can get a refund (depending maybe on where you purchase it).

Keep us informed and good luck!
Joe

 

I use this in my office system which is part of my machine shop so power line noise is about as bad is gets. This unit works very well.

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?powrcond&1244766881&/Powervar-ABC-1200-11-power-con

 

If you use surge protectors why not change those with Padis ? audiophile rhodium fuses, that are said to have quiet an impact on the sound quality...
Never heard anyone in here mention those, but in germany they are very popular as a basic first thing to change....

http://www.audio-direkt.de/Webshop/..._id=359&SESS=eb13e82e7334ceda9abffbd96fed2201