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For me - and I really want to emphasize ME as we all have hearing likes and dislikes quite different from one another - I've yet to hear an active 'conditioner' that improves fidelity.Except on digital sources where I use an isolation transformer, where much of the benefit may be it as a waste gate for digital pollutants leaching back into the rest of the system, every attempt at active conditioning on amps, preamps, turntables, SS or tube - has resulted in more etch and annoying grain than less.Having rented for a while, I look forward to buying soon and installing a dedicated line to my system. That along with a good, upgraded outlet (the $38 Porter Ports sound a teensy bit more natural than the $9.99 hospital grade ones at Lowes) and isotranny on the digital side should make wonderful music soon.
Lots of good reports here--individual results do vary. A recurring idea is that good gear should be able to filter out noise and stabilize voltage with multiple, regulated power supplies--I have also read advice in at least one owner's manual (Wadia) stating these capabilities and to therefore plug directly into the wall. When I discussed this with my high-end dealer, he said makers generally suggest this because most in-line products, in respect to high-performance audio, are current limiting in their attempts/designs to suppress noise or interrupt surges. They work best with computers and other expensive, but lower wattage devices we want to protect.
Hey Rollo, What is the manufacturer of your power correction device? How much did cost? Was it hard to install? How much improvement did you hear? I was thinking of getting a tripp lite isolation transformer until I read your post. Anyone else using a power correction device and with what results? Thanks Neil
The increases in AC line noise worldwide have been addressed with heavier EMI filtering and dramatically quieter power transformers. In addition, through improved biasing regulation, the circuits give much more consistent performance under varying AC line voltages and over a variety of ambient temperatures."
(1) Seems to me a manufacturer would have no idea what the quality of noise and hash would be for any one particular users setup. (2) A conditioner is to correct electrical problems and so if there are no problems no conditioner should be warranted, and if there are problems, then you have to determine what will solve it.
This sounds like the company has addressed it already in the build of their amp. If the regulation has been addressed in the manufacture of the component itself, no further filtering should ever be needed.
Tom, that was my thought on this as well.
Hi.Sorry, I don't think so.Even though some hi-end gear might have such thing installed, do you think it is effective enough? EMI/RFI can come into yr equipment thru powerline as well as AIRborne.c-J
Actually, I do think if the equipment is designed correctly, then it should be sufficient.
But here we may be opening a huge can of worms. Which filters/conditioners should we choose without wracking our wallets & do NOT ruin the music?????c-J
I think it is always sufficient but certainly it could sound better with power conditioner(s). I also think it would be foolish for any manufacturer to say "Yes, a power conditioner is required for our equipment". That wouldn't look very good when the competing comany says they don't require it. The best part is that it's up to YOU (us) to decide.
Certainly with source equipment, it should not hurt, and could improve the performance. For power amps, it’s more of a mixed bag. Many of them could actually hamper or impede performance, as they can limit current draw. Some manufactures actually discourage usage just for that reason. I know some tube amp guys use a variac and set it to ensure the gear is optimal voltage wise. Agree that AC line power has more hash/trash than ever. I also think its fair to state that some manufactures do not pay as close attention to line filtering as others do.
