BC Noisehounds, AQ Quietlines, or Quantum ElectroClears?

Doublej · « **on:** 12 Nov 2005, 01:21 pm »

If you had a $120 to spend to improve your system would this be a good investment or would the $120 be better spent on something else such as isolation devices or a better power cord for one piece of gear?

Does one of these work better than the others? Do they even work at all?

Price wise for about a $120 you get one Noisehound, 4 Quietlines, or 3 Electoclears.

PhilNYC · « **Reply #1 on:** 12 Nov 2005, 01:41 pm »

It's really hard to generalize...the answer will depend on a lot of things:

- what is the rest of your system?
- how are your room acoustics?
- how good is your AC power?
- how good is your rack?

I've not tried the Quietlines or Electoclears, but I can tell you that in my experience with the Noisehounds, I have tried them in situations where they (1) worked near-miracles, (2) did nothing at all, and (3) made things sound worse (over-filtered, rolled things off). So you need to try one to see what it does in your system...

rbrb · « **Reply #2 on:** 12 Nov 2005, 01:43 pm »

When I used to sell electronics a company gave us a devise called a noise sniffer that would measure the noise on an AC line. I plugged it into a outlet at my friends Hi-Fi shop and we could actually hear a FM radio station along with the noise. After plugging a BC Noisehound into an adjoining socket the noise was completely eliminated.

I bought a couple on the spot and have been using them in my system ever since. They really work. I notice a blacker and quiter background.

Kim S. · « **Reply #3 on:** 13 Nov 2005, 11:48 am »

I have no experience with the other two products but I use Quietlines. Both my wife and me could tell an improvement once installed. Mainly in a quieter,"darker" background. I think they say you need at least 4 to make a difference. We installed 6, and later 3 more. After the second installation we noticed an additional, although minor improvement.

Stercom · « **Reply #4 on:** 13 Nov 2005, 12:05 pm »

I currently use Quietlines throughout the house and a BC Noisehound directly into my power conditioner. I've used Electroclears in the past. All of them work. However, I would spend the money to buy a new Noisehound and plug it into your outlet that feeds your equipment. The sound becomes more "relaxed" is the only way to describe it. Quitelines should not be used directly in the circuit your equipment is on in my opinion it seems to close down the sound a little. I would use those in the circuit where your refrigerator and any flouresent lights are. The electroclear definately changed the sound no matter where placed but it seemed to dull things down to the point of losing some resolution so I sold them. Of course, this is all subjective opinion on my part but I have had a lot of experience with these products.

Ethan Winer · « **Reply #5 on:** 13 Nov 2005, 04:27 pm »

DJ,

> would this be a good investment or would the $120 be better spent on something else such as isolation devices or a better power cord for one piece of gear? <

Unless you have an obvious audible problem that you are certain is caused by noise on the AC power line - like radio stations, clicks and pops when the refridgerator kicks in, etc. - I'd skip all of those. Spend the money on a fine dinner and a movie with your significant other.

--Ethan