[etcarroll]

Curious as to what Bryston's stance is on having anything between the older 4B amps, and the power receptacle?

I found this in the 4B SST manual, would it apply to older 4Bs as well;

"Power line conditioners will not improve the SST amplifier performance, in fact most of the time they restrict the flow of current to the amplifier, reducing performance at higher output level."

I have PS Audio Quintet in my ht setup, was going to get another for the 2 channel/Bryston setup, now wonder if that's the way to go?

Maybe just pull the cheap 0.59 cent outlet in wall for a decent hospital grade outlet, and leave it at that?

Gene

[James Tanner]

Curious as to what Bryston's stance is on having anything between the older 4B amps, and the power receptacle?

I found this in the 4B SST manual, would it apply to older 4Bs as well;

"Power line conditioners will not improve the SST amplifier performance, in fact most of the time they restrict the flow of current to the amplifier, reducing performance at higher output level."

I have PS Audio Quintet in my ht setup, was going to get another for the 2 channel/Bryston setup, now wonder if that's the way to go?

Maybe just pull the cheap 0.59 cent outlet in wall for a decent hospital grade outlet, and leave it at that?

Gene

Hi Gene,

Yes before we researched the market and came up with the idea of Torus we found that many Transformer based products were a lot smaller than required and therefore did not recommend them in the circuit path with our larger amplifiers.

james

[Stu Pitt]

I haven't used a Torus, so no personal experience with them.  I do however recommend looking to getting a dedicated circuit line installed for your stereo.  They're not expensive to have installed.  When my new washer and dryer were installed, they also installed dedicated lines for them.  The electrician charged my landlord about $150.  If I owned the house, I'd have had him install one for the stereo too.   

Conversing with the guy, he's installed a lot of them for stereos and home theater, including his own home.  He claims everyone has been very happy, and most say it's the best 'tweak' in their system by far. 

Others here and on other forums say the same.  I've never heard anyone say it was a waste of time or money, or that it made a negative impact on their system.   

[JohnnyB]

My lessons learned is you can never have too many dedicated lines.

I would recommend no less than two 20A lines.  One may be wired for 220V if you are using a large power conditioner.

Think about the exact location of your equipment and if you may move it in the future. 

I feel the amps sound more 'relaxed' and struggle less at loud listening levels.  They also appear to be 'quieter'.

Cheers, JohnnyB

[Occam]

Curious as to what Bryston's stance is on having anything between the older 4B amps, and the power receptacle?

I found this in the 4B SST manual, would it apply to older 4Bs as well;

"Power line conditioners will not improve the SST amplifier performance, in fact most of the time they restrict the flow of current to the amplifier, reducing performance at higher output level."

I have PS Audio Quintet in my ht setup, was going to get another for the 2 channel/Bryston setup, now wonder if that's the way to go?

Maybe just pull the cheap 0.59 cent outlet in wall for a decent hospital grade outlet, and leave it at that?

Gene

Gene,

Unlike the Torus, the Quintet is an LC (inductor-capacitor) based filter. Whether it would constrain amplifier performance would depend on the design and construction of the inductor(s) used, as well as the current draw characteristics of the amplifier. As you already have a quintet, simply try it in your new system before making any decisions.

As Stu recommended, a dedicated line, properly run, can be a large improvement.

But your own suggestion of replacing your 59 cent receptacle is probably the most bang for the buck improvement you could provide. If you want a hospital grade outlet, I'd suggest a Hubbell HBL8200/8300H. The H indicates no nickel plating, but rather unplated brass. The first # is for the 15amp version, the later, 20amp. My low cost favorite is the industrial grade Hubbell HBL5262/5362, available at Stayonline.com for $12 and $14, respectively.
http://www.stayonline.com/nema-3-wire-receptacles-duplex-straight-blade.aspx

FWIW,
Paul

[etcarroll]

Thanks all - guess I'll start with a better outlet, and take it from there.

[BrysTony]

There is no doubt that a dedicated power line and hospital grade outlet is a big plus; however, you cannot stop there.  It is a huge risk to run expensive electronic equipment without surge protection.  In my part of the USA we are subject to thunderstorms in the summer on a regular basis -- power conditioning/surge protection is a must.  I am using a PS Audio Quintet and am quite happy with it.