[Deftone]

If you have a choice which one will you choose? Will you dump your power conditoner over your dedicated line? Or will you have both?

[Diamond Dog]

A quality power conditioner will give you surge protection for your system as well as clean power. Also, adding a dedicated line can sometimes be a difficult endeavour if you are dealing with ( as in my case ) a finished basement listening area with drywalled ceilings. Running a dedicated line would not be a whole lot of fun. My ultimate solution would be to have both but ain't nothin' perfect in this world...

D.D.

[Elizabeth]

I kind of have both in my apartment.
I use a single 20 amp outlet with it's own breaker, i run a bunch of wires from it to my stuff: Three big power conditioners.
So yeah both is great. And besides that stuff i use aftermarket powercords.

[John Casler]

If you have a choice which one will you choose? Will you dump your power conditoner over your dedicated line? Or will you have both?

While I am NOT an expert, I think in general we need to consider these elements regarding POWER;

1) Power/Current Availability
2) Power/Current Stability
3) Power Filtering or Reduction of Noise Producing artifacts or elements

A Dedicated Line will likely help 1 and 2, but not totally

A Power Conditioner, depending on the method or methods of conditioning/treatment or storage can benefit all three.

In general I find Power Conditioners to fit into various types of "conditioning".

1) Filtration to "clean" your power
2) Balanced Types to cancel noise
3) Current Stabilizers (through various storage means)
4) Voltage Spike Protections
5) Magic Beads (claims of some type of non-disclosed proprietary benefits)

The degree to which each, or any of these will help your end Sonic Product will depend on the condition of your current as it comes to you.  This is no doubt why many rave at the "incredible" improvement,  while others find little value at all.

If you are able to figure out what might be beneficial to "your" particular system and power supply, then the selection of solutions might be easier. 

[SoundGame]

A dedicated line will also provide you with isolation - which can mean noise reduction, as well.

People sometime use the term "dedicated line" in a limited sense rather than in it's full sense.  In a limited sense, a dedicated line is what Elizabeth described she has i.e. a separate breaker on her electrical panel box that feeds only her audio system.  This is better than a shared line but is not a fully dedicated circuit in the full sense of the term.

A FULLY dedicated line should have it's own power rail, independent of anything else i.e. it's own panel box AND to be truly isolated, should have it's own separate ground i.e. the second and separate panel box must be grounded to a separate ground pin then the primary box, as a shared ground can be a source of noise.

 

[Phil A]

I have both too.  I have a dedicated line and the power conditioner into it.  I agree with the points above.

[Deftone]

Don't a dedicated line be a better option if you have a choice.Don't the conditioner alter the sound in your system. Will a distributor be another option then.

[SoundGame]

Don't a dedicated line be a better option if you have a choice.Don't the conditioner alter the sound in your system. Will a distributor be another option then.

It very much depends on the conditioner.  You need to ensure the conditioner can deliver the current level that the audio components require so as to ensure the same level of dynamics (both macro and micro), soundstage and transparency.  I've tried cheap conditioners and they ruined the soundstage and compressed things.

Those with Bryston components seem to swear by the Torus conditioners, though I have no experience with them - too expensive for my blood.

[James Tanner]

It very much depends on the conditioner.  You need to ensure the conditioner can deliver the current level that the audio components require so as to ensure the same level of dynamics (both macro and micro), soundstage and transparency.  I've tried cheap conditioners and they ruined the soundstage and compressed things.

Those with Bryston components seem to swear by the Torus conditioners, though I have no experience with them - too expensive for my blood.

CORRECT - it is all about INSTANTANIOUS current  draw – instantaneous current draw can be many times steady state draw and in fact when we were developing the TORUS and BIT isolation transformers we found you needed at least one and one-half the transformer size required by the amplifier in order not to limited the current draw.  So on the BIT Isolation transformers the internal isolation transformer is TWICE the size its rating would imply – so a 20 BIT has a 40 AMP transformer.

James

[jparkhur]

I have two dedicated 20 amp lines back to the main box.  If i run my higher end stuff straight out of the plug its great, but when I add my very inexpensive Monster 5100 mkii, the sound to me gets better, deeper blacks, more depth, openness, air, etc.  You pick the verb.  I like the combination of both.  I rarely draw more than 8 amps on big movies and loud watching...  according to the LED on the front, that is with An ATI 1506, and Outlaw 7125, plus all the other gear.  In light times, decware amp and passive pre, plus Apple TV 2, less than 1.0 amps draw. 

Conclusion,.. in this case more is better

JP

[simon wagstaff]

I have two dedicated 20 amp lines back to the main box.  If i run my higher end stuff straight out of the plug its great, but when I add my very inexpensive Monster 5100 mkii, the sound to me gets better, deeper blacks, more depth, openness, air, etc.  You pick the verb.  I like the combination of both.  I rarely draw more than 8 amps on big movies and loud watching...  according to the LED on the front, that is with An ATI 1506, and Outlaw 7125, plus all the other gear.  In light times, decware amp and passive pre, plus Apple TV 2, less than 1.0 amps draw. 

Conclusion,.. in this case more is better

Goodness, I couldn't have said it better myself. I have a 20 amp dedicated line but just in the past week upgraded from an HTS 3600 to an HTS 5100 mk II. I absolutely tried to not hear a difference but I hear just what you describe. My critical components are a Pioneer Elite tsx 59i, DV 79i and AVA U70 tube amp. Power really shouldn't have much effect on the tube amp, no?  But I hear just what you said. I picked mine up on e-bay for $110.00, sold my old one for $100, can't complain!

JP

[rollo]

  Both. A separate circuit and proper power conditioning can improve ones listening experience. Especially in the summer months when all those Ac's are kicking.
  The better the power supply is the less conditioning is required. Bryston's power supplies are State of the Art. Extra conditioning may cause harm tothe sonics.  So an Isolation Trannie such as the Torus causes no harm, just isolates the grid to the component. BRILLIANT!!!!
  Every little bit helps just try not to get caught up in doing too much. have fun trying.


charles
SMA
   

[werd]

Look for 240v on a power conditioner. 240v power converterd to 120v is made for audio. Its the best kept secret in stereo. Everything in 120V just tinkers with the AC somehow. Your stove runs on 240 your dryer runs on 240 and so should your Ac power conditioner.... its that simple.

[BrysTony]

Look for 240v on a power conditioner. 240v power converterd to 120v is made for audio. Its the best kept secret in stereo. Everything in 120V just tinkers with the AC somehow. Your stove runs on 240 your dryer runs on 240 and so should your Ac power conditioner.... its that simple.

The power coming into the house is 120V -- the stove and dryer get two lines of 120 and it becomes 240V.  Why would the audio system care if its' power conditioner was fed with 2 x 120V =  240V and then separated to 120V?  Just askin'   

Tony

[werd]

The power coming into the house is 120V -- the stove and dryer get two lines of 120 and it becomes 240V.  Why would the audio system care if its' power conditioner was fed with 2 x 120V =  240V and then separated to 120V?  Just askin'   

Tony

Because you get more current feeding the conditioner. You are basically over powering the conditioner. This will translate into a continuous power feed for your 120v.

Aside from the forced dedicated line that you get with 240, and the noise rejection of the balance line from the fuse box, you get an ample supple of power. You can put this to the test. I have a 300 watt halogen light. This light will fade on any power use in the house directly related to the line it sits on. When i  plug that light into my Torus rm20 as much as i try i can not get that light to fade. I ramped my rm20 up with 1500 watt hairdryer, a huge led tv, vacuum, everything connect and going at once, its all good. I don't see any voltage drop from my halogen. It doesn't fade at all. This was impossible with any other conditioner i owned in the past.

Its godzilla power recover to your amps and their dynamic needs.

give it a try!!!!

[myview]

Hi werd,

I am amazed at the type of experiments you do....  But keep them going and tell us more fascinating facts about our Bryston/Torus equipment!   

Because you get more current feeding the conditioner. You are basically over powering the conditioner. This will translate into a continuous power feed for your 120v.

Aside from the forced dedicated line that you get with 240, and the noise rejection of the balance line from the fuse box, you get an ample supple of power. You can put this to the test. I have a 300 watt halogen light. This light will fade on any power use in the house directly related to the line it sits on. When i  plug that light into my Torus rm20 as much as i try i can not get that light to fade. I ramped my rm20 up with 1500 watt hairdryer, a huge led tv, vacuum, everything connect and going at once, its all good. I don't see any voltage drop from my halogen. It doesn't fade at all. This was impossible with any other conditioner i owned in the past.

Its godzilla power recover to your amps and their dynamic needs.

give it a try!!!!

[werd]

Hi werd,

I am amazed at the type of experiments you do....  But keep them going and tell us more fascinating facts about our Bryston/Torus equipment!   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCupx469UBY&feature=related

[SoundGame]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCupx469UBY&feature=related

Wicked - glad I didn't have my Bryston hooked up to my computer for that....