Alan Maher's Power Enhancer

JenMaher · « **Reply #720 on:** 29 Jun 2008, 09:06 pm »

zmanbands-
Hiss is not electrical noise on the a/c, it has to do with poor circuit design or parts quality, it can also be a incompatibility with your selected speaker/amp combnation. The Reference One suppresses electrical noise that is riding on the a/c. In your situation you might want to isolate the problem and maybe try our upcoming Studio Reference IC's. The SR IC's use isolation transformers and active Reference One filtering to clean/isolate the signal and circuit ground noise.

vett93-
Oil is usually best. Polyurethane would be great as a do it yourself tweak for tuning the layers vs. the overall sound quality, but this can be a nuisance, oil offers lower ringing harmonics and warmer sound quality.

alanmaher · « **Reply #721 on:** 30 Jun 2008, 12:11 pm »

Let the questions begin....go easy on me for the next couple of days until I catch up.

zmanbands · « **Reply #722 on:** 30 Jun 2008, 02:32 pm »

WB Alan. I finally got to install 2 reference power cords. They are fantastic!!! I have a RPC ordered whose parts shound have arrived about now. When I install all my audio, PE's and chokes in it, Jen estimates 4 times the improvement of the reference power cords. Mind boggeling. Can't wait to get it.

michaelv · « **Reply #723 on:** 30 Jun 2008, 03:09 pm »

Since most of stuffs from Alan are PRT treated, at least in my PE V pro/custom, i was wondering if we need high-end A/C plugs anymore?

This question raised when i tried 2 Reference One at component IEC. Then, i move Reference One to the adjacent outlets(already 1 week) in the same room (same circuit). IMO, sound signature isn't much different in both configurations: Bass is punchier, High is a bit smooth.

Basically, i'm pretty happy with current setup now.

alanmaher · « **Reply #724 on:** 30 Jun 2008, 04:12 pm »

zmanbands

Good to hear the power cord worked out. Jen is right you can expect a good 4 to 5 times improvement after the Reference strip sets up. The parts have not arrived yet, but I expect them sometime during the week, I will send the strip out within 48 hours.

michaelv

"Since most of stuffs from Alan are PRT treated, at least in my PE V pro/custom, i was wondering if we need high-end A/C plugs anymore?"

The quick answer is no, I don't use fancy outlets either, Hubbell all brass outlets are as high-end as I go. All my products are designed to installed in real world applications.

The Reference One has a strong signature based on the design. The Ref One is incredibly effective at lowering noise up to 10GHz.

Happy to hear the designs worked out.

zmanbands · « **Reply #725 on:** 30 Jun 2008, 04:24 pm »

How does one know if one has this inaudible electrical noise? Or do we all have it and everyone needs at least one Ref One.

alanmaher · « **Reply #726 on:** 30 Jun 2008, 04:30 pm »

"inaudible electrical noise?"

We all have it. Do you own a cell phone, computer, fridge, etc? All of these products inject a harmonic signature within it's operating frequency. The Ref One chokes the circuit using a magnetic field coupled to the a/c flow of the phase. The magnetic field creates a natural choke within the Ref One frequency range. The Ref One is effective from dc-10Ghz.

Paul_Bui · « **Reply #727 on:** 30 Jun 2008, 04:57 pm »

Welcome back Alan, and a warm hello to all PE club fans. Questions I have not for the time being, but I do have an observation. For the last few days both TV's in my household have shown stunningly superb video quality. No matter what materials on display: BD disks of "The Tudors" series, entertainment DVD borrowed from public library with tons of scratches, the color is vivid, texture deliciously rich, pictures sharp and smooth, you name it. Both TVs are of Sony, the 42" was bought in year of 2000, the 27" in 1990. To me, that's the undeniable visual proof that the PE's work effectively.

zmanbands · « **Reply #728 on:** 30 Jun 2008, 05:36 pm »

Alan, I will have one unused plug on the RPC. Would a ref One help there or better somewhere else on the same phase as all my audio.

alanmaher · « **Reply #729 on:** 30 Jun 2008, 09:15 pm »

zmanbands

The RPC already has a large Ref One filter as part of the design, installing a Ref One somewhere else on the same circuit might be beneficial. I have a Ref One installed in the last outlet on the same circuit as the a/v system....the a/v set up is installed in the first outlet on the circuit.

Paul

So the PE set up is still improving? How long has it been since it was first installed? Good to hear everything worked out.

zmanbands · « **Reply #730 on:** 30 Jun 2008, 09:50 pm »

Alan, I have a dedicated 20 amp hardwired circuit. All components, 2 hammond chokes,a PE and a PE IV are plugged into the RPC which in turn is plugged into my Belkin PLC acting as my surge protector. The Belkin has 4 filters of some kind in it. A ref one would go in the 8th outlet or on another non audio outlet on the same phase. Sounds like it might be overkill either way.

alanmaher · « **Reply #731 on:** 30 Jun 2008, 10:03 pm »

zmanbands

I'm not sure the Belkin is necessary, the Reference cable suppresses internal spikes and surges, and the combination of the cord and internal filtering offer superb performance, I think the Belkin is underkill for the RPC. Added Ref One filter will depend of what your are looking to achieve from the install. Do you plan to use PE filtering on the same circuit...I would recommend the added Ref One if PE filtering is used. In any case, I suggest you try the RPC for now. First try it by itself for a couple of weeks and then add the Belkin back and see which sounds best. The surge protection inside the Belkin is pretty much a joke, so there is no loss by not using it, a higher quality circuit breaker would be more effective.

zmanbands · « **Reply #732 on:** 30 Jun 2008, 11:23 pm »

I'm definitely using PE filtering. The RPC will have a PE and PE IV plugged in. There are 5 other PE's in non audio circuits on the same phase. So should I have you include a Ref One when you ship the RPC? Do I put it in the 8th RPC outlet or somewhere else on the same phase?

alanmaher · « **Reply #733 on:** 30 Jun 2008, 11:31 pm »

Yes....order a Ref One and install somewhere on the same phase.

jmichael · « **Reply #734 on:** 1 Jul 2008, 12:07 am »

Alan,

When will the info & pricing on the RPC show on your Website?

michaelv · « **Reply #735 on:** 1 Jul 2008, 12:12 am »

Alan,
What is the length of Ref. cable in RPC? Do two Ref. One filters overkilled in audio circuit where i have PE V pro/ custom installed? I actually like what i hear now, but i can't describe it with technical details.

thanks.

alanmaher · « **Reply #736 on:** 1 Jul 2008, 12:30 am »

jmichael and michaelv

Before the middle of the month, but in the meantime we will be running a special on the RPC for $350 until the end of July. After that the price will go up to $375.

The RPC is a combination of our Reference Power Cable and Reference One noise filter in a 8 hospital grade power strip. Each outlet is magnetically isolated from the next. The filter specs are the same as the Ref One...dc-10Ghz -65db. Cord length is 6 feet. Add $20 per each additional foot.

michaelv, no two Ref Ones in the audio circuit are not overkill in combination with a PE V Pro Custom. I understand what you are trying to say, I have a similar set up on the primary side of my PLC.

Paul_Bui · « **Reply #737 on:** 1 Jul 2008, 12:51 am »

Quote from: alanmaher on 30 Jun 2008, 09:15 pm

Paul

So the PE set up is still improving? How long has it been since it was first installed? Good to hear everything worked out.

I received and installed 3 batches of PE's. 1st (IV, III, II, and I) was received March '08 (almost 4 months ago), 2nd ( V Pro C & Reference 8 ) received April '08 (over 2 months back), and 3rd (II, I, and Ref One's) received in May. They work wonders for my sounds and pictures.

zmanbands · « **Reply #738 on:** 1 Jul 2008, 01:31 am »

What higher quality circuit breaker should I get? I have a GE power panel. Are 20 amp circuit breakers standard ie will the high quality one fit? What is the breaker cost and where do I get it?

alanmaher · « **Reply #739 on:** 1 Jul 2008, 06:48 am »

Paul

Very cool. Are you able to install a power cord on your video display? The PE V Plasma Power Cable is excellent for video displays, hence the name "Plasma", but it works great on both digital and analog displays. If not, try a S/AC for each video displays. The S/AC is not as strong as the Pro Custom filter, but the coupled results of all filters combined will offer very nice results for everything installed throughout the home. Another option is to increase the size of the Pro Custom by adding one or two more in series with the audio Pro Custom. After I finish with the orders I was thinking to push my circuit to 4 Pro Customs on the primary side....originally 3 was used to mimic the Studio PE, but the mini version doesn't respond the same way on the circuit as the massive design and allows me to continue adding filters with zero drawback. The Studio PE doesn't allow for additional filtering without causing a roll off, but the Pro Custom just gets better and better.

zmanbands

Allied Electronics sells Eaton / Heinemann:

http://www.alliedelec.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?SKU=5481076&MPN=JA1S-D3-A-0020-02E&R=5481076&SEARCH=5481076&DESC=JA1S-D3-A-0020-02E#tab=Overview

A good breaker should cost between $25 and $60 based on signal vs. dual pole. I'm not sure if it will fit, please read the datasheet to see if it matches your panel, and check against other listed breakers on the site.

A second option is to look at a high quality thermal magnetic breaker, but a good one can run around $75 for a single pole.