For the longest time I've noticed that adding any noise filtering into the system took away from the overall sound (it may give you gain in some places, but lose some elsewhere, with the overall being negative).
Well, with balanced power, I can now report that noise filtering is now positive for the overall sound.
Current setup:
Line noise: 150mV (usually it's 300-500)
P10 -> equi-tech et2r
ET2R to isobar8ultra for the PC+ monitor (Line noise: 1000mV)
ET2R direct to the sound equipment. (Line noise: 300mV)
Next step would be to try use optical connection and put the entire PC outside the P10.
You'd probably find that the balanced power is all you need. What's critical is where you place the transformer, ideally at the service entrance, a 2:1 step-down transformer connected to a 220 breaker (110-0-110) providing 55-0-55 voltage to your AC outlets. Running a 1:1 transformer off a 110-0 v source to provide 55-0-55 is far less effective.
If you're running it off a 110v supply then all of the wire between the breaker box and where you've got the transformer is unbalanced. 220 to 55-0-55 with the transformer placed close to the service entrance is SOP in professional recording studios.
I'm surprised to see anyone even marginally advocating 'balanced' power here.
I bought mine, not because I had a specific problem, but because I found a used unit in nice condition at a good price. Bought from Shock City three years ago as they were doing some upgrades and selling things on eBay.
My audio buddy has a PSAudio 300 - balanced power regenerator. He was enamored of its effect on his front end. I wasn't impressed with it's power usage, and wanted to power the TV as well as the amplifiers, which would require a big expensive unit. I couldn't tell if it made a difference in his system, but he was sure it had, so I did the 'research' and decided to give balanced a try. Unloaded, the Equitech draws 7 Watts, it never gets warm so there can't be much loss in it when it is working.
I do like the idea of floating the power around a new Earth reference point near the equipment. It was a little spooky initially plugging things into it, not wanting to see any smoke come out (none did). I didn't like the waveform I was seeing on the Neutral vs Earth
I can put the scope on the speaker terminals, and only see some airborne RF hash. Nothing changes between power on/off full volume (no signal) except for some millivolts of DC offset that briefly appears and stabilizes when the amps are turned on.
The rack draws a stable 350W while playing quietly, with jumps if the amp bias level goes up with louder listening. The max I've noticed is around 1200W playing very loudly with the plasma glaring, too. I bought some shares in the electric utility to have the dividend pay the entire electric bill. It was easier than installing green power for $$$ savings. I confess, I'm not green here.
My wiring has turned into a tangled mess of power and signal and wall-warts behind the rack, but it's all dead silent in operation. Maybe after I get everything else done around here I'll tackle that little clean-up job.
How much balanced power helps (or doesn't) depends much upon the quality of incoming power, the loads distributed around the house, and the sensitivity of your equipment to power noise, imbalance, and such. It can make a difference when bad power meets a component with lousy PSRR or poor power isolation, but I imagine for the vast majority of us it is a non-issue.
Some test labs and studios I have worked in or with use balanced power for a variety of reasons including going for the lowest possible noise floor. I think some of them did it due to marketing, not engineering, and sometimes that is sufficient (like when a studio uses it as a feature and would be at a disadvantage compared to other studios by not having it, like having a stock of Neumann's on hand even if I think they are not the end-all be-all of microphones).
Some undoubtedly get it just for bragging rights or because someone has convinced them (or they have convinced themselves) what a huge difference in sound it makes despite a lack of measurable improvements or even reasonable engineering rationale. But, that never happens in audio...
Some undoubtedly get it just for bragging rights or because someone has convinced them (or they have convinced themselves) what a huge difference in sound it makes despite a lack of measurable improvements or even reasonable engineering rationale. But, that never happens in audio...
Perhaps, but unlike cables, isolation devices and most 'power conditioners' at least there's good solid science that supports why they work. In an audio perfect world both balanced power and balanced transmission would be the norm, but when both were first implemented the best way of doing things was ditched in favor of the cheapest way.
One of the amplifier transformers was mechanically humming, sometimes objectionably.
With the Equitech in circuit, all the transformers in the rack went silent, I can hear a little hum and cable box disk clicking but only via stethoscope now.
I want to run a lead from it to the ceiling fan, since it still hums and interferes with those late night ultra quiet listening times.
It claims to reduce electrical noise/interference of any component connected to it. But then it says in the link :
The Furutech Flow-15 Inline Power Filter effective removes all of that high-frequency noise from the mains power before it reaches your components—all without robbing your system of the high frequencies that are responsible for that airy, 3-D sound that’s so natural and lifelike. Dynamic contrasts, you’ll discover, are unaffected as well. Just stick the Flow-15 between power cords and components, or power cords and power distributors, and eliminate all radiated AC noise from your system.
It probably is a legitimate line filter and may do some good if you have a lot of HF noise on the line.. But they sure do use a lot of audiophile jargon to sell it.
First a filter can't eliminate all hf noise pollution it only reduces noise. Such filters in general do little up to 100KHz.
Second is that noise pollution can creep in on various ways and without proper investigation it is uncertain that simply slapping on such a filter cures the problem.
Third do you actually have a problem with HF noise pollution.
Watch the Youtube video link posted earlier to get some idea of the complexities.
For wideband noise analysis I'd use a spectrum analyzer. A DSO does not have much dynamic range and has a high noise floor itself.
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