Topic: Conditioners

[Tim]

I just ordered bpt bp1 from Wayne, I can't wait! The equitech and bpt units are the only ones he feels are fit for digital amps that do not limit dynamics at this price FYI.

that reminds me....

I ran my amp without a conditioner for a few days last week.... no noticeable loss of dynamics at all.

[Daryan]

Tim,

So you don't notice a loss of dynamics with or without? 

Daryan

[Tim]

sorry, I mispoke... I ran without the furutech for a few days last week and didn't notice any increased dynamics, when I hooked back up there was no loss in dynamics.

my amp is incredibly dynamic... I think I would have noticed.

that's what I get for posting at 8am

[ducati]

Good news, now the question is did it make any difference (inserting the Furutech)?

[Tim]

Good news, now the question is did it make any difference (inserting the Furutech)?

oh it makes a huge difference... there is NO background nosie whatsoever with it in my system

[ducati]

Glad to hear it works for you!!   I am going to be trying the Shunyata stuff once I finish my tube-rolling experiment.

[BCostigan]

I'll throw my offer out once again for anyone interested:

I'll build you the condioner if you just pay for the parts (about $300).  It would be my first one (prototype) but I assure everyone that it will be a top notch product.  I just don't have the cash for this and my other "toys" at the moment but really wanna build one!   Feel free to PM me for details.

I've had a few people PM me and thought I'd add  some more pricing info.


All prices are approximate but should be pretty close (+/- $20)

8.5 amp version = $300
12.5 amp version = $350
16.5 amp version = $400

[BobW]

I think thatthe complaints of reduced dynamics are only valid when the power conditioner cannot deliver the VAs that the system needs.
A high-current conditioner of solid design should be transparent.

[ducati]

I don't necessarily agree with that statement; it's not just VAs, but I think is related to "circuit" design.  Every power conditioner I've had in my system has had a NEGATIVE impact on the sound (except for one, as mentioned, the PS Audio P300) and reduced dynamics is one thing I have noticed repeatedly.  Mind you, this isn't llike the system lost power, per se; but that the dynamic difference between loud and soft shadings is less than normal, lending a more compressed feel to the music.  I don't think this is necessaily a lack of current...  Those P300s don't put out much current, anyway.

I do think a good power conditioner should just do it's job without calling attention to itself in a negative way--and from what I've heard from folks, I need to try some of the newer designs.  I think the old school "filter" designs could really be the issue.

I still don't understand how the Furutech works, but hell, if it helps...

[scervin]

Why are we plugging amps into power conditioners?  Everything I've ever read states to hook the amp directly up to the outlet.  I guess if you have bad power that is another story.  Most hook analog and digital equipment up to reduce the impact of one on the other.  I'm looing into the Equitech, PP300, and UPC200.  Either way I will end up with a PP300 at some point, but will only want digital equipment on it.  The UPC will be to split the 2 types of equipment.

sc.

[Tim]

Why are we plugging amps into power conditioners? Everything I've ever read states to hook the amp directly up to the outlet. I guess if you have bad power that is another story.

I live in a 20 story apartment building. I figured plugging the amp directly into the furutech would make more sense than letting it share power with 150 other apartments

[pfife]

my experience comes mainly from tube guitar amps, but I had a Sovtek amp that was very sensitive to current levels.   So much so that I am pretty sure it might have messed it up a bit... maybe this is more an argument for surge protector than a conditioner, but I intend to use a conditioner on my amp, based on the experience that I had with that sovtek.  Sound quality went from really good to total crap within 2 weeks of acquiring it... and the repair clows didn't know what was wrong with it.

[ducati]

My stuff has been plugged direct into the wall for a decade (except for trials of power conditioners) and I have had 0 problems, tubed or otherwise...  Just another data point.

[pfife]

Just another data point.

And prolly a more applicable one than mine.  FWIW - I have also read that most amps have power conditioning built in...

[BCostigan]

Why are we plugging amps into power conditioners? Everything I've ever read states to hook the amp directly up to the outlet. I guess if you have bad power that is another story.

I live in a 20 story apartment building. I figured plugging the amp directly into the furutech would make more sense than letting it share power with 150 other apartments

That's exactly what a conditioner does: Isoltaes whatever is plugged into it from the "outside world"....electrically.   There are lots of "bad" things put back into any given power system....our concearn is mostly noise created by motors.  Noise in a system will depend largely on where you live.  If you're in a 200 unit apt building you can be sure there will be far more noise than if you live in the middle of nowhere and your house is the only one fed by a utilities transformer.  Every time a fridge compressor turns on your tunes are suffering.