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Aarrggghhhh....now I've got power issues!

post #1 of 31
5/15/05 at 8:07pm
Thread Starter 
Okay, I've relocated my rig to a sitting room in the house so I can enjoy the view of the lake while listening to the tunes. Unfortunately, I'm picking up feedback which I assume is from the power. Up until now, I've been content running from the wall outlet. When I moved the rig back to the original location, the problem disappears. Nothing has changed except the power outlet so it can't be the gear. If I want to remain in that location, am I looking at a power conditioner?

If that's the case, I'm looking at Monster Power but haven't begun to narrow it down to a model. Looked through the search at some of the other units but sheese, the price on some of these babies is up there!

Help? Advice? I get the wife to relinquish a PERFECT spot for my rig and I run into this! There's gotta be a reasonably priced solution!
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post #2 of 31
5/15/05 at 8:28pm
I recently purchased the VH Audio hotbox with filter upgrade (~$340). I got the six foot coord and I am very pleased with it. Now I just have to let it burn in for 100+ hours.
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post #3 of 31
5/15/05 at 8:29pm
The usual: onEAC, Furman, Monster Power Stage v.2, etc.

I can only recommend one: Balanced Power Technologies -- http://www.b-p-t.com . The prices are reasonable but the level of sonic and visual improvement is unreasonably high. Chris Hoff is the owner of the company and he can help you find the right product for your needs.

Bottom line: do a search for my Balanced Power Technologies BP.Jr II Ultra (stock configuration) and my current one with the Signature Upgrades modifications. I firmly believe that clean, balanced power or electricity is fundamental to very high end audio and video performance in any AV system...period. It made my Panasonic DVD-RP82 sing even with a H02 drive spindle defect.

I could tell you how it really performs in a review, but that will be for this summer. Till then, you have the time and people to help you find something. But, I would hold out for BPT.
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post #4 of 31
5/15/05 at 8:35pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Welly Wu
The usual: onEAC, Furman, Monster Power Stage v.2, etc.

I can only recommend one: Balanced Power Technologies -- http://www.b-p-t.com . The prices are reasonable but the level of sonic and visual improvement is unreasonably high. Chris Hoff is the owner of the company and he can help you find the right product for your needs.

Bottom line: do a search for my Balanced Power Technologies BP.Jr II Ultra (stock configuration) and my current one with the Signature Upgrades modifications. I firmly believe that clean, balanced power or electricity is fundamental to very high end audio and video performance in any AV system...period. It made my Panasonic DVD-RP82 sing even with a H02 drive spindle defect.

I could tell you how it really performs in a review, but that will be for this summer. Till then, you have the time and people to help you find something. But, I would hold out for BPT.
Thanks Welly. Didn't see the "Balanced Power Technologies BP.Jr II Ultra" on that site. Is it an older model which has been renamed or discontinued?

In any event, the bottom of their line is $799 for a BP-1! Not sure why that price surprises me considering the nature of this hobby/affliction but I'm stunned that power conditioning is so expensive or should I say that I can't believe the "view" is going to be that expensive! If I'm going BPT, it's going to have to be used. Wanna sell your stock model...CHEAP?!
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post #5 of 31
5/15/05 at 8:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by KenW
....Unfortunately, I'm picking up feedback which I assume is from the power....
Can you describe what you're hearing, Ken?
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post #6 of 31
5/15/05 at 8:50pm
Thread Starter 
As near as I can descibe it there seems to be a buzz/hum coming through. Did some checking and I'm sure it's not feedback from having the DM-1's power supply too close. Figured that out early on.

The wall I'm using is a common one and on the other side, I've got both a bath and bedroom. Everytime a hair dryer or TV is turned on, I'm getting the noise. When those are off, I'm golden. Maybe an inexpensive surge/filter would do the trick?
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post #7 of 31
5/15/05 at 8:51pm
KenW:

You should describe exactly what the problem is so we can help you more.

To answer your questions, the BPT BP.Jr II Ultra is discontinued. It was the top of the BP.Jr II lineup. I have the BP.Jr II Ultra with Signature Upgrades. The stock model cost me $400 USD and the Signature Upgrades cost me $500 USD plus my custom BPT Litz 9 AWG with First Impressions Music AC/IEC and Super Shield power cord ($570 USD). Balanced and clean power is fundamental to high end audio/video performance IMHO.
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post #8 of 31
5/15/05 at 8:52pm
Find out what else is on that particular circuit. Lights, appliances. Unplug everything from the circuit except your hi-fi gear. Check for noise. Replug everything one item at a time to see if your can isolate what is causing the noise. If its an appliance maybe you can switch to a different outlet which is on a different circuit.
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post #9 of 31
5/15/05 at 8:54pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Welly Wu
KenW:

You should describe exactly what the problem is so we can help you more.

To answer your questions, the BPT BP.Jr II Ultra is discontinued. It was the top of the BP.Jr II lineup. I have the BP.Jr II Ultra with Signature Upgrades. The stock model cost me $400 USD and the Signature Upgrades cost me $500 USD plus my custom BPT Litz 9 AWG with First Impressions Music AC/IEC and Super Shield power cord ($570 USD). Balanced and clean power is fundamental to high end audio/video performance IMHO.
Thanks. I suppose it's time to hang out on audiogon and ebay to see if one turns up. Let me guess....they don't turn up often, huh? My luck they won't. As I asked above, would an inexpensive filter work? Suggestions? I'd really like to remain in that location but not if it means breaking the bank on a power conditioner.
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post #10 of 31
5/15/05 at 9:01pm
I think Balanced power is overrated. This is from my diy experience of running the same transformer in and out of balanced power but your millage may very.

Having steady power has give the most benefits to my rig. Getting something like a oneac unit (can be purchased for between $10-$150 on ebay depending on the model) is a great investment. They are similar to the bpt units in that they use a transformer to clean and steady the power. However they do not balance the power, which is supposed to remove even more noise. Benefits should include a layer of haze you didn't even know was there is gone, more impactful bass, a fuller sound and a lessening of any background noise.

I diyed a unit very close to the bpt units using a oneac case. :P

Biggie.
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post #11 of 31
5/15/05 at 9:02pm
KenW:

Try GWN's advice, but if you feel uncomfortable going any further to isolate and eliminate the problem, then do two things: 1. call a certified electrician to inspect that portion of your home, 2. call up Mr. Chris Hoff to ask him for his opinion on the matter and suggestions for solutions. Do these things first before you spend a penny of your money.

BPT BP.Jr II Ultra units don't come up for sale too oftenly because most owners recycle them throughout their AV systems as they upgrade. I know that I won't sell mine ever and I won't need anything more because I own a headphone system.
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post #12 of 31
5/15/05 at 9:15pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for all the tips. I'll start doing some sleuthing to see where all the trouble is coming from. I'm no electical wizard so I'll start with the items in the room I'm in and move from room to room until I find the offender. Just hope it's not something like the fridge...or my daughters hair dryer. Essentials you know.

Just frustrates me because I'd been trying to talk the wife into letting me have that space as "my area" for a good while now and she finally agreed to move her desk and leave it all to me. Now this. Nothing and I mean nothing works for me.
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post #13 of 31
5/15/05 at 9:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by NotoriousBIG_PJ
I think Balanced power is overrated. This is from my diy experience of running the same transformer in and out of balanced power....
One thing to keep in mind is the degree to which the balanced power isolator actually balances the power, which should have a significant impact on its effectiveness. Though you may have reached similar tolerances in your DIY experience, BPT only offers for sale those units it produces where the legs measure within 0.1 volt of each other (at least this was the tolerance I was given by BPT back when I purchased mine).
Quote:
Originally Posted by NotoriousBIG_PJ
....but your millage may very....
True. If one's biggest problem is voltage fluctuation, I don't know that a balanced power isolator alone is going to do much to help. I have a dedicated line run to my primary rig, and the voltage out of that has been virtually rock-steady (quite true for the rest of my house, too).
Quote:
Originally Posted by NotoriousBIG_PJ
....Having steady power has give the most benefits to my rig. Getting something like a oneac unit (can be purchased for between $10-$150 on ebay depending on the model) is a great investment. They are similar to the bpt units in that they use a transformer to clean and steady the power. However they do not balance the power, which is supposed to remove even more noise. Benefits should include a layer of haze you didn't even know was there is gone, more impactful bass, a fuller sound and a lessening of any background noise.

I diyed a unit very close to the bpt units using a oneac case. :P
I think NotoriousBIG_PJ's point about mileage varying applies here, as one of the first things KenW should consider doing is finding out what kind of voltage he's getting from that outlet throughout the day. If that's off, deal with that first. If it's primarily noise on the line, then consider a good balanced power rig, as it has broader bandwidth noise reduction capabilities than most filter-type conditioners, most of which are effective only with higher frequency noise.

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post #14 of 31
5/15/05 at 9:24pm
Thread Starter 
Hmm, a dedicated power line for my gear? That's a thought. Surely it can't run $800 can it? Pure, clean power for my rig. I can live with that. Maybe it's time to have my electrician come pay me a visit after all.

Good ideas and suggestions. Thanks to all. Last thing I want to do is tell the wife that I've changed my mind and we need to switch back....oh no...definitely NOT an option. I'd never hear the end of it.
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post #15 of 31
5/15/05 at 9:27pm
I dont know about the higher end Monster power conditioners but the lower end ones are crap. Right up to the Monster HTS-3500 or whatever. Every time the microwave was used I would hear all sorts of crap...and my CRT would frizzle...

Spend a LOT or spend NOT is my motto when it comes to power conditioning.
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