[2359glenn]

Maybe I am a stupid engineer willing to spend a few bucks to possibly save a life.
When people are spending the same thing because there might be a minute hum in there stereo?
What is more important??

 

[Xcalibur255]

I thought the smiley emoticon was enough to frame my comment as being light hearted, but I guess it wasn't.

 

[dminches]

Instead of using power conditioners I installed one of these which supplies power to any outlet in my house which has audio equipment. Equi=Tech 10WQ.

 

[Monsterzero]

Instead of using power conditioners I installed one of these which supplies power to any outlet in my house which has audio equipment. Equi=Tech 10WQ.

Just quickly browsed their website and didnt see a dollar figure. Care to share what something like this would set one back?

 

[dminches]

Just quickly browsed their website and didnt see a dollar figure. Care to share what something like this would set one back?

New I think they are $10k. I got it used, deeply discounted. Some guy bought one and never used it. It weighs 450 lbs. Cost me $400 to have it shipped but it was a big bargain when you think about how much power conditioners cost.

 

[Monsterzero]

New I think they are $10k.

My wife loves me...but not that much.

 

[L0rdGwyn]

Equi=tech is a big proponent of balanced power. Read a review of that unit on 6moons a few months ago, goes into the details of balanced power and why they advocate it, interesting read (multiple pages, hit "next" on the bottom of each page, easy to miss).

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/equitech/1.html

I think their cheapest balanced power conditioner is something like $2,500.

Or you can get a Topaz transformer, use it for your pool filter in the summer, then hook it up to your audio chain in the winter and get 146dB CMN attentuation

 

[2359glenn]

You want balanced power wire your equipment for 230/240 volt
And run a dedicated 240 volt line. 240 volt in the US is balanced 120-0-120 makes the 240.
I have some of my equipment running on 240 balanced. Started this because my DAC is 240 volt also have my headphone amp running on 240.
It was easy because there was a old 240 volt air conditioner outlet behind my equipment. The only thing on 120 is my preamp will have to change
transformers to change it to 240.

 

[L0rdGwyn]

I'm not sure about balanced power yet Glenn, I definitely don't have a 240V line hiding in my house, it is possible to wire the Topaz transformers for 60-0-60. Companies like Equi=tech I mentioned trumpet the benefits of balanced power, saying it gives additional noise rejection, reactive currents are canceled, etc. Have to figure out the headache factor first.

 

[Sonic Defender]

Removed, pointless question.

 

[leftside]

Removed, pointless question.

I saw your original question. I think we're talking about minimizing transformer hum from our amps/headphone amps. I've had issues with transformer hum in my house with everything from amps to DACs. I've managed to fix it with relatively cheap isolating devices. Tube amps seem particularly strange. My Woo WA22 transformers were quite noisy when I first got it. Settled down after a few weeks - bizarre. The Glenn 300B Lundahl transformers also had their moments when it first arrived. Settled down completely a few months later.

My McIntosh MC75 tube amps have always been dead silent. My McIntosh MC205 (solid state) was very noisy - but I fixed that problem with a Tripp-Lite Isolator for $100. My Lampizator Atlantic was noisy as well - actually sent it back to Lampizator, upgraded to a GA, and they promised me it was the quietest GA they've ever made after testing it thoroughly. It was still a little noisy in my home though lol. Again, fixed with a Tripp-Lite Isolator for $100.

 

[Sonic Defender]

I saw your original question. I think we're talking about minimizing transformer hum from our amps/headphone amps. I've had issues with transformer hum in my house with everything from amps to DACs. I've managed to fix it with relatively cheap isolating devices. Tube amps seem particularly strange. My Woo WA22 transformers were quite noisy when I first got it. Settled down after a few weeks - bizarre. The Glenn 300B Lundahl transformers also had their moments when it first arrived. Settled down completely a few months later.

My McIntosh MC75 tube amps have always been dead silent. My McIntosh MC205 (solid state) was very noisy - but I fixed that problem with a Tripp-Lite Isolator for $100. My Lampizator Atlantic was noisy as well - actually sent it back to Lampizator, upgraded to a GA, and they promised me it was the quietest GA they've ever made after testing it thoroughly. It was still a little noisy in my home though lol. Again, fixed with a Tripp-Lite Isolator for $100.

Thanks, good response and helpful for understanding. Much appreciated.

 

[Zachik]

I was also looking at those Topaz transformers, hoping to reduce the hum from my non-Lundahl GOTL...
Currently, all my audio equipment is connected to a PS Audio Dectet "conditioning power strip". Should I connect the Topaz between the wall outlet and the Dectet?
Also, I have seen mention on the Topaz thread of not getting one that is "too big" and under-load it... @2359glenn - do you agree that the Topaz isolating transformer be at least 20-30% "loaded"?! Currently, I have a DAC, GOTL amp and very low power (Intel NUC) "music server" connected to the Dectet.
So... should I get a 250va version? 750va? 1.5kva? does it really matter??

 

[UsoppNoKami]

- intermission -

finally assembled a set of 6 Sylvania 6BL7GT flat plate 3 mica tubes

 

[2359glenn]

I was also looking at those Topaz transformers, hoping to reduce the hum from my non-Lundahl GOTL...
Currently, all my audio equipment is connected to a PS Audio Dectet "conditioning power strip". Should I connect the Topaz between the wall outlet and the Dectet?
Also, I have seen mention on the Topaz thread of not getting one that is "too big" and under-load it... @2359glenn - do you agree that the Topaz isolating transformer be at least 20-30% "loaded"?! Currently, I have a DAC, GOTL amp and very low power (Intel NUC) "music server" connected to the Dectet.
So... should I get a 250va version? 750va? 1.5kva? does it really matter??

I think if you get a very large isolation transformer it may hum itself. ALL TRANSFORMERS HUM TI SOME EXTENT.
The amp has a 250Va transformer in it so I would get at least 500Va.