HE-500, LCD2, D5000, DT770, SR80, on a speaker amp (Emotiva mini-X A-100) Project

[conquerator2]

PS Audio makes good DACs, but they also seem to sell HDMI cables and power cables, systems, etc for ridiculous prices. Anything I'm missing here.

Might as well stand for Perfect Synergy audio ;P
Expensive but works perfectly and in synergy
Kiddin' of course.
No idea. Ask the other brands why they charge you ludicrous prices... Profit deal? Possibly, some more hungry than others

 

[Zoom25]

Quote:

Might as well stand for Perfect Synergy audio ;P
Expensive but works perfectly and in synergy

Kiddin' of course.
No idea. Ask the other brands why they charge you ludicrous prices... Profit deal? Possibly, some more hungry than others

 
Usually I can spot BS from far away (Monster cables) but in particular PS Audio sells these power conditioning plants. So I talked to my dad who is a mechanical engineer and he said that they are somewhat useful to have. Although they aren't really beneficial here in North America as the incoming supply is actually well monitored. So in that sense, I was wondering if there is something else I'm missing here scientifically. Sure every company is going to boost, but does it actually have a sensible reasoning behind it or not.

 

[Zoom25]

Even if there is a difference, I am not spending $4000 for just energy filtration. My system are already sounding quite good. Although I'd still like to know if anyone has a perspective on this, for science!

 

[zilch0md]

Quote:

thanks for the advice.
 
no speakers connected. 
 
I'll try a new outlet later tonight. 
 

 
 
You might try getting a Tripp-Lite LC1200 Line Conditioner - which sells for less than $100.  
 
I can vigorously recommend it as an inexpensive power conditioning solution, not just for filtering RFI and EMI noise, but also for surge protection and voltage regulation.   I've been using one with my Burson Soloist for a month now.  I didn't buy it to solve a noise problem, but rather just to protect my gear from daily, afternoon brown outs (low voltage), and very infrequent "hammering blackouts" - where the AC power rapidly oscillates off and on, off and on, off and on - all within a few seconds.  My town has unstable AC power, but it has been improving lately.
 
The good news is that the Tripp-Lite LC1200 has not introduced any noise, nor has it made any other impact on sound quality.   
 
So, I'd recommend the LC1200 for full time use with your gear even if you weren't hoping to solve a noise problem with it.
 
Borrowing from a post I made elsewhere:
 
 
I'm completely satisfied that the Tripp-Lite LC1200 is indeed the poor man's power conditioner - at least for compatibility with my gear.  
 
 

 
 
 

 
By the way, I don't normally rest the DACmini CX atop the Soloist, for fear of scratches, but it looked nice for the photos.  

 
Mike

 

[TheKillerPiglet]

Nice find, Mike. I was looking for something to use with office system which this is just about the perfect size.
 
KP

 

[zilch0md]

I don't know if you can tell from the photo, but I'm using  the shortest, largest-gauge, affordable power cord I could find to go between the LC1200 and the Soloist - the two-foot long, 14-gauge Tripp Lite P007-002.    
 
All the people who manufacture expensive power cords will talk about the need to use solid core conductors, spiral wound passive shielding, etc. to prevent RFI/EMI from entering the power cord.  I figured, why not just keep the power cord really short but heavy-gauge, after conditioning the power?
 
For the less important cord that runs from the wall outlet to the line conditioner, I'm using a 10-foot version, which sells for only $12.50.
 
 

   Clean power, on the cheap!
 
Using a Kill-A-Watt to take measurements, the DACmini (DAC) + Soloist are only pulling 0.2 Amps at 124.1 VAC, or just 15.5 Watts.  
 
The Tripp-Lite LC1200 can handle 1200 Watts, or 77.4x as great a load as it's seeing with the DACmini CX and Soloist.   So it's cruising along at only 1.29% of capacity.    
 
It might not be so "quiet" if it were used with a big HiFi system that requires something close to its rated 1200-Watt capacity.  But for this relatively low-power, 120V Head-Fi gear, it's dead silent in terms of audio (despite a feint hum that can be heard coming from the LC1200 externally, at close proximity -  this hum is too feint to cause a problem even with open headphones from three feet away.)
 
The Emotiva mini-X a100 specifications don't tell us how many Watts or Amps it can pull at 120VAC, but my (crude) math tells me, based on the 50 Watts into 8-Ohms audio specification, that it likely pulls no more than 68 Watts at the AC outlet.   So, the LC1200 would still be "cruising along" at less than 6% of capacity to provide power to the Emotiva x-100.   I think it would therefore be just as noise-free with the Emotiva as it is with the Soloist.
 
Mike

 

[snip3r77]

zilch0md, hopefully the conditioner doesn't limit the dynamics of your system. You may want to do an A/B with and without it.

 

[zilch0md]

Quote:

zilch0md, hopefully the conditioner doesn't limit the dynamics of your system. You may want to do an A/B with and without it.

 
 
Good idea, but I've already done lots of A/B testing and all is well.
 
Quoting a post I made to the Burson forum about a month ago:
 

I've spent about five hours, last night and this morning, carefully testing, listening, and just enjoying the Tripp-Lite LC1200 Line Conditioner with my DACmini CX and Soloist both plugged into it.
 
I can emphatically testify that I'm hearing no sonic changes whatsoever using the Tripp-Lite LC1200 to supply power to both the DACmini CX and the Soloist.  
 
I'm hearing no loss of dynamics no loss of anything at all - and nothing has been added to the sound, either.  I've beaten this to death swapping back and forth between plugging the DACmini CX and Soloist directly into the wall outlet vs. plugging them into the Tripp-Lite LC1200.  Not only is it clean as a whistle using my LCD-2, T1, or Shure E4g (IEM), the unit itself only generates a feint hum that I can only hear when I place my ear within a couple of feet of it, in a dead silent room.
 
I'm completely satisfied that the Tripp-Lite LC1200 is indeed the poor man's power conditioner - at least for compatibility with my gear.
 

 
Thanks,
 
Mike

 

[zilch0md]

By the way, when dynamics are reduced by power conditioners, it's due to a lack of current coming from the conditioner.   Poorly designed conditioners can regulate the voltage and filter noise as desired, while reducing current flow.  (I've been doing some reading.)
 
So it's certainly possible that a cheap line conditioner (like the Tripp-Lite LC1200) could regulate voltage while simultaneously reducing overall power (Watts) by limiting current, but I think it's reasonable to assume we are less likely to suffer this when using a power conditioner that claims it can deliver 1200 Watts, when we're only pulling 68 Watts (my estimate for the Emotiva mini-x A-100) or 15.5 Watts (my measurement for the DACmini CX + Soloist).  
 
Mike

 

[Burju]

By the way, when dynamics are reduced by power conditioners, it's due to a lack of current coming from the conditioner.   Poorly designed conditioners can regulate the voltage and filter noise as desired, while reducing current flow.  (I've been doing some reading.)

So it's certainly possible that a cheap line conditioner (like the Tripp-Lite LC1200) could regulate voltage while simultaneously reducing overall power (Watts) by limiting current, but I think it's reasonable to assume we are less likely to suffer this when using a power conditioner that claims it can deliver 1200 Watts, when we're only pulling 68 Watts (my estimate for the Emotiva mini-x A-100) or 15.5 Watts (my measurement for the DACmini CX + Soloist).  


Mike

Mike,
I ordered the LC1200, after reading your post. Planning to feed it to my old Adcom Power Amp GFA7000 and my sub Velodyne HGS 12. Hopefully it can handle them. My other option is to feed it for my Jolida FX10 - speaker tapping with my HE400.
Oops sorry this is not the proper thread for me to post.

 

[zilch0md]

Hi Burju,
 
Well do us know, here, if your A/B tests reveal any audible changes when using the LC1200 line conditioner with your Adcom GFA7000.  I just checked the specs for that amp and discovered it's rated at 130 Wpc x 5 channels.  
 
My math says th GFA7000 might present a load as high as 884 Watts (est.) at the 120V AC outlet, so if it can be used with the LC1200 without compromising dynamics, then the Emotiva's 68-Watt (est.) should be fine, by along shot.
 
Thanks!
 
Mike

 

[Burju]

Hi Burju,

Well do us know, here, if your A/B tests reveal any audible changes when using the LC1200 line conditioner with your Adcom GFA7000.  I just checked the specs for that amp and discovered it's rated at 130 Wpc x 5 channels.  

My math says th GFA7000 might present a load as high as 884 Watts (est.) at the 120V AC outlet, so if it can be used with the LC1200 without compromising dynamics, then the Emotiva's 68-Watt (est.) should be fine, by along shot.

Thanks!

Mike

I will do Mike.


Cheers

 

[wje]

Spoiler: Q%3A%20What%20do%20we%20have%20here%3F%3F%20%20My%2C%20My%2C%20My%20...

 
 

 
 

 

 
 
 
 

Spoiler: A%3A%20The%20Mystery%20is%20Solved%20...

This might be the World's smallest balanced cable connector from HifiMAN.  Looking at the macro picture, you can see 4 conductor points on the TRRS 3.5mm cable.  (Tip, Ring, Ring, Sleeve.)  These equate to: L+, L-, R+ and R-.
 
All one would really need to do is buy a small 4 pin TRRS female connector, then place some wire leads on it for the purpose of speaker taps.  Bam!  The smallest balanced cable for your speaker amp known to man ... at this point in time.
 
So, how did this "mystery" cable come about?  It was actually included in the box for the new HifiMAN HE-4 headphones that I purchased earlier this week.  One could use a smaller form factor speaker amp such as the Quinpu and this mini cable for the ultimate "sleeper system" balanced cable setup.  Now, who said that we needed those massive 4-pin Neutrik XLR connectors for the only variation of building a proper cable and set of speaker taps? 
 

 

[Burju]

Hi Burju,

Well do us know, here, if your A/B tests reveal any audible changes when using the LC1200 line conditioner with your Adcom GFA7000.  I just checked the specs for that amp and discovered it's rated at 130 Wpc x 5 channels.  

My math says th GFA7000 might present a load as high as 884 Watts (est.) at the 120V AC outlet, so if it can be used with the LC1200 without compromising dynamics, then the Emotiva's 68-Watt (est.) should be fine, by along shot.

Thanks!

Mike

2 days passed, and I have not heard any audible changes or lack of power driving my sound system. Everything works fine except my subwoofer still has that humming sound when all gears are turned off. I have to turn down the volume on the subwoofer's back panel to kill the humming. I thought plugging the GFA7000 + preamp GTP 6000 + Velodyne subwoofer HGS12 will clip the LC1200 but it could handle them so far.....fingers crossed. I need the kill a watt to check wattage usage of each component and also as a whole system, plugged in to LC1200.

I did a test with just the sub plugged in to LC1200 and then just the sub to wall outlet, and I could not hear any significant differences on the sound (humming still audible on sub after all gears turned off, on both mode). Am I missing something here, Mike?

I was listening only to 11 o'clock on my preamp volume for this test, listening to FLAC songs out of my iPad + CCK + cheapo but reliable UCA 202 Behringer DAC + GTP 600 + GFA 7000 + Kimber Kable feeding my Mini Magnepan and Velodyne HGS12 Subwoofer.

Cheers

 

[modulor]

Quote:

Spoiler: Q%3A%20What%20do%20we%20have%20here%3F%3F%20%20My%2C%20My%2C%20My%20...

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Spoiler: A%3A%20The%20Mystery%20is%20Solved%20...

This might be the World's smallest balanced cable connector from HifiMAN.  Looking at the macro picture, you can see 4 conductor points on the TRRS 3.5mm cable.  (Tip, Ring, Ring, Sleeve.)  These equate to: L+, L-, R+ and R-.
 
All one would really need to do is buy a small 4 pin TRRS female connector, then place some wire leads on it for the purpose of speaker taps.  Bam!  The smallest balanced cable for your speaker amp known to man ... at this point in time.
 
So, how did this "mystery" cable come about?  It was actually included in the box for the new HifiMAN HE-4 headphones that I purchased earlier this week.  One could use a smaller form factor speaker amp such as the Quinpu and this mini cable for the ultimate "sleeper system" balanced cable setup.  Now, who said that we needed those massive 4-pin Neutrik XLR connectors for the only variation of building a proper cable and set of speaker taps? 
 

Very nice!  I was actually planning on using male/female mini-XLR 4-pin connectors but this may be a lighter (even smaller) solution.  This is the same TRRS connector as seen on the RE-ZERO it seems.  Are there small balanced/speaker amps out there that have a built in TRRS jack?