Power cords, speaker cables or power conditioner?

[ctsooner]

I have the Quatro's into the wall on a dedicated circuit and teh amps into the Niagara 3000. All Hurricane cords.  Diamond cord from Niagara to the wall on the dedicated circuit.  

[GdnrBob]

6 hours ago, Steve Edwards said:

GdnrBob, that brings up another interesting element.  I have both my PSE mono's plugged into the Equi=Tech.  One of my fellow audio nuts suggested I try them direct to wall.  But, it's been my thinking that I'd be eliminating the protection from a surge.  Guess it's a question of priority; protection or possibly a sonic improvement?

I have reservations about plugging high voltage/demanding equipment into conditioners/surge protectors, as I think they would possibly limit/clip/smear transient power demands. 

I put a whole house surge protector at my mains box in order to get peace of mind. Now, whether that it, too, might be a limiting source-I don't know. But, I figure it to be the best way to keep all my equipment safe from power transients.

B

Edited November 13, 2021 by GdnrBob

[John Gallup]

7 hours ago, GdnrBob said:

I have reservations about plugging high voltage/demanding equipment into conditioners/surge protectors, as I think they would possibly limit/clip/smear transient power demands. 

So if you have Quatros and M5-HPAs, which do you plug directly into the wall and which into the (let's say) Audioquest Niagara 3000?

[ctsooner]

11 hours ago, John Gallup said:

So if you have Quatros and M5-HPAs, which do you plug directly into the wall and which into the (let's say) Audioquest Niagara 3000?

That’s my set up John. I do into the wall with Quatro’s and into the. 3000 with the m5’s. I can easily move the 5’s to their own dedicated circuit or into the main dedicated one as I can use the same length cord.  I will also try the Hurricane on main amps vs stock cord. Wasn’t a huge difference in the beginning but now things are settling in.  No time for a bit to do that properly though. 

[Moose]

On 11/12/2021 at 3:15 PM, Holmz said:

That Equi=Tech actually looks like something that has “goodness”… their spec even says -30db >  100 kHz.

Where did you get it from? (I didn’t see dealers)

I bought the 2Q (actually 2RQ) from AudioWaves, who still is an approved dealer.  My 3RQs were purchased used from Audiogon.  My friend purchased a 3RQ about a year ago, and he might have bought it directly from Equi=Tech.  I'll have to find out.  He had some custom modifications done by the factory.   They all are heavy as heck.  If you find a used one, make sure they have the original packaging.  It has serious "goodness".  They are a big chunk of change for something that just sits there doing "nothing".  Consider it another component.

[GdnrBob]

@John Gallup,

I like @ctsooner, would plug the amps directly into the wall. The other equipment would into the Niagra 3000.

I know there are some who like to separate analog from digital in their conditioners, but try to not get too anal about those things and I don't have the budget for separate conditioners.

Bob

[John Gallup]

On 11/14/2021 at 8:25 AM, ctsooner said:

I do into the wall with Quatro’s and into the 3000 with the m5’s.

 

On 11/14/2021 at 4:21 PM, GdnrBob said:

I like @ctsooner, would plug the amps directly into the wall. The other equipment would into the Niagara 3000.

Hmmm...you guys are saying opposite things. Wondering if @Richard Vandersteen has an opinion on this matter.

[Holmz]

Or maybe (PSE) Dean?

(I suspect I know the answer… or at least what I want it to be. 😇 )

[TomicTime]

first listen….then decide… My Furman seems to damp dynamics on my amp but does clean up the digital side of the system…. At the condo i do use an Isotech for everything but the power amp…

I think RV will say he takes great pains in building components that have extensive and robust power supplies that are not improved with further conditioning…there may be exceptions…. A recent conversation we had about products heavily reliant on toroidal transformers comes to mind…

 

[Richard Vandersteen]

1 hour ago, John Gallup said:

 

Hmmm...you guys are saying opposite things. Wondering if @Richard Vandersteen has an opinion on this matter.

With power amplifiers one should never assume going into a power conditioner will be better.  It should be tried both ways and left in the most dynamic situation even the AQ units should prove themselves.  Pre-amps and DAC's are almost always better going in any AQ unit.  Over the years I found power conditioners to soften the sound and lessen dynamics but the AQ units are an exception in most situations.  

RV

[ctsooner]

Thanks Richard. This is why I’m going to now try amps in wall and possibly Quatro’s too. I have the outlets set up with the isolated circuits so I can keep the same cords and try it. I did this quickly months ago and likes the amps better into the wall, but wanted to try this way first. I finally have my whole system up and running the way I want , so it’s time to dial in now. Hence changing things a bit to see what’s best. 

[John Gallup]

Just plugged my Quatros (but not the M5-HPAs) directly into the wall. There's a definite improvement in bass.

[GdnrBob]

3 hours ago, John Gallup said:

Just plugged my Quatros (but not the M5-HPAs) directly into the wall. There's a definite improvement in bass.

Did you have them in a power conditioner? Audioquest?

B

[John Gallup]

1 minute ago, GdnrBob said:

Did you have them in a power conditioner? Audioquest?

B

Yes, a Niagara 3000. The amps still go into it.

[GdnrBob]

Hmm, that's interesting.

Have you tried plugging in the amps directly into the wall?

B

[John Gallup]

6 minutes ago, GdnrBob said:

Have you tried plugging in the amps directly into the wall?

B

Not yet. They way my power cords are configured, that's a major struggle with full fire hoses. But I probably will.

[ctsooner]

I have M5's into the conditioner and the Quatro's into the wall right now.

[John Gallup]

1 hour ago, ctsooner said:

I have M5's into the conditioner and the Quatro's into the wall right now.

Yeah, my thinking is that subwoofers in Quatros might need the straight juice more than the amps.

[ctsooner]

I'm not sure if that's the case, but the speakers have sounded better when plugged into the wall directly.  I still have ot play with the amps. I've heard them into the 7000 and they sounded better into the wall in one system and another time in a totally different place, they sounded better into the wall.  I have very clean power from the wall, so I have a feeling it may be best direct, but the 7000 doesn't limit (they say the 3000 doesn't either, but I'm skeptical, lol).  Like digital, every system/room will be different depending on how clean your power is from the box.

[Stringreen]

When a lightening strike took out an amp on my 5A's, I had a whole house conditioner installed in the main panel, tried a few plug-ins....only poorer performance.

[Paul S.]

Which whole house conditioner did you use? 

[ctsooner]

Who else uses a whole house?  Does Richard?  Just curious more than anything 

[Richard Vandersteen]

32 minutes ago, ctsooner said:

Who else uses a whole house?  Does Richard?  Just curious more than anything 

No, I don't but we rarely get lightning in Hanford.

RV

[GdnrBob]

On 1/1/2022 at 2:26 AM, Paul S. said:

Which whole house conditioner did you use? 

They are pretty much the same, at least the ones I looked at. They are basically sacrificial- When a power surge occurs, they get fried.

I am pretty sure there are others that can be reset, but they cost a lot of money.

The one I got cost under $100-this was a few years ago, not including install (which isn't much). The size of the box will determine what you will need.

B

[ctsooner]

It’s funny but I think the contractors threw one in when they built this place. I’m just not sure to be honest