Do you connect your amp to your power conditioner?

[esteban]

Do you connect your amp, power amp or receiver to your power conditioner? Or do you prefer to get power straight from the wall and use your conditioner for the pre-amp, sources, etc? If so, why?

Just curious to read your comments and experiences on the subject.

[bart]

I connect all my electronics to the power conditioner.
The manufacturer recommends it.

[skunark]

Originally Posted by bart

I connect all my electronics to the power conditioner.
The manufacturer recommends it.

That's not at all true. Most manufacturers don't recommend it because most power conditioners are current limiting. If you don't have an adequate power conditioner it will actually limit the current draw on your amp impacting it's ability to drive the speakers.

Also you can run the risk of ruining your power conditioner if the current draw exceeds it's specification.

BTW, I do run with Power Conditioner on my Amp.

[bart]

Originally Posted by skunark

That's not at all true. Most manufacturers don't recommend it because most power conditioners are current limiting. If you don't have an adequate power conditioner it will actually limit the current draw on your amp impacting it's ability to drive the speakers.

Also you can run the risk of ruining your power conditioner if the current draw exceeds it's specification.

BTW, I do run with Power Conditioner on my Amp.

You're absolutely right. Burmester also gives the advice to use 2 948's when you have 2 of their mighty 909 power amps; my set-up is more modest though and the 948 provides plenty of pure juice for all my equipment. It got a Golden Ear Award from TAS a couple of years ago by the way.

[esteban]

Originally Posted by bart

You're absolutely right. Burmester also gives the advice to use 2 948's when you have 2 of their mighty 909 power amps; my set-up is more modest though and the 948 provides plenty of pure juice for all my equipment. It got a Golden Ear Award from TAS a couple of years ago by the way.

That was my understanding as well, and the reason why I asked the original question in this thread. I use a PS Audio Duet, which supposedly is one of the few conditioners that does not limit the current flow. I am experimenting at the moment to see what sounds best, but my amp is really not too thirsty. The manual states a 250W consumption. Initial comparisons did not show any differences at all, truth be told (and I live in a condo). The biggest difference the PS made in my system was the improvement on the VIDEO side of things. The picture quality on my Panasonic plasma is definitely more stable, less "grainy", and contrast has a lot more "punch".

Thanks all for your input.

[TMcD]

I do run my amp directly into the wall as well, a while ago I had a separate plug installed with its own 20amp breaker. It made a big difference in sound. I run everything else through a balanced power unit with good results.

[bodiezaffa]

Originally Posted by esteban

That was my understanding as well, and the reason why I asked the original question in this thread. I use a PS Audio Duet, which supposedly is one of the few conditioners that does not limit the current flow. I am experimenting at the moment to see what sounds best, but my amp is really not too thirsty. The manual states a 250W consumption. Initial comparisons did not show any differences at all, truth be told (and I live in a condo). The biggest difference the PS made in my system was the improvement on the VIDEO side of things. The picture quality on my Panasonic plasma is definitely more stable, less "grainy", and contrast has a lot more "punch".

Thanks all for your input.

I too had the PS Audio Duet. I bought it the same time as my original amp and never did an a/b test.
About a yr later, I decided to listen with and without it to hear the difference. The Duet was put on Audiogon the next day.
I do think that the right conditioner can make moderate improvements in lowering the noise floor and increasing the sound quality but I haven’t done any research since then. I am looking once again but would really like to try and find something that will protect everything, take nothing away, add performance values but cost no more than a grand.
I’m still looking…..

[Boom Boom]

Yes, but I use line conditioners that don't restrict current flow and well shielded thick gauge aftermarket AC chords.

In the first system the Moon W5 is connected via Harmonic Technology Fantasy AC10 to Shunyata Hydra H2 connected to the wall via Shunyata Taipan Alpha. Yes, I borrowed from the dealer before buying. Compared to directly connected to the wall socket, the conditioner cleaned up a lot of AC grunge and noise. The placement of each instrument and performer, the dimensions of the sound stage, and the starting and stopping of sounds all cleared up. This amp is famous for being spacious, articulate, with incredible center fill fleshing out all sorts of sounds between the speakers. All these strengths came alive. The system did something they refer to as "micro dynamic shading" and it is one of the things that high end audio should give you.

The other system, I'm running Linn Majik 2100 Dynamic connected via PS Audio AC-10 to PS Audio Duette connected to the wall via Shunyata Taipan Helix. I was warned by my PS Audio dealer the PS Audio chords may tend to soften the highs. There is no such softening with the Taipan Helix. The sound is expansive dynamic and keeps the Linn's ability to bring out pureness of tone and intricate detail (this is in a smaller room mind you). I got the power conditioner setup before the power amp. My Acoustat TNT120 died and the Linn replaced it. I've not tried plugging the Linn directly into the wall. The system works well though.

Find a good dealer who will let you try the power conditioning products in your system and audition what you can afford to see what you want to own.

[Alltubes]

My Amp is also connected to a non-current limiting RS Jaco conditioner with a HiDiamond P3 20A IEC PC.

[kevinj11]

Yes, I have my Primaluna Dialogue plugged into a Torus Power isolation transformer. Make sure you have a good wall receptacle (I use Furutech).