ac conditioner


Hi Everyone,

Please help! I'm interested in a line conditioner for my system, and have no idea whatsoever as to a direction to start looking. My system consists of a Pass X250 amp, Classe CP60 preamp and a Classe CD player. I'm most interested in protecting the system from power surges and brownouts, but obviously sonics are equally important.

Thanks! Albert
anthony48170
It'd be helpful to know what the condition of your electricity is. Do you live in a high-rise in NYC? Are you running a server farm out of your basement? Etc.
I have used virtually no power conditioners/filters over the decades I've been an audiofool; I have used brand-name spike-protecting outlet strips on most of my equipment. I recently had installed 3 dedicated AC lines into the musicroom, but as my system gets more resolving, I'm increasingly convinced I need to do some filtering, etc. to the AC lines.

I've been reading very positive things about PS Audio's new line of AC filters/conditioners... http://www.psaudio.com/power.asp plus http://www.psaudio.com/products/noiseharvester.asp . I plan to evaluate the Quintessence to power all my frontend gear and to use Noise Harvesters on the AC lines my 3 poweramps will be plugged directly into.

The Quintessance's 5 outlet zones, isolated from each other, sound like a great idea. Also, PS Audio distinguishes between and protects from Voltage surges and Voltage spikes, the former being of perhaps 10 - 30 Volts and the latter being possibly hundreds of Volts.

We'll see.
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I use the Cinepro AC Line Balancer 10 amp. WOW! My friend and I didn't want to take it home and try it but we were coaxed into it. When we plugged it in, the soundstage was bigger, impact was better, just everything increased a bit. Now, poorly made products can make your system sound worse or lifeless.