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Power conditioner or outlet?

I have a Shunyata MPC-12a power conditioner. Read that it was a good choice for audio equipment so I bought it. I also have high end power cords to all my equipment, as well as to my Shunyata.

I have recently read comments from listeners that you should plug your amp/preamp straight into the wall. Is that the case if you have a good power conditioner? I will do so if it is a better option, just concerned about no surge protection for the amps...but also don't want degraded sound! I am asking this because I am a newbie at all this, more money than audio sense. I am interested if anyone might have any experience in this
128x128easola01
hoghead1's avatar
hoghead1
30 posts
 
I have and have had a isolation transformer. I plug every thing into it, so there is no possibility of any noise, hash, generator or lighting noise getting into my system and there is an audible difference in the sound, even my friends have said they can hear a subtle difference, a lowering of the noise floor if you wish. The transformer just has to have the the capacity to handle all of you equipments power needs (volts times amps). The one I have right now is 2.5kVA, so 2,500 watts divided by about 120 vac gives me about 8.33 amps. My equipment total is less than 4 amps at most, so I should have no issues with it. You can get them on Ebay for a modest price.
spotcheckbilly12345
30 posts
 
cleeds was spot on when he suggested a whole house surge protector. Great insurance for a small $ outlay. I lost a large screen TV about a decade ago due to a power outage followed by a strong power surge as the power was being restored. A neighbor who was an electrical contractor before he retired suggested a whole house surge protector, and I'm very glad that I took his advice. I also have an APC power filter and a Tripp-Lite isolation transformer in use. Belt + suspenders?
easola01's avatar
easola01 OP
161 posts
 
Yes I have a whole house surge protector. Then I have dedicated circuit, and then the shunyata with surge protection as well. But it seems the best approach is to plug in power amp directly into outlet, then all other components...including preamp...into power conditioner. Hope that is correct. I will make those changes abruptly. Thank you for advice
denon1
341 posts
 
I think there are some power conditioners like Audioquest Niagara range or Shunyata Denali  that have the technology that makes power amps sound better plugging  them in by providing more current. But again all system/house/power dependent.
easola01's avatar
easola01 OP
161 posts
 
Interesting. Don't know if my shunyata MPC-12A does or not. I know that it is passive and non-current limiting and that is about all I know. I am going to plug the power amp in directly to outlet and everything else including preamp into the shunyata and see if that sounds better or not
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