Upgrading to a powerful HP amp, unsure about my power gear.

@txenakis

Wow, that is a lot of power for a headphone amp! Congrats on your purchase.

The purposes of a power conditioner is power factor correction, filtering noise/EMI/RF, protecting your audio gear (or any electronics) from lighting strikes, and ultimately, enabling your system to perform at the optimal level. No false marketing claims included...just honest specs and verified by 3rd party testing. Bantam clean power (USA company) is what I’m talking about.

A proper power conditioner need-not be expensive. It’s not like buying a sportscar.

Check my profile out to see what I’m using. Price is unbeatable for this level of performance + features. Casinos, banks, and various other businesses already use these units. For audio gear, taking the strain off internal power transformers by feeding the system clean AC means cooler-running audio gear, and longer lifespans.

Regarding power cables, the maximum temperature rating (105 degrees, and up to a certain rating in watts is all you need to know.

I’m from the IT industry as well, where we have seen power cables catch on fire due to not having tolerances that are high enough for very power hungry servers. I would recommend hospital-grade power cords for audio systems, rated up to 1625 watts and faultless otherwise. It’s exactly what they use in every hospital and when folks are on life support machines.

Lastly, take a look at the power transformers I’m using. They are rated at up to 6 ampers of power, and can support up to 400 watts. And yet, the cable is thin. This is because it’s high purity copper that was JET (association in Japan) certified for safety, reliability, and performance. Hope this helps.

What is your source and what are your headphones? Maybe think about what’s best to invest in

@mastering92 Thanks for the advice.  So for a 200 watt amplifier I'm good with an 18 or even 20  gauge power cord according to the charts.  So long as it is cool enough that I can keep my hand on it I'm ok?  

IT professionalls seem to have these aspects of sound well understood. 

Jerry

Thanks for all the answers. The rest of my chain is: Dedicated PC - Holo Audio May KTE - amp - Susvara headphones.

So I'm pretty set with the actual chain and dont think I need to upgrade any other part, except the power...

Off subject, but I would recommend trying a dedicated streamer as well. It can be a huge upgrade over a PC. 

@carlsbad

You seem to have great difficulty with regards to reading and conceptualizing information. 

Maybe ask a friend, an electrician, or someone who has specialized knowledge.

I never explicitly stated: " So for a 200 watt amplifier I’m good with an 18 or even 20 gauge power cord according to the charts. So long as it is cool enough that I can keep my hand on it I’m ok?"

The above is delusion at its finest.

Never said any of those things.

I did consider a streamer but the Holo May has a stellar USB input and also that I can output upsampled music straight from my PC through HQPlayer and it sounds great. So I havent found the need for one yet.

Any other tips on power, and also on if it's possible to remotely turn the amp on and off?

Thanks

@txenakis

Did you have time to read my above post?

When it comes to power conditioners, manufacturers that make bold claims about enhancing sound quality, much like snake-oil cables, are lying to you. Consider that the company who sells these items has never heard your system before. Therefore, they cannot validate specific differences with or without their product in your audio system. Ask them for 3rd party testing/ UL certs, etc. and they likley won’t respond to such an email. Technial-sounding jargon and buzzwords are enough to make audiophiles fall in to these traps and waste money.

Just some food for thought. If you’re interested, I know the designer and would be able to get you a discount. The power conditioner in question does it all...feel free to send me a message.

I did read thanks. Ill send you a pm.

@mastering92 Maybe you should reread what you wrote.  You are extremely naive and should not be giving audio advice if you think you can size a power cord for the average current draw.

@carlsbad 

Let's not argue anymore.

@txenakis hey, I am seriously considering buying the Viva Egoista 845.

Do you mind telling me a little bit about the amp.

i am looking to drive my susvara to its fullest potential, prefer natural flat sound with no color.

thank you

It's definitely a beautiful, powerful and very unique amp, that will handle literally anything you throw at it. Especially if you go through the trouble and expense of upgrading the tubes and feed it a high end source, you will not be disappointed, the sound is insane;y good. However, I decided to sell it eventually, for two reasons. First, it's a massive and very hot running amp. I have my gear close to my listening station and that was an issue when using it for prolonged periods. Second, while probably the most beautifully designed amp I've ever owned, it's not the most user friendly. For example, you have to turn it on in two stages, with a recommended 2 min waiting period between them for the tubes to warm up etc. 

So in the end I sold it and got a Riviera AIC10. Same level sonic quality, but in a more user friendly and cool running package. 

Hope this helps!!

@txenakis Thank you that helps a lot. I was also considering the aic10 or the mass kobo 465. Would you say the aic10 has a natural flat sound or a bit colored? And have you had a chance to hear the mass kobo?

thanks

The AIC10 is a tiny bit colored but not any more so than the Egoista (ie in a good, subtle way). Plus you only have one tube to change and you can shape the sound any way you choose.

As for the 465 I've never heard it as they're so rare. But I've heard great things from people who own it, it's basically at the same level as the Riviera and the Viva. At that insanely high level it's more a question of preference than any of them being better.

One thing the AIC10 has the Mass Kobo doesn't is that it can drive certain loudspeakers on top of HPs. As a matter of fact I use it just like that, with Susvaras and Spatial Audio X3s, and it sounds equally brilliant with both. So convenient...

You’ve been a great help, thank you?

No problem!