Ask 50 audioholics the same question and youll get 52 answers most likely.
Id not lose any sleep over having my dedicated power lines not being of equal lengths, but that is funny stuff.
Having dedicated lines however is a step up all by it/themselves, however.
Amps, depending on their quality level will receive less and less benefit from power line filtration or conditioning most of the time. Naturally, if your incoming power is quite poor only conditioning or filtration is going to assist you in removing those artifacts and grunge from the lines
. Dedicated ckts wont. Dedicated ckts, WILL provide a fatter pipe filled with juice for the amps, or other components.
Starting at the beginning seems best IF you have the resolve and of course own the property itself. Running dedicated ckts is a moot issue if in an apt., rental or leased property.
2 dedicated 20A ckts should suffice for your current situation. One for power components, and the other for the front end items. Given the cost running a third cant hurt, and one never knows
.
Once done and that ckt run in for a couple weeks, with lamps, fans or just the gear itself if you want, check it them out. If things sound great, the need for power line conditioning can wait a bit. If still more dedication and/or funds, is present, try out conditioning for the front end items first. Thereafter, try a smaller one, which implements no bandwidth suppression or current limitations for the amps.
Truth be told, prior to adding filtration of a sort, put some better outlets on them ded ckts first! Lots cheaper and you should see a definite gain in smoothness and blacker backgrounds
. Even if their only Hosp or spec grade outlets!
Elsewise you simply wont know for sure what needs addressing and what doesnt.
Least I forget, if you run ded ckts
use the same phase. Choose the one in the box the major appliances arent on if possible. Eg., water heater, fridge, microwave, freezer, washer & dryer, etc. If at all possible place you ded ckts at the closest point to the incoming feed on the bus you select.
You can tweak the ded ckts by the type of wire you use to run them with, the outlets themselves, how the outlets are mounted in their boxes, how the wire is terminated to the outlets, etc. Get as crazy as you want there
but dont concern yourself with any disparity between the actual lengths of their individual runs. The length of the run matter only in the selection of the wire gauge being used
and I doubt you would need more than #12
at worst a #10. you could also consider running each ckt s wires in their own PVC conduits to further isolate them if run in quite close proximity to other power or com lines, and especially if non shielded wire is chosen.
However, I have 4 20A ded ckts. All are standard #12 romex. None are in conduit. Things sound quite good to me & others, so theres that note on the How crazy should I get? addendum.
Ive tried a few PLCs including Shunyata, PS Audio, and running Springs Audio. Of the three brands, the RSA haley provided the least amount of noted dynamic loss while in use with my various amps. Each has its own signature or flavor and Id not allow popularity alone, to be my guide with PLCs selecting.
In fact I use a PSA Duet for my spinning gear and mass fi stuff. The Haley supplies mostly my DAC, preamp, and a PC digital source. Sometimes Ill connect amps to it, sometimes I wont. As I said above, theres a flavor which is additive or subtractive using conditioners and even passive filters
. Which you may or may not like in certain cases
. Or at certain times.
The curious thing about PLCs, active or passive, is you can have dirty power and things can still sound mighty good to you. Consequently, adding a very good PLC to the system should only allow you to hear your system better. Cleaner, clearer and more musically. Less proficient ones will reduce the bandwidth, here or there and come across as if the sound has been slightly compressed. True too there may be some lessening of the leading edge severity or impact
. This aspect will range about from maker to maker, model to model, in varying degrees
and why many prefer to run good amps, like your Halos right into the wall.
A quite notable thought on all the passive units Ive used and prefer to use, is that the feed cord will definitely provide its voice to the downstream items as an additive influence. Ive found the supplying power cord to the whatever cond or filter, is as key if not more so than is the power line cleaner upper. In fact the voice of your system can and will be changed more by it than will a great conditioning device. Itll pay you to spend some time addressing that link, I assure you, to whatever extent you desire.
Other power cords on your various pieces will also alter, enhance, or im-prove things for you. Ill guarantee you this much, things will at the very least change. Nearly everytime, with different power cords on the same device!
Ive run both tube and SS mono block amps
. They like many squeakers dig power. Unimpeded power that is
.
Good luck, and do try comparing PLCs, some are better than others and price isnt always representative of how theyll work in your rig.
