exactpower ep 15A

Zephyr, it's true one of the key parts suppliers for the Exactpower audio units went under. However, balanced power is still perfectly legal, and you need only check with Equi=Tech, the original supplier of pro balanced power units, and the first to get UL certification for domestic units.
http://www.equitech.com/
I'm sure Balanced Power Technologies' units are perfectly legal as well.
http://www.b-p-t.com/
In fact both companies are now working together to promote balanced power.

Anyway, MAP's new products under the Exactpower name are quite unremarkable, and if you want a conditioner/filter unit, there are many better ones to choose from -- just don't use them with amplifiers ;-) I'm primarily upset that MAP has apparently turned its back on some brilliant power regeneration technology, and I just wish they'd sell it to someone if they're too shortsighted to realize its potential.

Next time (whenever that is) I have a conversation with MAP's president/owner, Bob Schluter, I'll ask him why he bought the company in the first place -- if he wasn't intending to use it's one truly valuable asset?

When that patent goes public in 15 years or so, look for a whole slew of efficient domestic power regenerators -- and we'll REALLY need them by then! Or perhaps someone will develop an even better solution . One thing is for sure, stone age products like the PS Audio Power Plant Premier which use generic and very inefficient technology, are going to be replaced very quickly now.

Nsgarch: Thanks....I was surprised to hear the bit on balanced power and residential applications from MAP too as companies like BPT, Equitech and Furman all still make great units in this category. BTW, MAP referenced the NEC Article 647.3 on the subject when I talked to them via phone.

I have an EP15A for power regeneration for my front-end equipment and am quite impressed. I was sorry to hear that they discontinued the EP, SP and UltraPure I offerings...

Thanks for the advice...good luck with your conversation with Bob S. at MAP.

Nsgarch: I have been following along on these threads for awhile now and am getting a great education (thank you very much), and it is clearly focusing me onto a balanced power solution - at least for the front end. But, I do have a couple of questions:

1 - Are you aware of any significant differences/benefits to Equitech v BPT v Furman?

2 - Would powering both analogue (eg - pre) and digital (eg CD) devices into, say a 2QR be problematic from the perspective noise generated by the CD?

3 - My amps and subs are near the speakers while the front end equipment is about 10-15 feet away - would you use another balance power unit for these, too?

I have the ability to rewire the entire room with dedicated circuits, which is part of the plan. I had also planned on the EP15A until I just read that support for the unit is no longer...

Thanks.

I'm tentatively getting together with Bob at the end of July, so I'll have a better idea what he's thinking then.

Poonbean, balanced power has application primarily with low power devices (not usually amplifiers, in other words) that handle small signals (like preamps, mic and phono preamps, video equipment, etc.) They work great with equipment that already has balanced circuit topology or dual-mono topology (like a lot of the BAT stuff for instance.) It provides quiet, noise-free power without filters and chokes (as in 'power conditioners') by dividing (balancing) two 60 volt power cycles of opposite polarity around a ground. This causes the noise to be the same on both of the cycles but of opposite polarity, and guess what happens when it comes together? The two "noises" self-destruct!

The thing to remember is that there are certain power utility uglies that balanced power can't fix. The worst is voltage fluctuations -- a particular problem for tube gear, trying to maintain bias in the power tubes and constant heater(filament) current. And digital RFI can still get into the power outlets, unless the receptacles have capacitors across them. So that's when you need regeneration.

To answer your questions:

1.) No, but I haven't really delved into their individual peculiarities. Equitech was the first to get BP UL certified for residential use.
2.) Not if some of the outlets are "digitally filtered" which they usually are.
3.) I have my system arranged that way, with a balanced power unit near the front end and a regenerator for the sub/stats/amp. You could just use two balanced power units, one at each position; each plugged into dedicated circuits, and forget the regenerator, but before doing that, check your power outlets at different times of the day/night to see if you're getting fairly constant 120VAC.
Tethering a balanced power unit off of a regenerator is not a good idea as it can cause in-rush current problems for the regenerator.

Nsgarch - You confirmed, pretty much, the design I had in mind. Thank you. However, I had thought about putting a regenerator upstream of the balanced power unit (still deciding between a 2qr equitech or BPT 3.5 sg plus - largely because I do not know how to evaluate the differences between the two, or if I should bother trying). So, if that is not a good idea, what other solutions are there to deal with the voltage fluctuations? Also, I assume the RG 1200 is good way to go on the regenerator side, are there other options you would consider? Oh - one other thought, the subs have built in digital amps (1000W) - would they benefit more from balanced or regenerated power?

Since I will be wiring from new dedicted ciruits - any thoughts on Romex, other than 10gauge? I could go with a two wire (hot, neutral) and twisting it and running a separate star ground, and then there is the 3 wire croy'd stuff...
Cheers.