Tube Preamp with PS Audio P300


Hi,
I have a PS Audio P300 power conditioner with mult wave and I'm buying a BAT VK 5i preamp.Can I use the power conditioner with a tube preamp? Would mult wave effect the tubes?
Thanks,
Joe
jcb2000
I have heard some negative things about certain equipment being run through the PS Audio. With something as expensive as a BAT pre, I'd email BAT and ask them directly.
Do not bother. The P300 cannot handle the current demands of the BAT preamp.
PP-300 may not provide enough start up current for BAT. You might want to check with Victor at BAT or Paul at PS Audio about that. My VK-50SE is powered by a PP-600 with great results. Some MW settings will cause the transformers to buzz. Mine is set at PS-2 and it is dead silent.

If you could stretch your budget a bit I would strongly suggest getting a PP-600 instead. Although a PP-300 is rated at 300W but in reality, you don’t want to push it beyond 200 or it will get very hot – even with the internal fan. And once you try it with a piece of your equipment, you will want to plug in more and very soon a PP-300 will run out of juice. PP-600 is rated at 720W and is more flexible. I have my entire front-ends (5 pieces) plus a 53” RPTV powered by a single PP-600 without any problem. They draw a total of 420W.

BTW, if you are getting the PP-600, make sure you order the new top plate with a vent slot. It helps cool down the unit a lot.
It would be very unlikely that the BAT would draw more current than the 300 is capable of delivering. My Audio Research preamp uses only about 35 watts. My powerplant does not have multi-wave and I use the 60 cycle setting only and have had no noise or tube problems. I prefer the sound with the powerplant versus my power wedge or the wall.