Dedicated Line, Surge and Safety

Rex, the longer the loop distance between the dirtier digital onto its ac line to the analog preamp's input the lower the expected noise floor....
Gs5556, nice post. So why does the 10AWG sound better? It's TOTAL inductance is actually higher than the 12AWG, but maybe not as a ratio to its resistance, or current-handling capacity. If it sounds better I postulate that it's because it stays isothermal through those instantaneous current demands. Yes, 10AWG is overkill in these circuits, as even tiny temperature fluctuations won'y occur except perhaps with the very largest amps. There's some work to do here, as the normal electrical specs allow ratings that reflect a fairly large temperature rise...maybe WELL past what's audible! Is it the voltage drop that's audible or the fact that it fluctuates...or some other consequence?

Thanks, Rex!

After consulting with Ernie (Subaruguru) I installed two dedicated lines, one using 12AWG Teflon-insulated Belden wire, and one using 10AWG Romex (for my amps). The difference was not subtle. Before I installed the dedicated lines, I had my entire system powered using the existing, shared line. My amps had been bordering on clipping when trying to drive my Thiel CS3.6's to even moderate levels. After giving them a dedicated line, I never saw the distortion lights flicker even once, even at loder listening levels.

The nice thing about the Belden wire Ernie sells is that if you have any left over, you can make some very nice power cords out of it.

Good luck, Tom.

Are these wires available at Home Depot?

Romex is available at Home Depot. Belden is not.