Anybody stop using power conditioning?


Has anybody ever purchased a powerline conditioner, liked it, but, then ultimately decide to take it out of the system? Is there a point at which very high-end components overcome the shortcomings of the ac coming from your wall?
crazy4blues
I don't doubt your position Stehno, it's just that in my system every conditioner applied to my main (two channel) gear made the music worse. It would be senseless to continue to use a product based solely on theory.

As already stated, a one time exception was a test with my digital player. Although the Accuphase provided some improvement, it cost six times more than the player it was providing power for.

On the topic of dedicated lines, if they are done properly they reduce the stress of sharing load with other devices. This can be significant in systems where the equipment draws heavy on the line. As for power cords, the good ones are audible whether connected directly or through any of the line conditioners I've tested.

A perfect example is the Walker motor controller. The aftermarket power cable supplying 120 from the wall to the controller makes a big difference in sound. Although this is called a controller, it is a regenerator and therefore, my one "successful" power conditioner.

A sonic signature here was hard for me to accept. The power entering the Walker is converted and then regenerated before outputting to the turntable motor. Logically that would remove any effect or personality the power cord could impart.

Far from it, even after the regenerated power turns that motor which is driving a brass pulley, turning a silk belt that is spinning a 60 pound lead platter on an air bearing, it is not only audible, it can be altered significantly by various brands and designs of power cords.

Crazier still, whatever personality that cable has on the Soundlab speakers, amps, and preamps is exactly the same personally it imparts on the turntable.

So far, all of the power conditioners I tested were effected by the choice of power cable. That personality or sound is also delivered through to everything it is providing conditioning for.

There are two new Audiogon members invited for music this coming Tuesday. If they wish, we can do a quick test and they can post here based on their own listening experience. I will ask if they have interest in this.

Visitors that have been coming around long term are no longer amazed by this, it is taken for granted due to the number of times this has been tested and identified.
Since I moved last year, I have never removed the API Power Wedge Ultra from my sources and preamps, where it supplies filtered, isolated, and balanced AC, or from my amps, where it just filters (it is supposed to work best with everything connected through it and nowhere else). I would be forced to use an inexpensive power distributor to evaluate this, but I guess I really should do a new comparision with and without the PLC, especially since I not only am in a new place, but have replaced a lot of gear since the last time I tried to evaluate the cumulative effect of the Power Wedge. Previously, I never heard a downside, and everything sounds great now too, but empirical evidence-gathering may once again be in order, pain in the behind though it might be. (I should note, however, that I can easily switch the balanced-AC feature on the sources in or out while leaving everything hooked-up and running, and that test causes me to remain skeptical that many of them could sound as good plugged into unbalanced AC from the wall.)
I agree that some power conditioners I tried actually degrade sound more than improve, usual negative effective being rounding/softening of edges producing reduced dynamic contrasts. I am happy with AM Stealth Cryo and won't be removing it anytime soon, haven't noticed any negative effects only positive plus surge protection.

Even people who are averse to power conditioner at stereo outlet should pick up set of 8 Audioprism Quietline III and place throughout house at outlets of usual noise sources: Computer, Refrigerator etc. (I use these in addition to Stealth)
Dedicated line? Dedicated garbage. Bad electric is bad electric. There are, however, benefits (Albert has mentioned many) of using dedicated lines, that will be realized, even if the electric is still "dirty." I've experienced my system with and without my Audio Magic. Significant difference. Wouldn't be without them, in Point Lookout. I am sure there are places where power condioning won't do a thing. Not here. Go figure. Electricity is a mystical thing. peace, warren
Nice post, Stehno.

Although, my experience also falls inline with the camp that the best sound I have found in my system is plugging a decent power cord straight into the wall. That doesn't mean power conditioners don't help in other people's systems.