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Looking for dedicated power line advice.

I've read just about everything I can find on running dedicated power lines. I met with a good electrician and he is going to run a dedicated line from the main panel to a 6 breaker subpanel with 6 20amp lines to my system. I have lots of questions. Here are a few:
(1) Should all 6 outputs be in the same phase? I've read conflicting opinions. In one of Jonathan Scull's Stereophile "Fine Tunes" columns he suggests that the AC output to a pair of monoblocks should be out of phase. This way noise will cancel out.

(2) Is it worth it to use Wattgate outlets ($150/ea) and will there be audible differences from Hubbel or Marinco or Leviton which would be MUCH cheaper?

(3) Is it worth it to use JPS Labs in-wall cable at $18/ft? Would Virtual Dynamics cable at $6/ft sound as good?? What about much cheaper Romex??

I figure I'm only going to do this once......but I hate dropping a ton of cash unless there is going to be an audible difference.

Thanks for the help!!!
hbrandt
hbrandt's avatar
hbrandt OP
272 posts
 
Rushton:

Thanks. It's about a 30 foot run from the basement to my system. I'll ask my electrician what he thinks about running 6 separate lines as opposed to using a subpanel.

Harry
rushton's avatar
rushton
2,445 posts
 
Harry, FWIW, I had a 55' run to make and we pulled all six dedicated lines in a continuous run directly back to the main panel using 10 gauge. Can't say that the technicians were real happy working with the 10 gauge when it came to doing the receptacle hook-ups, but it all worked out well.
hbrandt's avatar
hbrandt OP
272 posts
 
Rushton:

Did you use an audiophile wire (JPS, Virtual Dynamics) or did you use regular 10g Romex??

harry
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rushton
2,445 posts
 
Harry, we didn't use any of the audiophile in-wall wire. We did use a good quality metal clad cable with isolated neutral suitable for hospital installation (green in color, three insulated wires, white/black/green, plus a fourth bare grounding wire). Nothing special about the metal clad other than the added shielding it provides. Also didn't test it for directionality before installing it. (I'm a believer in directionality of wire for audio circuits, and I believe people who say they have observed the difference for power installation. We just didn't take the time given everything else I was working on at the time.) I can certainly hear the improvement made by the dedicated lines; don't know what more improvement could be achieved with the audiophile in-wall wire since I haven't tried any of it.
bombaywalla's avatar
bombaywalla
1,958 posts
 
Hbrandt,

Don't exactly know why you are going so gung-ho on using "audiophile" in-wall wire for your dedicated lines. It seems to be a wasted expense - this was my gut feeling & it seems to be verified by several other members.

I think that Belden in-wall cables just might do the trick. I doubt that it is much better than the plain-old Romex wire that electricians usually use. My friend bought THHN wire from Home Depot to do the re-wiring for his room & he is happy w/ the results.

Subaruguru sells some reasonable DIY power cords, in-wall wiring (from Belden, I think) & other AC power stuff that might be of interest to you. Here is a link to his ad:
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?cablpowr&1091878265

I think that you will gain the most from the fact that you are laying dedicated lines more so than using "audiophile" in-wall wire.
Of course, JMHO. YMMV.
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