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Dedicated Line(s), One Line or Two?

We are renovating our NYC condo (in a 1960, 175 apartment building) and using it as an opportunity to run a dedicated line direct from the breaker box to the two-channel system (20 amp, 12 gauge wire).  The contractor ran the line (singular) as requested.  But now I'm reading that ideally we should have two dedicated lines, one for the digital source (CDP) and one for the analog components.  The problem is that running the one line took a lot of work, chopping wall channels, removing molding, etc., and the new line has already been closed in.  I could have it redone to add a second line, but it won't be easy or cheap.  (Obviously I should have done more homework sooner.)   Questions: How much "dedicated line" benefit am I giving up if I just stick with one line, and have two duplex outlets on that one line?   Put differently, having gone to the trouble to add one dedicated line, will I still get enough improvement, so as not to feel like a complete fool for not adding a second line?   Is there a material downside to having digital and analog both drawing power from the same line?  Any input appreciated.  
whitecap
giri
39 posts
 
I learnt recently from furmansound.com that even large amps use 4 amps continuously at most. Some power conditioners provide transient power up to 50 amps which should be ample for most amps. These power conditioners also provide isolation from digital circuits. I see no reason to get second line. More lines you have can cause problem of inducing hum occasionally.
giri
alfa100's avatar
alfa100
221 posts
 
Big improvement noted when I added 2 more dedicated lines. One for each mono block and the third for DAC /Transport. 
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cleeds
5,950 posts
 
giri  "I learnt recently from furmansound.com that even large amps use 4 amps continuously at most."


That depends on the amplifier. Regardless, it isn't the draw at idle that's as important as the maximum amount of current an amp needs. With large amplifiers, that can easily be 12 amps. 
axo0oxa
98 posts
 
I would add to the dedicated lines a unit that would provide power protection and conditioning by using something similar to or a Sola-HD, MCR Hardwired Series - Power Line Conditioning with Voltage Regulation. You would go from the panel to this and then to the dedicated receptacles. This is not cheap, but in Audio terms maybe it is, approximately $500.00 for just this piece of hardware.
terry9
2,333 posts
 
My opinions again.

When selecting a device to filter your power, make sure that the output is better than the input from the wall. Not all consumer grade devices do that - or so I am told. Thing is, do they fix the problem you have? A computer uninterruptible power supply is great if you don't care about the wave form, but just need juice to keep a critical computer system up and running. Audio needs clean waveforms, and no DC. IMO. That's an isolation transformer.

Just put a 'scope on a voltage divider across the output. Get your retailer to arrange that. Any tech in the country can do it. The picture on the scope should look like the sine wave from a calculus text. Compare the picture from the device under test to the raw output from the wall. If the device isn't better, if it has jagged steps or other grunge, don't touch it, even if its free, unless your wall power is truly ugly.

If you can't test directly, a good rule of thumb is to use industrial grade equipment, or better. That stuff has to work - their customers are sophisticated enough to test it and demand it. I hear the difference, so I use it.

Just my opinion. YMMV

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