Amp ac cable connection

dlcockrum

... I am talking about the products that serve as intermediaries between the wall receptacle and the equipments’ power cords that claim to provide surge protection via sacrificial MOVs (90%+ of them I estimate) ...

MOV devices get a bad rap here. Without wading into that controversy, an MOV does not inherently limit normal current.  (Obviously, they are designed to limit surges.) Some AC protection or conditioning devices are blamed for having a negative effect on audio quality, so many audiophiles blame "current limiting" for that. In practice, most don't actually limit current when properly used.

What constitutes proper use is also the subject of some debate. For components such as isolation xformers, I wouldn't use them at more than half of their rated capacity, especially when connected to a power amplifier.

benjie

... With the power cable plugged directly into the wall you are hearing your equipments full potential ...

That wouldn’t be true if the voltage is too high, or too low, for the amplifier to work properly. What about power factor? If the AC service has bad power factor, that could rob the amplifier of the current it needs to reach rated output. What if there’s hash or distortion on the AC line? Not all amplifiers are equally able to filter such noise.

The value of a power conditioner depends a lot not only on the conditioner itself, but on the quality of the AC line and the system’s other components.

So, Benjie, since what the rest of us hear does not agree with your opinion, it is our minds that are at fault. There is a word for that I think.

Provide a list of the AC enhancement products that you have owned to add credibility to your opinion.

Here is mine in chronological order:

1) API Power Wedge - reduced dynamics to amps, benign otherwise
2) Monster THS 5000: reduced dynamics to amps, benign otherwise
3) Chang Lightspeed CLS6600ISO - reduced dynamics to amps, lower noise floor to other components
4) Furman ITReference20i: slight reduction of noise floor, benign otherwise excepting VHC amps
5) PS Audio Power Plant Premiere: very audible reduction of noise floor, benign otherwise excepting VHC amps
6) SR Powercell 10 mkII: significant reduction of noise floor, expanded dynamics and soundstage, no impact on current flow to amps, including Krell FPB-600c
7) SR Powercell 10 UEF/FEQ: incredible reduction in noise floor, greatly expanded dynamics and soundstage, no impact on current flow to amps, including Krell FPB-600c

Notes:
1) The first four used "passive" chokes and MOVs in the circuitry that limited ultimate current flow to varying extents.
2) A four year period occurred between the two Powercells (6 & 7) due to financial constraints. More than enough time for my ears/mind/whatever to loose its power-conditioner-corrupted aural memory.
3) Krell FPB-600c tested by JA of Stereophile to produce 152 amps of peak current and 6000w/ch @1ohm.
4) Units 3-7 were plugged into dedicated 30-amp line and extensively compared to 30-amp dedicated line directly.

Dave