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Power conditioner or outlet?

I have a Shunyata MPC-12a power conditioner. Read that it was a good choice for audio equipment so I bought it. I also have high end power cords to all my equipment, as well as to my Shunyata.

I have recently read comments from listeners that you should plug your amp/preamp straight into the wall. Is that the case if you have a good power conditioner? I will do so if it is a better option, just concerned about no surge protection for the amps...but also don't want degraded sound! I am asking this because I am a newbie at all this, more money than audio sense. I am interested if anyone might have any experience in this
128x128easola01
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ozzy's avatar
ozzy
7,416 posts
 
The only power conditioner that actually improved the sound quality with my mono amps is the Core Tech 1800 balanced unit. I modified it by eliminating the internal outlet daisy chain wiring and installed all Furutech NCF outlets and inlet.
That being said at this point do not order one due to the companies strange recent activity. But if you can find a used one it is worth it.

ozzy
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cleeds
5,911 posts
 
kalali
The power conditioner I use is an old 65 lbs. hospital grade transformer-based cube with eight outlets. It puts out a consistent 124 volts whereas the adjacent wall outlet is normally around 113-115 volts. I can’t claim it’s a “good” conditioner since I have not made fair comparisons but it continued to deliver the 124 volts even when I plugged in my wife’s hair dryer ...
That sounds like more of a voltage regulator than a simple power conditioner. As mental points out, it’s not so much the voltage that’s critical, but the current, and no simple voltage regulator can increase the available current - it’s the law of conservation of energy.

But that doesn’t mean that your solution isn’t an effective one for you. I use both power conditioners and a voltage regulator in my system.
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stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,435 posts
 
In MY system - all Ayre/Vandersteen - all the power conditioners I've tried have revealed their warts, I'd rather not listen to. (dangling participle)   I have top Furutech plugs and cables that go directly into the wall, where the best music resides.
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