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Isolation Transformers

My wife and have sold our home and are renting for the next couple of years. Therefore, I don't have the luxury of re-wiring, dedicated lines etc. I am looking to clean up the AC supply, minimize the effects of other household circuits and get some surge protection.  After quite a bit of reading I have narrowed my selection down to an Equi=Tech 2RQ or a Torus RM20. I can buy either unit for a 30 day trial/refund but would like to make a good choice to start.
My delima is this. The Equitech offers balanced power on the output which would be effective at canceling reactive currents between my audio components. It also offers filtered outlets for digital gear and would isolate my entire system from the rest of the home with its own ground reference on the center tap of the secondary. However, it does not have any surge suppression built in other than the transformer itself.
The Torus on the other hand offers SMSS which gives me peace of mind. It also has Plitron NBT for line filtering. However it lacks the balanced output, and therefore would not isolate my system from whatever grounding this house may, or may not have. The Torus also does not offer any filtered outlets for digital gear.
My system is: Klimax LP12>Erika Phono>Pass XP-22>Pass X250.8>Thiel CS2.3  with a MacBook>Chord MoJo>Pass XP-22 for digital files. I will upgrade the digital end some day so I like the option of digital outlets with the Equitech.
If anyone has experience with these isolation transformers I would appreciate some direction. Thanks

Bruce

brskie
bosssound's avatar
bosssound
120 posts
 
+1 cio52 re Furman elite 20pfi

In my system, bass is a tighter and sound has less grain when amp is plugged into Furman compared to wall.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
bass is a tighter?  

Less grain maybe but I find the tighter bass puzzling as it goes against everything a stiff power supply is, unless somehow it's rolling the bass off earlier, which is impossible in my books.

Cheers George 
milpai's avatar
milpai
2,372 posts
 
@georgehifi ,
So how would you know what the Inakustik does or does not? Anyway, you should try before you make assumptions or comment on the price to performance ratio. The OP's Torus do not sell for $200 either. Just saying.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
So how would you know what the Inakustik does or does not?
I’m just saying anything between the poweramp’s power supply and the mains "has to" introduce some sort of series resistance. And that "has to" reduce the stiffness of the amps power supply, which has to effect it’s bass performance.
VTL’s David Manley (rip) did a very famous paper way back on it back in the 80’s, you should read it changed all views on poweramps power supplies design and how to get their power from the mains and how they should behave, I think for memory maybe even Dan D’Agostino took heed of his words on it.

The OP’s Torus do not sell for $200 either
I don’t think I said they did


Cheers George
brskie OP
67 posts
 
Thanks so much everyone. I appreciate the recommendations for the Inakustik 3500P and I am definitely researching that unit.
I am still hopeful that some of you have had experience with either the Equitech 2RQ or Torus RM20 rack units that you could advise me on.
I am still up in the air about the balanced output of Equitech and how effective it is as opposed to the Torus NBT technology. Two different approaches, but which is better? Thanks again for all your feedback!!

Bruce
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