2. cables
  3. 160174-149613

Power Conditioners

Not sure if I placed it in the correct topic but here goes. I was just wondering how power conditioners work, as I want to buy one. There are conditioners with only filtered inputs and conditioners with some filtered inputs and some unfiltered. I believe the unfiltered ones are for analogue devices. But why should these go into the unfiltered part? If I buy a power conditioner for example with only filtered inputs, will I not be able to put my class A amp in? Or will it have a negative effect?
sjeesjie
milpai's avatar
milpai
2,383 posts
 
+1 @tomic601 
gdnrbob
4,445 posts
 
@tomic601,@hilde45 ,
Thanks for posting that, and I miss Al, too. I think he will be remembered here for a long time as being one of the most pleasant, informative and well written contributors here on Audiogon.
+1 for the Linear Power Supply.
Bob
audioguy85's avatar
audioguy85
2,018 posts
 
I’ll second the Audioquest Niagara 1200, it was worth every penny. I use the Audioquest thunder high current power chord for my amp, and the rest are all Audioquest X3’s. The Niagara is plugged into the wall socket via a Audioquest Z3 power cable. This is all on a dedicated 20 Amp circuit using 12 gauge romex. What I cannot fit into the Niagara goes into a Furman pst-8, another great power conditioner/strip. The Furman is plugged into the same 20 amp dedicated receptacle, the Audioquest NRG. I think my system sounds great. Lots of dirty power here and numerous thunderstorms. All this was very expensive to me, but worth it as I only have to do it once. I’d probably be dead before any of it wears out significantly, if at all.
sjeesjie OP
51 posts
 
One more question about these power filters/conditioners (is there a difference at all??). 
They have these markings to put everything in phase. That's wonderful, but how can I put a wall wart in phase? Is there any method to know which of the connectors is live and which is neutral?
oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 
First thing, do you have any issues with your system? I forgot to ask.

Second get a multi meter, if you don't have one, STOP.. Don't get hurt, get some help.
DO NOT work on hot circuits, no multi-meter, NO WORK!!! i
If you do know what your doing, are comfortable, and NOT COLOR blind, (I ran into that to :-) )

White = neutral
Black = hot
Green = ground
Bare = ground
red = aux/hot/jumper/assignable

Phase? reverse the black and the white, when there is no ground?
or is it direction on the cable?

These are questions for you, don’t mix them up, yes direction matters.
Cables, normally work better in one position or direction, unless they are already set up that way. Male, female as an example.

OR Don’t use a wall wart, and use a good SURGE suppressor and a maintainer. It’s not a SQ issue FIRST for me, It’s a safety first, protection second. BUT SQ won’t suffer, with good Equipment and protection.
Let it settle for a while, rout your cables correctly...Get them off the floor.
It’s your equipment, I protect my expensive equipment, plane and simple.

Regards
More to discover