Power Conditioners

+1 @nonoise

Far too many people here post based on belief, not on experience. Of course, i can understand that because I used to hold a similar belief.  It’s true that some of us live in noisier environments so they might benefit more from conditioning.  However, it’s also true that the grid itself is a very noisy environment. 

I ended up buying an Audioquest Niagara 5000.  I was told by the dealer that every person who’s auditioned it at home has bought one.  I plugged it in and the difference was dramatic and obvious within seconds.  No placebo here either as I was skeptical and expecting marginal to no difference it - I’ve owned and auditioned several other conditioners in without such significant results.

I’d suggest what is always reasonable advice - try one in your own system.  If you don’t like the results for cost, move on.  But, fairly significant improvements are available - in addition to protecting your gear.  

In my system,here in Arzona, all the power conditioners I've tried added warts to the sound....takes a bit of time, but that's what they do here.  PS Audio, flattened and narrowed the sound....some of them addred unwanted grain. Most changed something or other that made it seem better at first, but in the end, sent them all back. Everyone should try them and judge for yourself in your system

I may never know if my system sounds better plugged directly into the wall. I can’t afford the risk. Maybe I’ll step up to a nice power conditioner or regenerator eventually, but I’d rather have a flawed system than have no system. I’ve seen too many strange things happen to go unprotected. Wrap that rascal. 

I’ll tell you how noisy my power is.

I switch on / off my lights? I hear a blow in my speakers. My fridge regularly unloads a small current on the ground wire. Result? A plop in the speakers. Even when my neighbour switched on or off his light I hear a blow in the speakers! Unfortunately there is no power filter that I know of that can handle these spikes.

Whenever I use a power filter however, that bit of static noise that you hear all the time through the speakers is gone. It’s pitch black. And that is something worth buying a power filter for already if you ask me.