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Dedicated lines — how many? Other advice?

We're redoing our basement and adding an additional panel. This room will become a media room. I may be video and audio at different ends of the room if possible. Not sure.

To be powered:

Video

1. TV
2. AVR

Audio:

1. R & L Monoblock tube amps
2. Preamp
3. DAC
4. CD transport
5. Streamer
6. 3 Subwoofers

QUESTIONS:

(a) Does everything on the list need a dedicated line? Could all benefit? (Including the TV and AVR). Or can I skip the video stuff.

(b) How many dedicated lines for the audio alone? How would you group components on each line?

(c) Any other advice?

Here is the advice I've gathered so far (some from the web, some from A'gon):

  • Get a whole house surge suppressor put in.
  • Use the heaviest gauge copper Romex you can use, never less than 12 gauge and typically 10 gauge (the lower the gauge number the thicker the wire conductors).
  • Use a 20 amp breaker for even the lowest draw source equipment feed.
  • Make sure the power lines are balanced on each side of the power panel.
  • Don't let them staple the wire to the 2x4's inside the walls….Work out some other solution that neither uses ferrous metal fasteners nor pinches the wiring when secured to the framing. The physical pinching can lead to a somewhat narrower audio bandwidth…
128x128hilde45
jtcf's avatar
jtcf
1,617 posts
 
@hilde45  I have no advice but will share my experience. I have one dedicated 20amp line that was installed as soon we purchased the house.When I decided to move the system to the opposite side of the room on a  20amp circuit that is shared,I heard zero difference.I was quite surprised as I had planned to get down in the basement and move that wire and redo the other circuit. I never bothered.I'm out in the boonies too with pretty clean power (I think).The shared circuit has nothing noisy on it, only a couple of lights and several outlets. I use a surge protector/conditioner that separates digital and analog.
invalid
1,186 posts
 
When I had one dedicated circuit I didn't have enough power. I have a big krell amp and a pair of apogee duetta 2 speakers that are only 80 db sensitivity, but they sound great. It also helps if you run your dedicated circuits at the top of the service panel closest to the main feeder lines.
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,974 posts
 
Thanks, all. As the present space is unfinished, and we’re already needing (for future capacity) to add an additional sub-panel, I suspect that adding multiple dedicated outlets will be relatively inexpensive to do. As I am in Denver and know a few folks with good systems here (including a co-founder of RMAF), I hope to get connected with an electrician who has done this for audio before, or at least get good local advice about codes. If necessary, I can reduce my use to just one dedicated line, and, if and when we sell this house, I can advertise the "media room" as having multiple dedicated outlets. That might be a selling point, down the road.
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,447 posts
 
@hilde45,

You’ve gotten great advise so far. To summarize / reiterate,

1) If possible don’t limit yourself to one dedicated line, it limits your flexibility for gear placement. I have two dedicated lines installed on both sides of my room (30’W x 15’D), no ground loop hum :-)
2) Another vote for Environmental Potentials EP-2050, add EP-2750 Ground Filter to the main panel as well.
3) Use atleast 10awg wire for 20amp dedicated circuit.

Once you have installed dedicated lines, it does not matter how you group your components on each line. As far plugging your gear, I will PM you couple of options to consider.

Good luck!
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,974 posts
 
@lalitk Thanks so much. Yes, the advice has been good, overall, after getting some "my way or the highway" stuff sidelined. 
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