This Whole AC noise thing...SOLUTION!


I've been spending hours researching the whole issue of AC noise/distortion finding its way into our stereo systems......My conclusion is it is VERY real.    I've also concluded that any of the generally supported methods of removing it are at best ineffective and at worse nonsense.    There are simply WAY too many devices in our house and our neighbors houses that generated unwanted AC noise.....Through the power cables AND airborne.    Various power conditioners and better cables can mitigate the issue, but they can not totally eliminate it. And the older your houses wiring, the older the transformer on the pole outside and the older the wires coming into your house...The issues thatr your neighbors might have in their house...The worse the problem is.    But I think there is a solution.....Disconnect from the GRID entirely! In the last few years, the Lithium battery powered portable generator industry has been on a roll.....These devices have gotten bigger and better at far reduced price.    Basically what they are is a large Lithium battery and a well regulated DC to AC inverter all in one box...Not connected to anything but your stereo...You charge it with an AC charger when you are not listening to your system, and unplug the charger when you are listening...or, if you have the room, you charge it with a few solar panels.    If you are the DIY type you can buy a few LiFo cells, a BMS (battery management system) a good charger and a quality DC to AC inverter for around $2000....Loads of YouTube videos on this. Search Will Prowse on YT and plan on spending a few hours!    Be aware, this will not solve the RF noise issue from devices sending noise through the air to your cables....Short interconnect length, shielded AC cables and disconnecting as many wall warts, USB adapters and compact and LED lights will greatly help.    Comments?
rbertalotto
09-04-2021 10:42am
"There is no solution. Stop even thinking of it." - MC

Wow! Does that sentiment really jive with the icon you’ve chosen? Maybe Oscar the Grouch but Al?

If we all lived by that credo, we’d all still be living in caves and wondering where our next meal was coming from.

Must’ve been a moment of weakness. Sounds too harsh, even for you. - oldaudiophile
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with adopting better solutions until that day of perfection either.

MC adopts better solutions himself, I heard his new TT. I’m guessing he’s had an off day or something? I'm not saying his comment doesn't have merit, it's a case of why stop trying to find better solutions - hopefully getting very very close to perfect.

@rbertalotto - I like your Agon name, it has an Italiano flavor to it.
@millercarbon, I was actually responding more to the rather imperious or arrogant tone of "Stop even thinking about it.", as opposed to the still negative and defeatist "There is no solution." Such sentiments serve only as impediments to advancements. I'm confident Al would agree with that. Judging from many of your other more helpful and considerably less churlish posts, I suspect you might, as well. Many people on forums like this are genuinely interested in obtaining guidance, furthering their knowledge and selflessly sharing their expertise and experiences. A little humility or modesty, especially in a teacher, goes a long way; not to mention kindness. Sooner or later, the faces of paragons turn to "alabaster when (they) find (their) servant(s) (have become their) master(s)".
Can't remember who said something like: "Perfection exists only in the mind...". It was probably one of the great Greek philosophers like Plato but many philosophers have uttered the same sentiment.
Everyone always falling into the same trap of thinking there is "a" "solution".

Sometimes posting this crap PC at work means not having italics, bold, underline. But we still have the scare quotes. So we put scare quotes around "a" and "solution" hoping people will get it.   

Sorry to sound imperious, but that is what scare quotes are for. Not the usual quotes indicating something someone said. Scare quotes draw attention to the words as opposed to the speaker of the words.   

In a perfect world everyone would understand all that means is we are never done. There is never "a" solution but instead only what works for now. It is fun and exciting to find the new one that works better than the old one. Solutions are like Porsches: The best one will always be the next one. 
Solutions are like Porsches: The best one will always be the next one.

Um, no.....The best Porsche was made in 1987-1989.....All down hill from there...." :-) "