Isolation Transformers

Tripplites are good rugged units, but not for audio. Too much noise and current limiting. Since you cant do dedicated lines (are you in an apartment or condo? Sometimes you can find an unused circuit, or one that has only one device on it) I'd advise you to buy an Exactpower EP-15A regenerator unit:

http://www.exactpower.com/ep15a.html

It has 8 outlets, 4 of which have digital filters to keep your digital gear from putting "hash" back into your power lines. It also "creates" perfect AC power even better than some dedicated circuits can.

Later on, if you want the ultimate, you can buy an SP-15A balanced power unit which you can plug into the EP-15A and use to provide quiet balanced power to all your front end stuff.

An isolation x-fmr wil only isolate your gear from noise on the power company side of the x-fmr, but not from each other on the "gear" side of the x-fmr.

In my experience some isolation trannies are more suitable for audio application than others. You can hear tonal differences as well between those trannies. I think it has to do with the characteristics of the (iron) core of the isolation trannie in conjunction with the unit's power supply that has been attached to the isolation trannie. For example: Tamura and Tango isolation trannies sound different (to my ears more musical, better) than some other trannies with comparable power that originally were not designed for audio. What do you think?

Chris

I've gone back and forth on the power regenration thing for a while now. I am familiar with ExactPower and think highly of the products they offer. My problem is my RSA Haley works quite well and I'm not inclined to mess with that. I have considered balanced power for the front end and the SP-15a would be a consideration.

As for tonal differences in isolation transformers, I'm not even at that crossroad let alone down the road. I'd have a lot more research and some auditioning to do. I can see the logic in the theory though. I would think that iron trannies versus toroids could conceivably offer sonic differences. I'm also told Q-type transformers are much better as well. So again, lots to consider. I guess I still have my work cut out for me.

Clio, I don't think I'm expressing myself properly. First I have to say that for me, the world is divided into those who can implement dedicated circuits, and those who can't.
Your statement about not being able to provide dedicated circuits is, to me at least, the key issue; and the reason I recommend a power regenerator unit.

Yes, I suppose you could get someone with an oscilloscope to look at what's coming out of your wall, and who knows, you might be the lucky utility customer who is getting constant 120V with a perfect 60 Hz sine waveform and full current at all times, but let's face it, that's not likely. And even dedicated circuits can't improve on what's provided by your power company. All they can do assure you that you're getting whatever is coming from the pole; and without noise from intervening devices within your house -- so dedicated circuits are only a "solution" if you have good electrical service to begin with (which thankfully is true probably 90% of the time in this country.)

Audio gear will perform best if it has "ideal" AC power available, and that's what regenerators do. They RE-generate the "house" power into "ideal" power, with negligable losses these days, due to the real-time analysis provided by modern computer processing techniques. This kind of economical "regeneration" was not even possible a few years ago. Normally, any filtration (conditioning) they might also provide is done before the regeneration takes place so it can't affect sonics. Ditto for surge protection circuits, if they are even provided (most manufacturers realize surge protection is a myth, and don't do it -- not to reduce the cost, but because "token" surge protection degrades sonics.)

So bottom line, here's my position on all this:

1.) If one can do dedicated circuits, then 90% of the time that'll give 90% of possible power improvement benefits. If one then wants to add some "finishing touches" with an isolation transformer and/or a balanced power unit for sources, great, but definitely much smaller bangs for your bucks.

2.) If you must use an existing house circuit, be savvy about which one you choose. If you have a choice, pick a 20A over a 15A, and pick one that just has a few low power, low noise devices on it (like incandescent table lamps.) And then plug in a regenerator to take the place of a dedicated circuit. If, (as with dedicated circuits) you want to add other power devices to the regenerator, that's up to you.

That's my thinking on the matter ;--)

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