2. misc-audio
  3. 175582-163437

Power Conditioning on the Cheap

This is my first post here after a bit of lurking, so please be gentle.  I realize this subject must come up a fair amount and I've read erik_squires blog posts on the subject, but I was hoping to get the community's opinion on the relative merits of a few relatively basic power conditioners.  I've narrowed my list down to a few options at a range of (fairly modest) price points.  From low to high they are:

Furman PST-8D

ifi Power Station

Furman Elite-15 PF I

Shunyata PS10 w/ Venom Defender

Audioquest Niagara 1200

In a perfect world where I didn't have a limited budget I would probably buy something higher up the line from Shunyata, but since we live in a decidedly imperfect world, these are my options, although I would welcome other suggestions that fit within this price range.

I should also probably mention that while I value subjective reports on the sound quality of various products, generally speaking I give more weight to objective measurements or at least arguments based in sound science.  More embarrassingly, I also place a certain amount of value on aesthetics.  Aesthetic taste being inherently subjective, (a debatable point, but for the sake of argument lets just assume that it's true) lets just say that when I lust after completely unobtainable equipment it tends to be from companies like Soulution or Pilium rather than Dan D'Agostino or darTZeel.

incorporeus
whart's avatar
whart
3,172 posts
 

I think the question of gauge depends on what you are doing. My guys ran 4 gauge from the output of a very large isolation transformer to a secondary panel adjacent to the listening room, and from there, ran 10 gauge from the panel to the outlets, which are 20 amp hospital grade Hubbells- made to spec for Albert Porter (and no longer available, bargain that they were). I think it is less about audiophile "approved" than good practices. The guy I alway call on is @Jea48. Simply for his practical knowledge of Code +. 

retiredfarmer's avatar
retiredfarmer
361 posts
 

The top grade furutech power outlet. Then after that furutech top with of the line AC and IEC ends on your power cords. Start at the wall one set and keep going until you decide it's time to relax for awhile to pl

 

rudyb
141 posts
 

From your text it sounds you already decided you want to buy a Power Conditioner. My questions is ... is there something wrong / missing with your current sound that pointed you in this direction as being the solution?

It could be that maybe if you change another component, or improve room acoustics, experiment with speaker placement or port (if they have them) tuning, improvements can be made that have more impact for the same or less investment than adding a power conditioner, which will probably only make a subtle audible difference, if any at all.

Since you say you have this budget cap, other solutions could be more money efficient. But of course the high tech looks and ’estheatics’ of a power conditioner added to your rig may give a nice feeling and may be worth something too.

audioguy85's avatar
audioguy85
2,033 posts
 

The Furman PST-8, for the money, is very good. You mentioned the PST-8D, be advised that that model is dedicated to digital sources only. I’m not certain if you are aware, Garth Powell is the designer of the Furman PST-8. He used to work at Furman. He is the same guy that designed the Audioquest Niagara 1000 and 1200, as well as the more expensive models.

I will agree that it is advisable to run a dedicated circuit to your hifi. It can be done cheaply (if you are proficient in electrical work) by running a 12/2 romex (yellow) from a 20 amp breaker to a high quality receptacle (audioquest Edison for example). Then you will also need to buy some high quality power chords to take full advantage of your new found better quality power. 

elliottbnewcombjr
5,881 posts
 

’new found better quality power’

Better ISOLATED, i.e. nothing that cycles on/off to disturb the line, is NOT better QUALITY.

Problems prevented, a worthy goal, will NOT make better sound.

"I am personally a fan of the Garth Powell units (Furman and Audioquest) that have storage in the unit for more power than the line can deliver for transients."

Exactly why I chose my Furman P-1800

The capacitors store and send the juice. It’s like filling a baby bottle, the equipment is the little suckers. Except juice is constantly filling the bottle. The juice can be cloudy, that’s why there are filters.

Doesn’t make it sound better, just problem free, IF you had a problem, which ... most of us do not have.

Thus, don't need to over-do it.

 

More to discover