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Installing dedicated 10 gauge lines

Everyone keeps saying how important it is to have a dedicated 10 gauge line from your breaker box to your amp (I have a Diablo 300), and a second one to your source components (primarily an InnuOS Zenith Mk 3 streamer/Roon core).

I would love to do this, but isn’t this a major expense, like $15k or more? Does all the drywall back to the breaker box need to be ripped out to install the new lines?

Sorry if these are dumb questions. If the answer to the above is yes and yes, this project definitely won’t get past my wife!

As an aside, on the same 15A circuit, I have my amp, streamer, a Mac Mini that is normally on, my TV, video game consoles, and a network switch. So, obviously not ideal but out of all of these the only things that are on while I’m listening to music, beyond my amp and streamer, are the Max Mini and the network switch which supplies network connections to my tv and game consoles.

Hoping installing the dedicated line installation somehow doesn’t require drywall ripping and replacement?

 

 

 

 

 

 

nyev
sandthemall
544 posts
 

Under $3k.

I just put in 2 dedicated 10ga lines...$2200.

Put in a 240v 8ga circuit all the way to the garage and added a subpanel...$2400

 

 

 

I

 

larry5729's avatar
larry5729
1,008 posts
 

If you were to do a blind test, could you really hear enough difference to warrant the expense.  It would be interesting to be able to put a toggle switch between the two lines and to pick either A or B without knowing which one is which and without question pick the new line.  

georgeab
95 posts
 

You may want to assess what you have such as how many outlets are between the box and the outlets you will use and is there anything else on the line. I had an electrican friend assist me and run a dedicated line. Later I moved my 2 channel system downstairs. I did not run a dedicated line. The line had three outlets daisy chained between box and two channel rig. I replaced all outlets and used side screws rather than back stabs. Quite happy with the result of the compromise and have no intention of running a dedicated line. I also ran ethernet when I did the initial dedicated line. If you decide to run a dedicated line, consider running ethernet at same time.

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doitwithlife's avatar
doitwithlife
98 posts
 

I did add a high gage dedicated line and didn't hear a difference. As you have a relatively quiet load unless you have a significant distance of travel I doubt you will hear much either. Voltage drop is your enemy related to distance. There are tables to show you this and mine was 100 ft which drops a bit.

Did it myself for a couple of hundred. Inspector cared more about a child proof receptacles and the distance between wire attachment points. Was sort of snarky with me putting in the heavier wire but justified himself by saying, well I guess that is all you had. He was more impressed with the LED recessed lighting I added to around the room near the room edge.

I then added a regenerator, not a power conditioner and it was night and day. My advice would be skip the dedicated circuit if it is going to cost more than a few hundred, and invest in a regenerator which just plugs in the wall. It will normalize your voltage, no drop, patches up the tops of your sine waves, and fills in for any quick current transients. Will be such an improvement that even my wife hears the difference

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