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No Downside of Conditioners for Source Equipment?

As most are aware, many feel that conditioners can add benefits but in other ways can be constraining and add tonal colourations.

My question is, does this controversy only extend to amplifiers?

I can understand the theory of why it could IN THEORY adversely impact bigger amplifiers (I know many see benefit of plugging amps into conditioners), the theory being dynamic constraint and restriction of instantaneous current, added impedance, etc.  But what about source equipment?  I don’t see any theoretical downside, since source equipment is a constant lower current.  Especially for digital source components, where the power less directly linked to the output audio signal.  I’d see filtering and shielding being of benefit only, with any added impedance from the conditioner having no negative impact.

It has always nagged me that when some anti-conditioner folks explain their position, their arguments only seem to POSSIBLY apply to amplifiers.  But that is based on my highly limited knowledge in this area…

Thoughts?

nyev
erik_squires
16,317 posts
 

Thanks for quoting my blog, @sandstone

OP: The type of conditioner matters, and your aversion to the risk of surge damage matters as well. Most of the audiophiles I read who use Furman with SMP and LiFT have no degradation in sound quality and often feel the opposite is true.

The filtering in LiFT and SMP starts up around 3 kHz, way above the 60 Hz power signal so you are unlikely to suffer any loss of performance from an amplifier there.

If you buy a $30,000 amplifier and insist on having it plugged in straight to the wall, that risk is up to you, but here in lightning prone SC, I have learned not even to leave a laptop plugged in straight to the wall if I want to keep it.

audiotroy's avatar
audiotroy
3,832 posts
 

we are a major dealer with five sound rooms

 

we use power conditioners in every room for all components

 

a good power conditioner will improve all components

 

a good conditioner like an isotek will electrically isolate all components from each other this eliminates digital components leeking noise

 

Dave and Troy

Audio intellect. NJ.

isotek,,udience,audio magic, dealer.

 

 

fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,634 posts
 

I got blisters on me fingers.

tablejockey
3,940 posts
 

Great place to advertise your business.

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