2. misc-audio
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Dedicated line (almost)

Bonjour, 

As most people are suggesting a dedicated line for best audio results, I check mine (to see if I can install one easily) and I found that, besides my audio equipment, I just have 3 LED lights on this line (dimmers in fact. Yes I know, dimmers are the worst thing). I can easily move these on another line (as they are consuming next to nothing) but I was wondering : If I always keep these 3 switches / dimmers off while I was listening music, will I have the same results as a dedicated line? Do you know if switches / dimmers set to off induce noise in the line?

Thanks...

cagma7
audphile1's avatar
audphile1
5,443 posts
 

@cagma7 standard home wiring is 14 gauge. Check to make sure. In any event I would suggest running two dedicated lines, 12awg each (10awg is obviously better but harder to work with) - one for the amp alone, another for source, preamp, phono, etc.

Moving the LED dimmers to another circuit is also an option and is going to be better than your current setup. Also, replacing the old dimmers with smart dimmers and leaving it all as is…not sure it will be an improvement. The new smart switches are wifi and may introduce noise. I know this contradicts @erik_squires recommendation but just thinking out loud here…that cure can potentially be worse than the disease but @erik_squires is a knowledgeable dude, so I will defer that to him to elaborate how that can be an improvement.

erik_squires
16,416 posts
 

@audphile1 - I don’t have the switches on the same circuit as my outlets, but generally speaking, physical and electrical noise seems reduced compared to the old school turn to dim type of switches.

Also just a lot easier to set up correctly for LEDs.

Unfortunately it’s become impossible to fully exclude RFI (radio frequency interference) due to everything from streamers to laptops and home automation, doorbells, etc. from our lives. Best we can do is try to keep the big transmitters like routers, away from analog gear and use shielded power and interconnect cables.

Like I said though, that’s my experience, which may not be the OPs!

Also, the Furman conditioners I use are good down to 3 kHz or so, which is _very_ low compared to EMI/RFI filters. It may be I suffer less due to that filtering. I know for sure it made my system sound better when I lived in apartments close to many others with elevators in the building (but, of course, not on the same circuit! :D)

My past living situation may also influence my choices.  I am 100% into using shielded power cables after my conditioner, to make sure my clean power stays clean, and shielded interconnects.  I don't necessarily recommend you spend a lot of money, just make sure they are shielded.

mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 

If the switches are off there is no current flow through that section of line giving you a dedicated line.

Whether or not dedicated lines are an advantage depends mostly on the amount of power you have to draw. Most systems will do just fine on a 15 Amp line. If you have multiple large amps that can pull more than 15 amps then a dedicated 20 amp Line makes a lot of sense.

Any noise at the breaker box is going to find its way into all the lines dedicated or not. You would have to isolate those lines that are critical or isolate the equipment distally. There are a host of devices for this purpose. I do not think there is much benefit for amplifiers more for line level and lower equipment. The most sensitive device is the phono stage. I love the way Channel D handles the problem by running the stage by battery and disconnecting the power supply when it detects a signal. After 10 minutes of no signal it reconnects the power supply. 

Digital equipment is immune to extraneous noise as far as I can tell as long as you do not involve an analog section. I have a Lynx Hilo and nothing seems to bother it.  

cagma7 OP
26 posts
 

'If the switches are 'off' there is no current flow through that section of line giving you a dedicated line'. Great. If it is the case / Mijostin is right, I will simply buy a probe to check if I have any other noise sources on my line (see the 13m video 'find noisy Hi-Fi gear with this probe' on Gabster You Tube channel - VERY interesting) and if I do not find any, I will simply put my 3 lights 'off' when listening music. This will save me a lot of $$$ (as my breaker box is full) while reaching almost the same results.

Thanks again...

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