Power Supply


Has anyone used a battery power station for your system? Has anyone compared one to a high end power conditioner?

My solar panels and Tesla Powerwall were just turned on today. With no 'grid input' /battery only, the improvements in detail, dynamics, imaging, etc were all improved like a pre-amp or cartridge upgrade. 

128x128kob

Batteries have chargers. Unless you disconnect the charger you are running your charger you are running off the charger power supply which is usually not of high quality since the battery doesn’t require a quality power supply.

In your case you're running off the inverter in your battery system, again, not of audio quality.  Maybe it is a real improvement but often people in your situation are experiencing confirmation bias.

Jerry

I have. I own both a homebrew battery system and am also a StromTank dealer, as well as a Synergistic Research dealer.

I started out with just a line conditioner on a dedicated line for a number of years, and I had progressed to the PowerCell SX before considering a battery system. I followed one thread on here that talks about creating a battery system and did the same, using two LifePo4 batteries and a Giandel inverter. The improvement was significant in terms of focus, imaging, and soundstage.

I upgraded to the PowerCell 14 as it came out in July, and the improvement continued with regards to soundstaging, image delineation, and straight out dynamics as they are now also designed as supercapacitors that deliver more instantaneous current than the wall can provide. The difference of having a battery system became smaller, but the benefits were still audible.

I recently became a Stromtank dealer and have a few units on my floor, which replaced the homebrew design. I didn’t think I would hear any improvement, but I was surprised when I did. I learned that the inverter in the StromTank operates with a much lower noise floor than a typical Giandel inverter. 

So now, I have a PowerCell 14 hooked up to a StromTank battery supply. Maby audio enthusiasts likely wouldn’t think to or have the financial means to prioritize having both a battery supply and quality conditioner working together in the chain, but doing so will elevate your total system performance to new heights you would have otherwise not dreamed. 

I can imagine the system @blisshifi describes could be superior to conditioned AC. I've tried cheaper solutions, while initially impressed, over time heard limitations. As mentioned above inverters are major consideration.

 

I've also owned equipment with integrated battery power supplies, they weren't the final solution.

@blisshifi can you explain the configuration of the battery systems you represent?

1.  confirm that you are actually supplying AC to the amp.

2.  If AC, what can you tell us about the specs on the inverter.  Not aiming this comment at you, but I think it is false advertising to tell people they are running off a battery (sounds very stable DC) when in reality they are running off an inverter that they know nothing about and then ther amp is converting it back to DC.   Household emergency power battery systems have basic inverters in them that do not put out particularly clean power.  how do your inverters compare to, for example, the industry standard PA Audio regenerator system.  the PS audio regenerator inverter is measured at .1% THD or better.  for reference the electricity on the grid is 2-4% THD.  (for the readers:  Don't confuse this THD with the amplifier output THD which is a different measurement). 

3.  How do you isolate the charger?  if the charger isn't isolated, then your inverter i is being fed by the charger and the battery is just standing by with no current flowing in or out.

 

thanks,

Jerry