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WHICH POWER CONDITIONER IS BETTER PASSIVE OR ACTIVE WITH ISOLATION TRANSFORMERS

Looking to purchase a Power Conditioner to reduce the noise floor in my system as well as to protect my system from electric spikes. The two types of conditioners seem to be as follows:

  1. Passive conditioners such as an Audience AR-12 T4 which claims that passive conditioning with the use of chips is the way to go because their filtering is better accomplished without the use of isolation transformers. The proponents of passive seem to claim that the use of isolation transformers adds noise to the components in the chain.
  2. Active or non passive-An example would be the Niagra 3000, 5000 &7000 by Audioquest which all use Isolation transformers to accomplish the filtering. Most of the conditioners I see advertised seem to accomplish filtering with the use of isolation transformers.
  3. My question is what type is better and why? Any recommendations would be appreciated. My budget is $4000-$5000.00, would consider used, a/k/a pre-owned. 
  4. Thank you for your input. 

 

kjl1065
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
11,199 posts
 

I'm glad this came up. I've always been in the camp that passive conditioning is the way to go, just filtering out the noise on the line. Every time I got new equipment, it always sounded better on my Niagara 1200 passive conditioner so when I got my Technics SU-G700M2 I used it that way for some years now, unit yesterday.

It was just out of boredom from going through the last stages of weird cold (I'm on the 22nd day but feeling much better) that I decided to try out my integrated straight into the wall AC with everything else plugged into the Niagara.

It was some kind of audio epiphany. More airy, clearer, tighter and defined with better frequency extension and increase in soundstage with absolutely no downsides. My Marantz Reference PM15S2 integrated was no slouch but still benefited from the Niagara. Whoever designed the power supply in the Technics should be given a raise. I can't believe the sound I'm getting from a $3,000 integrated.

Suffice to say, it largely depends on the gear you're using as all power supplies are not made the same. I live in an old apartment with old wiring that had noise on the lines that went away when using the Marantz on the Niagara but hindered the performance of the Technics on the Niagara, so you'll need to see about getting a loaner and trying it out with the gear you have. Good luck.

All the best,
Nonoise

 

carlsbad2's avatar
carlsbad2
2,033 posts
 

@nonoise This is not the first instance Ive heard of the Niagra limiting current to an amp.

And I fully agree it depends on the gear.  

nonoise's avatar
nonoise
11,199 posts
 

@carlsbad2 It's strange but I've read that and finally experienced it. Before the Marantz, I had a Kinki integrated that sounded the same no matter the configuration but the Marantz just couldn't cut it on it's own. 

All the best,
Nonoise

erik_squires
16,745 posts
 

I’m not really onboard with the definition. In all other situations I know of, active means powered. That power is being used in addition to the input and output. Isolation transformers by this definition are still passive.

The PS Audio power regenerators are very much active. Furman with LiFT is active.

Personally, I prefer voltage regulation over isolation. Day in, day out, winter and summer it keeps the voltage at my gear solid. Furman with AR (auto regulation) plus SMP for surge suppression is really hard to beat at a great price point.  Of course, you can also get Furman with AR, SMP AND isolation... but that's above my budget.

carlsbad2's avatar
carlsbad2
2,033 posts
 

@nonoise I agree, it is hit and miss how each amp works with power supplies.  And it can be the opposite of what you think.  I have a 14 lb, 2 wpc tube amp that is very sensitive. 

Jerry

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