Installing a dedicated AC line

If you want audiophile wire, you can buy cryo-treated Romex from Ven Haus Audio. I haven't tried it, but I have tried a cryo'd interconnect and an AC outlet. I like the difference, so the Ven Haus wire might be worth it.

Another good idea is a premium AC outlet, hospital or audio grade. And some people use isolation transformers on their dedicated lines--bigger ones, in the 3 to 5 KVA range.

Ven Haus AC wire

Go to Virtual Dynamics web site. Look at the BX armoned 10ga. cryoed house wire. They also had cryoed outlets and breaker at one time. This is what I use from my sub breaker box to my outlets in my dedicated ac line. I also have an isolated ground which really helps with noise. PS audio also makes some very nice outlets that I use in my HT system. Brian

Couple of other hints--the amp rating you want to achieve and length of the run has an effect on the gauge of wire you use. For example, if you are using a 20 amp breaker (in order to acheive a 20 amp circuit), you need to use a heavier guage wire than standard romex. And if it's an unusually long run, an even heavier gauge still. Head to your local home store and browse a DIY book on electrical circuits--they generally have a listing of NEC tables (National Electrical Code) that you can reference.

BTW, I ran dedicated 20A circuits to both my reference rig and my home theater, and there is huge upside. I didn't go for any of the exotic materials, basically because of the 80/20 rule. I was able to get huge gains (80% improvement) by just getting the dedicated circuit in place at a low cost--standard 12/2 romex and hubbel outlets (at 20% of the cost).

I used 10/2 romex with PS Audio Power Ports runs were about 75ft. Can't say I heard a substantial improvement but definitely worth the effort.

Chuck

Thanks I've learned a lot, I appreciate the help.

A few questions remain:

1) I will have a new breaker box installed as part of this project. It happens to be about 10' from the audio equipment. Many have recommened a sub panel dedicated to the audio equipment. Is this just convenience? What are the benefits of a dedicated subpanel for audiophiles? I understand that if I use the master panel, I should keep the audio circuits in phase which each other and out of phase with other large electrical equipment. Maybe that's why a subpanel is recommended...

2) I plan to install 10ga wire for my amplifier. Some recommend that front end equipment are all plugged in on the same circuit using 12 ga, not 10ga. Why is that? Is inductance an issue with smaller equipment that draw less current? I was thinking that I would have three dedicacted 10 ga circuits in the end: one for amp, one for digit front end, and one for analog front end. Or, one 10 ga for amp and one 12 ga for everything else. What's best for front end components?

3) Does silver contact enhancers really make a difference?

4) Why is Square D so popular among Audiogon'ers compared to other widely used whole house surge protectors, say from GE for example.