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POWER: conditioners vs filters vs cords

OK. I've heard a lot of contradictory stuff on power accesories. I'm going to throw this out to the roundtable and hopefully clear up some of the fog. I've heard the following: 1) Most full blown conditioners ($500+) do everything better. They stabilize input power, clean up ground loops, filter noise and insulate against power surges. However, some compress dynamics. 2) Most surge supressor/filter units ($200-$350) clean up ground loops, filter noise and insulate against power surges. (but a good power conditioner makes the system sound better overall) 3) Good power cords kinda clean-up ground loops and kinda filter noise; their major advantage is a blacker background, better dynamics, soundstage and imaging. 4) If you have a full blown conditioner, better powercords are redundant and offer little advantage. Am I on the right wavelength here? I have a minor intermittent ground loop, and I know my power is a bit on the dirty side, infrasonic garbage wise. So the question is this: I want to improve my sound quality by cleaning up my power supply without blowing a small fortune. I'd like to invest between $200 to $400(list price) but I wouldn't be adverse to bumping the price to $650 if it REALLY makes a difference. What do you recommend? Your opinions on any part of this subject are welcome and product recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks, Morbius2130aol
morbius2130aol
marcy
34 posts
 
I also agree with Redkiwi and Garfish. I have never experienced any improvement with power conditioners. The best results for me are amps and front end right into the wall. I currently use a monster 2000 for surge protection only on a few components. It really compressed the sound of my CD player.
morbius2130aol OP
16 posts
 
Dear Marcy: You get a compressed signal from your CD player when you plug it in to your Monster surge supressor? No kidding? I thought that was exclusive to power conditioners and didn't occur in supressor/filter systems. Any further thoughts? How about going to the larger Monster like the 3500. I wonder if the same thing happens in other supressors?
bmpnyc
713 posts
 
My Denon AVR-5700 is plugged into my Monster 3500's "low loss" outlet, and does not sound different when plugged directly into the wall outlet. Whatjd, thanks for the tip on problems with cable TV runs. I hear a low level buzz and will try disconnecting the "TV audio" out that I have been running from my TV to my receiver. I'll let you know how it turns out. What about cable TV wires that are not connected to the sound system but run next to all of the other cables?
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albertporter
4,949 posts
 
I will cast my vote along with Redkiwi, Garfish and Marcy. I have had similar experiences with treatments, and I have tried more than a half dozen in last few years, only to be disappointed. Only upgrading the primary electrical service to your home (and system) seem to be a sure fire improvement in every case.
hdm
1,062 posts
 
I'll agree with the post directly above (and others) with one exception. I own an Innouye Line Conditioner (highly recommended by UHF Magazine in Canada) and find it to work exceptionally well with my turntable, but that is it. My integrated amp definitely sounds better plugged into a hospital grade outlet in the wall. Decent power is not a real problem where I am (London, Canada, pop. 300,000) and the CD player may show a very minor improvement (really close to call-could go either way) plugged into the conditioner during the day, but at night time, when I do most of my listening, CD sound is definitely better plugged straight into the wall, so that's where it is all the time. So my advice would be to investigate good powercords for your system first unless you're using a turntable which "may" benefit from some kind of conditioning.
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