Know a Good NYC Electrician for Dedicated Lines?

Be careful you don't run afoul of the co-op board. Best to get their permission, in writing. Also, whoever you use get a copy of his State license and a copy of his insurance certificate that has an endorsement that covers your unit. Those documents should be in hand at least 48 hours before any work is done. That way, when he blows out the master panel for the building you will know damages are covered, assuming his coverage is at least $10 million. Can't be too careful in these matters. My guess, $500 in NYC.

Many thanks for the helpful responses. Will take all comments on board. Agree, Buconero, can't be too careful in these matters.

I'm also in a 1960s Manhattan condo with about 600 units (Kips Bay Towers) Wiring aside, I did some other things that helped greatly with electrical noise:

(1) Power conditioner -- One of the best things I ever did was to get a Shunyata Hydra 8 power conditioner (w. Shunyata power cords.) Amazing improvement, like doing a major upgrade in one of the main components such as an amp. I also plug the amp into it -- no adverse effects, just better sound.

(2) Upgrade the wall outlet -- I had one of the staff remove the old outlet and install a PS Audio outlet (and make sure the outlet was grounded since some of the ones in the building weren't.) Big improvement, everything "snapped to attention" when plugged in, unlike the old outlet.

(3) Add Quietline filters. I added 14 Quietline filters to the various outlets, esp. near the refrigerator. Seemed to reduce the electrical noise.

I just completed an upgrade re-wire project and it most definitely made a positive difference. I had one single 12-gauge run for all my gear going all the way back to the box. Unfortunately, it had to go 70 feet all the way back to get to my main box.

Last year I bought a pair of Magnepan 20.7's which are notoriously hard to drive. So, I added two dedicated 20-amp lines for my mono block amps (very high-powered SS) using 6-gauge from the box all the way to the top on the wall to my listening room, then I connected via a junction box and pulled two nine foot runs of 10-gauge through the wall (a pain, but not impossible). 10 gauge is typically the largest wire that will fit into a wall outlet. I bought two high quality isolated ground wall outlets, one for each mono block.

The difference is easy to hear; more dynamic sound, quieter and blacker background when playing music, images are drawn more concisely, everything seems more defined and articulate, drum whacks and string plucks sound more dynamic, more real. Highly recommend this kind of project. Would recommend that you use the largest gauge wire possible, especially if the total distance is lengthy.

Nori Komuro is a notable designer in the SET amplifier field. He is a degreed electrical engineer but owns and operates an electrical contracting business in NYC. Being an amp designer, I am sure he understands house electrical wiring as it pertains to an audio system better than your average electrician. Don't know the man personally, only by reputation and thought to pass the info along.

http://www.6moons.com/industryfeatures/komuro/komuro.html