Turntables and power conditioners?

Hi Gilles130,

I use a Monarchy AC-regenerator, which was very highly recommended by Jean Nantais, who rebuilt my Lenco to what he calls Reference Mk II status. At least with this turntable, the re-generator results in better focus of instruments, crisper transients, and improved perception of micro-detail. It's a subtle difference but clearly audible.

Monarchy is a small company in San Francisco that's been making amps for quite a while. Their re-generator is well- made and inexpensive (around $6-700 as I recall, sold direct). Though it only outputs 100 watts and accommodates just two plugs, it's perfect for powering one or two turntables. You can vary voltage output in 1-volt steps from 110 to 120, and select 50hz or 60hz.

Jean outputs to his Lenco at 110v because, he says, that's the spec for Lenco motors. I use 115v because I have a Brinkmann Oasis plugged into it, too, which wants to see 115v.

On the OP question of whether or not isolate turntables from the power mains, I'll add that Brinkmann sells a tubed power supply that's supposed to improve sound in large part by isolating the TT motor from the vagaries of AC mains, according to their whitepaper on the subject. The price for that item is around $4,300. The Monarchy does something similar for a small fraction of the cost, and you can use it with more than one turntable.

Best,
Bill

Same as you. Wall, no conditioner.

I too use a Monarchy AC regenerator to power my TT motor(VPI Scout/300 RPM) but I also use a Walker Audio Motor controller AC regenerator in between the Monarchy and the Scout motor. Yes two AC regenerators may seem like overkill but the results are more than expected and the Walker is specifically designed for TT motors.

I also use the Monarchy AC regenerator to provide power to the power strip that my Synergistic Research Galileo MPC's are plugged into. I've also changed out the "budget" outlet on the back of the Monarchy for an Oyaide R1 with very nice improvements :)

If you really think about it, why would a turntable be immune to the vagaries of the power?

If you think your cd player or preamp sound better with a decent power cord, or that you've discovered they sound better in a power conditioner,why would anyone think that the turntable wouldn't benefit also?

Then again if everything sounds fine plugged into the wall, then the turntable will sound just as good as the rest of the gear that's plugged into the multi outlet sound bar.

I've been spoiled for the last ten years or so with dedicated lines, fancy power cords and power conditioners,and for me there's no turning back.

A Sutherland PHD phono stage was the only item that I owned that was off the grid,and anyone who has experience with battery power has heard the difference running off the grid can make.

Running my Steelhead with an Annaconda Helix power cord into a Hydra 8 to my ears sounds just as quiet as the HPD did.

To some it may seem foolish to spend so much money on power products, but for me they have made the gear plugged into it sound much better.
And it can remain in use if I consider any upgrades to any of the other gear plugged into it.

I used to be on the merry go round for years hopping from one component to the next and even replacing the whole system trying to get to the audio nirvana that the reviewers say is just out there if you buy the new..?

I've found that the sound I was searching for was right there in front of me.

I only had to give it the clean power it needed to perform to it's full potential.

Dear Jedinite, I am not familiar with your AC device, but I am fairly certain it is
not a power regenerator and that it will not do what you think it does to
protect your tt from line voltage variation. At $50, even used, I am guessing
it is an adjustable isolation transformer; for a given stable input AC voltage, it
is able to adjust the output voltage up or down, but it is not an active device.
Thus, when your line voltage sags or surges, the output of your device will
also sag or surge by a proportionate amount. You may be realizing some
benefits from its function as an isolation transformer, however, which is
mainly why you perceive an improvement.

I also think that the Lenco motor does benefit from an active AC regenerator
that has fine control on AC frequency and voltage. Controlling AC frequency
up or down by a few Hz can be used to establish exact correct speed.
Regenerating AC and fine control of voltage and voltage polarity will allow the
motor to run as quietly as possible. In an idler drive turntable, this is mightily
valuable, as there is at least an indirect path for motor noise (in the form of
drive shaft vibration) from motor to platter. I have observed some of these
benefits with my Lenco. For one thing, speed stability is markedly improved;
you can see it with the KAB strobe device. Plus these turntable dedicated
motor controllers isolate your tt from your other audio gear, and vice-versa,
so the motor noise does not get back to your local AC supply to your audio
system.

As to a typical AC regenerator, like those made by PS Audio, those can be of
value if your AC line voltage is "dirty", like if you live in NYC or
similar congested area, or if you have heavy appliances running off your
house AC. But the PS Audio does not permit fine control of AC frequency for
turntable-specific applications.