Opinions on Power Regenerators and Tube Amps

I use an MIT passive filter in the form of the "Z-Strip" and I noticed a rather obvious improvement in noise floor reduction. I recommend it based on several experiments where I would add it and then remove it to see the difference. It works consistently with everything. But I haven't tried any others so.... My audio buddies use the PS Audio Ultimate Outlets and got similar results.

My reservation about power regenerators is that many times, more noise comes from the stereo components than the incoming power. I have seen this MANY times testing electronic equipment in my lab. You can even see the results that the rat's nest of cables can bring on - by jiggling the cables, you can see the noise level change on an oscilloscope. It is interesting and scary at the same time. A regenerator won't make a bit of difference here since the noise is injected downstream of it.

However, it is unclear as to whether your problem is the incoming power or your amps. At very high gain, everything is amplified and there is no way to know what is the cause without experimenting. If the regenerator lowers your noise floor, then the problem was your power. If not, it is your amps. I am inclined to believe it is the residual noise floor of your amps you are hearing.

Since the noise isn't really coming from your tweeter, I suspect you may be hearing spurious noise from your power supply in 60 and/or 120Hz form. Only that frequency range would be audible from your woofers and mids. The noise I was talking about before is much higher in frequency and so is only heard in the tweeter. I don't think any regenerator is going to solve this problem but passive filtering might. Let us know what you find out!

Arthur

I almost always agree with Nsgarsh,but I'm not sure about this latest thought.For me,regenerated power has a distinctive advantage.
I have a dedicated room,with three dedicated lines.I recently had a new,quality circuit breaker box installed,in basement.Nice Improvement!!I added PS Audio ultimate outlets to my front end stuff,after hearing them(CD/LP/Pre/phono),with my amp plugged into a UPC 200.All were superior to wall,and previous passive stuff.THEN I got a PS Audio P-500 for my front end stuff.I have amps on another line and don't want to pull everything from one outlet,so they will not be run from regenerated a/c("drats").The difference with the P-500,only on pre/phonostage,CD player,turntable,was DRAMATIC.Obviously way beyond the very good Ultimate outlets.Not close,actually.I don't know,for sure,if it is the "balanced power" or the perfect regenerated sine wave.Probably both.BUT I can now,not live without this.The business of eaking itsy bitsy tweaks in other areas,like the latest cone,or shelf,though very important,pales by comparison.
My conclusion is anyone NOT running a well thought out "power management system" has not heard what their stuff can do.I was surprised myself,and remember,I had three superb dedicated lines,and went through a good amount of passive filter/conditioners too.
One thing though....Now that I have become SO smitten,with an area of the hobby that I really knew little about(thinking passive,non-balanced or regenerated devices were enough),I have "gone to town" trying to gain as much info as possible,in an effort to truly get a grip on this stuff.For now,even with some of the newer hoity toity regenerators about to come out,there is still the issue of heat,AND do you really want to pull ALL of the system's power from one wall outlet(even the wiring,in the wall can limit power,and add resistence,so I've read).One reason why I split up my front end and amp electrical sources.
Yet,that being said(and no guarantee of being an issue for many)based on what I have read,recently,I would love to run my system on an Exact Power Ep-15a,coupled with the NEW Exact Power Ultra Clean unit!!Though pricey,it is less money than many of the high quality cartridges so many of us talk about,and with very little heat dissapation,AND balanced,essentially regenerated power,the whole system can be run.TO THE NINES!!I can only imagine how great an improvement this configuration can make.There is a new unit,sold by Bryston(the Torus) which has HUGE oversized transformers,made by Plitron,which does NOT regenerate,yet is balanced,and probably stores a TON of energy.It is supposed to be fantastic!Three thousand US dollars.This is a nice "one box" alternative to the magnificent "Exact Power EP-15a/Ultra Clean" two box set-up,and cheaper than that combo.Yet,so few advanced hobbyists are actually aware of this aspect of line maintenance.I was not,and have some very high brow friends who would rather eat nails,than put anything between their components,and their "dirty" outlets.
But they have no problems upgrading to four to five thousand dollar cartridges,or spending big bucks for great NOS tubes.BTW,if I had not already bought my P-500,my tastes would run to the Exact Power combo.But it's too late now.I saved alot of money,but when it comes to this hobby,I usually opt for the better configured product.Too bad I was clueless,only two weeks ago!
Best!

Sorry!Forgot to mention that I don't play around with the different waveform settings,on my P-500.Set for 60 hz/117 volts continuos.The "System Clean" demag feature seems cute,but I simply use it,and have not bothered to A/B it.A SIN,but it is SO over the top good,that I don't care.

Ok, one thing is for sure, all of you people can type better than I can! This has been an education for me. I had no idea most of the equipment discussed here even existed. Thanks for sharing your experience, and expertise, everyone. I'm now convinced that doing SOMETHING with power is much more than a tweek, and that is true even if my ac is not overly "dirty". I have a long way to go. Only two weeks ago, I ran the dedicated line to my tube amp. A month ago I was replacing all my cables with Synergistic Resolution Ref. I still have unshielded power cables in my system. I now have a very good idea what is next......I'm feeling a big lean in the direction of an SP15A, once my wallet recovers from the cables. Last winter I put V-Caps in the Mesa. It's what is so much fun about this hobby......listening to music that sounds somehow better than it did before.