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I was at Best Buy last night and thought I would try a computer UPS unit. The problem I have been experiencing is Varying AC along with Dirty AC.My question is has anyone had success using other units besides these ultra expensive audio approved units for these problems?
One engineer I spoke with assured me that IsoBars are very useful tools. I do not see how these units would differ greatly if they are designed to overcome virtually the same problems.
Any thoughts?
Follow Ups:
Check out the JR Power Source Kit from DIYcable.com. It's a Jon Risch design, and pricing starts at $125. Easy to build and sounds great.JD
Check out Tripp Lite model LC-1800 power conditioner. I'm modifying one for someone doing studio work. It is designed for high and low voltage problems. I should have an idea of how it sounds tomorrow after the tweaks.
UPS is the worst thing you can add to your audio system. Dont even think of it.
Can you give alittle more detail as to why you say this?Have you tried any of the units If so which ones and which have you found to enhance performance?
Just trying to get some info over here!
TIA,NS
I work for a large-scale-computing manufacturer, and have access to lots and lots of computer power equipment. I've done some personal tests with computer power conditioning equipment, and found that it works poorly with a hi-rez audio system.One thing to consider with what most of the world calls a "UPS" is that it really isn't. UPS stands for Uninterruptible Power Supply, but 90% of the units available, and certainly the inexpensive ones (i.e. below $10K), are really an SPS - Standby Power Supply. IOW, they are not active all the time, they are in standby and switch to battery power shortly after a power failure or sag is detected. Because of this confusion, manufacturers of _real_ UPS' now call their devices "Online UPS." An online UPS is always running your equipment off its battery, instead of having the battery sit in standby. AC is used to constantly replenish the battery in an online system.
So there are a few problems with the standard SPS-type UPS. First of all, they generate incredible electrical noise. Nearly all claim to isolate EMI/RFI, but it doesn't matter because they make their own. Switching power supplies and digital circuitry in computers don't care much about AC line noise, so it doesn't matter in a computer environment. It DOES matter with non-switching power supplies, analog circuitry and discrete components in the audio world. Another issue is that most SPS-type UPS' don't output a very good approximation of the input AC wave, which again doesn't matter in the computer world except for some very large systems, but does matter to audio gear.
One thing switching power supplies ARE very sensitive to is over-voltage or under-voltage situations. Well guess what? The non-switched power supplies in a lot of audio gear are NOT very sensitive to over-volt or under-volt by comparison. But, since the computer equipment is sensitive, the UPS manufacturers build circuitry into them to adjust voltage within the computer PS tolerances. So the unit will clip over-volt and momentarily switch to battery to boost under-volt. Clipping the AC waveform is something non-switching PS' don't like. All that switching on and off of the battery makes noise - line noise, RFI, EMI.
The last knock against computer-specific SPS-type UPS' is that they tend to run a bit hot, especially when on battery, so they are equipped with fans. Since the designers expect that these units will be put in computer rooms or other out-of-the-way closets or the like, they don't pay much attention to how noisy the fan is. That's not exactly what an audiophile wants, is it?
OTOH there are the real "on-line" UPS'. I did some tests with one very expensive unit, and found that if I had a place to put it (they are large and even noisier than the SPS units) and could afford it (they are very expensive, then careful selection might yield a device that would condition my power without too much in the way of sonic degradation.
It just isn't worth it though.
Well it's real discouraging to know there really is not a fix for my particular problem!I sahll go the route of getting a dedicated line and clean up the ground plate and other things.
I notice things that are negative about the unit already having to do with sound. I thought they might improve over time or breakin.
Thanks for the info.
nt
I have now tried 37 different units ranging from PS Audio, UPSs, Sound
Application, etc. I have four now that I think add greatly while subtracting little. They are the Sound Application LineStage, the Walker Velocitor, the Harmonix, and now the Equi=Tech. These all sound different but are all quite good. Apart from these, IMHO you are wasting your money. Doing without sounds much better than using them.
I just added a Music Ring MR 1200 to my system. What it does to improve my digital front end has to be heard to be believed. It reaps improvements on the analog side too, just not to the same magnitude. I would recommend it for sure.Oz
i too have tried quite a few plcs ,with various degrees of mixed results. i found that isolation transformers ,with some filtering , is the most natural sound.(ps ,sa, r.g, monster, stealth, etc) were too "chocky", for me.
i did hear that both the velocitor ,and the harmonix(reimyo als 777), work from a similar platform and the results are quite good. any body cares to comment on the harmoinx in particular and the velocitor as a comparison?
I'll second the Equitech!
I partially agree. I would not think of using one on my amps, but my CDP and EQ both seem to benefit from them.--
John C.
That sounds like a plan to me!I am waiting for the Line AC to get really bad to see what happens .
I agree with others about plugging amps directly into Wall Sockets.
These UPS units I guess muddy things up more than help!
Guess this unit goes on the computer and Monitor soon.No loss! I knew if it did not do what I wanted I would use it for another app..
Thx!
I'm looking for something similar to you. I've heard some good things about the Brick Wall power filters and surge protectors.
See: http://www.pricewheeler.com/prod8r.htmDoes anyone here use any of these products? They seem reasonably priced.
-j
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fr
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I looked under ac filters
mj
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