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In Reply to: RE: Re: Joule Electra tube noise w/ Merlins (long question) posted by Rich Brkich on April 02, 2009 at 08:16:21
Thank you Rich for the feedback and insight! I will look into the Equitech and BPT power conditioners, and I will also look into grounding my rack. I am also going to try more JPS cables, as they seem to really work as advertised. As it is, I am enjoying my system immensely!
Rich, have the Joule VZN-80, LA-150 MKII and Merlin VSM-M speakers. Considering picking up a balanced power conditioner for my system, but only want to invest the money if it will make a real difference in sound and protection.
I have dedicated 20 amp circuits to both the amp and the pre-amp (plus source components). Power fluctuates at both outlets between 118-124 volts. I live in a high lightning area, so lightning and surge protection are a must. Through your experience, would you recommend the Equi=tech or BPT for my situation? If so, which ones have you had the best experiences with? Thanks in advance.
Is the voltage fluctuation long term (i.e. as the day goes by the line voltage drifts up or down over the period of hours) or is the line voltage change short term (jumping up and down over the period of minutes)?
I have heard clear improvements in sound when using these units, especially when we use them in various hotel rooms at trades shows. These transformers based units use their transformers to provide common mode noise rejection... so the quality of performance is dependent to a significant degree on the quality of the transformer.
For example, the entry level Equitech units use nice but cost effective transformers made outside the USA. Their better Q series units use transformers from Plitron (made in Canada IIRC) which are built to better tolerances/winding techniques (possibly also better wire) which cost more.
FWIW - I do not sell Equitech or BPT at this time. I am less familiar with the BPT products, but from their web-site I see they use Plitron transformers... they also look like they have more sophisticated filtering (i.e. more filters in addition to the transformer and the spike/surge protection looks for sophisticated than the Equitech- In general my experience with the "filtered" outlets on the Equitech is that they do not very good sounding). Some of the BPT products use the ERS material... though the few inside pics I see of their units that use it show it is used allot... my experience is that using too much of this stuff can tend to make things start sounding too dry.
Since you are in FLA... I would make sure the spike/surge protection is very good in whatever you get given the amount of lightning Florida gets. From experience with Equitech units in several customer hands, I know they do a good job in spike/surge protection... from their website - it looks like BPT would do a good job too.
What am I using these days???... on more budget gear, I have on of the cheaper Equitech Son of Q units around. For the big rig (Joule, Audio Aero etc) I am using Running Springs PLCs.. mainly on front end (CD/Pre use). On mY OTL's I generally use a JPS Aluminata Power cord (a bit of a power conditioner in its own right) going direct into a 20A JPS In wall Wired circuit.
Happy Listening,
Rich Brkich
Retailer & Audio Asylum Industry Liaison
Rich, thanks so very much for the great response. You're the best. Jim
Jim, I have a nearly identical system as yours and am using the Equitech Model 1.5Q. I have the VZN-80, LAP 150mkII, CD player, etc plugged into it and it works great. I have VSM-MM speakers. I've forgotten what it sounds like without it. I live in Orlando and had the same concerns.
Jim
NT
Happy Listening,
Rich Brkich
Retailer & Audio Asylum Industry Liaison
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