Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Anybody here using power conditioners?

My next test will be the ExactPower EP-15. It seems it does the job of the PS Audio models but does not constrict power in any way as it only adds to the waveform to make it perfect rather than creating it from DC which is very inefficient.

Patmarcus,
I can tell you the humming of a 558 gets less to nothing behind my SP15. Real improvement.

Jaco

[This message has been edited by jaco (edited 04-22-2004).]

I understand Exact Power doesn't warrant against damages to a product connected to it's unit, do you know why or if I should even care for that matter?

the EP units are NOT surge surpressors. if somehow a surge hits the house (eg: lightning) the EP unit will not protect your equipment. my guess is that's what that language is all about.

i checked, and my homeowners policy covers me for damage to electronics caused by stuff like lightning strikes (which are rather rare where i live (i've got trees 10X higher than my house near the house). so i didn't stress about it.

fwiw,
doody.

Induction might be more of a problem than a direct lightning hit.
I doubt any filter will survive a direct lightning hit.
I see more problems in higher voltages due to induction. You will only smoke some diveices, and there is no clear mark of a lightning hit. Perhaps hard to explain to the insurances company. I guess you cannot claim damage to the power company for supplying much more than normal voltages ?

Jaco

I use a MIT Z-Center which has a dedicated and separate isolation between Digital and Analog sources.
Never put any amps on power conditioners!
you will loose dynamics the trade-off is that you will get more details, in reality none of us should make any concession!

For power amplifiers I use the MIT Magnum AC-2s, expensive but extraordinary power cables, don't trust me try them if you can afford them. www.mitcables.com

So for a pure Meridian digital theatre system, I will have good power cords on speakers and a power conditioner for the digital front end.

IMO

FB

I use an Exact Power EP15 on all my non amp equipment and highly recommend it. I agree that amps should not run through power conditioners. What I have done for many years now is run all of my amps 220 (I am in the US). You get the benefits of balanced power and no restriction of current delivery to your amps. Not all amps sold in the US can run 220 but for those that can, I think its the way to go.

can someone please explain the mathematics behind not running an amplifier into a power conditioning device?

clearly if you run a 100W amp out of a 50W device that's a bad idea. and if you run it out of a 100W device that's a bad idea 'cuz there's no headroom.

but how much headroom is really the maximum? i mean, if you run that 100W amplifier out of a 1000W device in what situation do you get a degradation of signal -vs- it going straight into the wall?

doody.

Amps can use peak current greatly in excess of the nominal usage. A power conditioner, no matter how well made, incurs some loss in the capacity from the outlet it feeds from. The more amps you connect to the power conditioner and or the closer you run the power conditioner to its rated max, the bigger the problem with limiting peak current.

Aside from this explanation is the one from a number of people in the know. Many amp manufacturers state that power conditioners are not a good idea for their amps. I have talked to the makers of a few conditioners I respect and they state it is best to leave the amps off. Based on their experiences and feedback from customers.

Finally, the technique I always use on questions such as these is try it yourself. The best answer is your own answer.

Never say never regarding power amps on power conditioners.
My DSP 8000's CRANK on my Equitech 5 Q which has 5000 watts of head room. I also used to run my Levinson 336 amp to the heights of heaven, without a problem. The Krell FPB 600C on the otherhand just flat-out jumped the circuit, so I knew it did not jive. I had to put a dedicated 60 amp circuit for that one. So I deduced that either it works, or it overloads.
They do work beautifully though. Best of luck.

So, how would you protect your expensive dsp8k if you want to go directly to the wall? Would a PS Audio Ultimate Outlet HC do the trick? I am most worried about a sudden surge in current.

MJC

[This message has been edited by MJC (edited 04-23-2004).]

As you can see in the "What about the 557 power amp resolution?" thread I'm having abit of a trouble with a PS Audio Ultimate Outlet. PS Audio themselves states that if you are going to run amps on them, the amp need to be by itself behind it. I have broken that rule and have the whole front speakers and amps on the same PS Audio UO.

It worked well with my old Arcam amp, but when I connected the more powerful Meridian 557 Amp it is now restrained in it's presentation on higher volumes. Someone said that it might also be a result of having less dynamic reserves (capacitors) in the amp itself, I do not know how the 557 fares in that regard in comparison to Arcam Alpha 10p.