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Power Line Conditioner worth it, or just a farkle?

ChopperChas

ChopperChas

Super Member
Found a power line conditioner in my dad's old computer stuff, and re-purposed it for HiFi. It's a OneAC CP-1103 power line conditioner.... weighs a ton. Hooked it up to my tube amp and tube phono stage.

Well... what really is the use of this? Because I don't hear any difference. Is this another one of those things where people can swear they can hear the difference between $4 worth of lamp cord and $1200 gold-plated speaker wire impregnated with panda tears? Or does the conditioner have a use beyond what I am hearing?

Charles.
 
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Dirty power? Is that like when I was a kid, and mom would run the vacuum and we'd all start yelling because it turned the TV screen to crap while we were trying to play Nintendo?

Charles.
 
If you live in an older neighborhood, or an older apartment, condo building it could be helpful. In most areas the power grid has not been up graded much since it was installed, and older buildings may have older style florescent lighting with magnetic ballasts, which do put "noise" on the neutral, for one thing. However in those areas voltage fluctuations are more of a concern, so you need something that does both voltage & surge protection. Tripp-lite makes conditioners with surge protection.
 
I ran one in an apartment and it made a noticeable difference on my system. After I moved into my house I stopped using it because it made no appreciable difference in that environment
 
240sx4u said:
I ran one in an apartment and it made a noticeable difference on my system. After I moved into my house I stopped using it because it made no appreciable difference in that environment
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I needed the conditioning part when I was hooked up to the power from the breaker box.
Every time the swamp cooler kicked on a pop went through the stereo.
 
I have been considering getting one just to play it safe. I do a good bit of tape recording and want to protect my recordings. I have a friend that is an electrician and he ran a dedicated 20 amp line to my stereo. It made a noticeable difference.
 
ChopperChas said:
Found a power line conditioner in my dad's old computer stuff, and re-purposed it for HiFi. It's a OneAC CP-1103 power line conditioner.... weighs a ton. Hooked it up to my tube amp and tube phono stage.

Well... what really is the use of this? Because I don't hear any difference. Is this another one of those things where people can swear they can hear the difference between $4 worth of lamp cord and $1200 gold-plated speaker wire impregnated with panda tears? Or does the conditioner have a use beyond what I am hearing?

Charles.
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You've pretty much answered your own question when you said you don't hear any difference. It's one of those things you buy because you need it - no magic wires involved. Depending on what the 'conditioner' was designed for it was likely to protect your dad's computer gear from line fluctuations which is not something everyone needs or think they need.
 
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IMO, it certainly can't hurt. You are not going to HEAR any difference. That's not what line conditioners are for. It's like saying I don't HEAR any difference when I put a fuse in a circuit. It's not there for audio purity, it's for protection. Same goes for the conditioner. I suppose if you had a really horrific power company (like some 3rd world Countries) you may hear a difference with a conditioner inline, but not generally.

Myself, I use a UPS for power to my expensive rigs just to ensure steady voltage and to stop power spikes. On my other rigs I use wall mounted surge protectors.
 
Hope he doesn't mind me quoting him

But Nelson Pass (Pass Labs) has said to me

"It is the foundation of every system".

I sort of take his word for it because I REALLY think he knows what he is talking about...

On a personal note, I recently did my power and wow...THATS where black backgrounds start...
 
Not everything in life needs "A Study" to be relevant. I don't refer to any "Studies" to know that I should not stare directly at the Sun.

Why put a fuse inline? I have not read any "Studies" about this. Yet, so many manufacturers use fuses, and so do I. Don't need to read a "Study". It's just PRUDENT.

BTW, most UPS manufacturers can bury you in paperwork if you really want a "Study". I went to an electronics show once and I got a ream of paper showing lots of data of why I absolutely needed a UPS. They are trying to sell UPS devices, so their studies will make you think that most power in the U.S. is filthy. ;)
 
woodj said:
The statement has been made "it can't hurt". Is that a fact; based on what studies?
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It's a reasonable conclusion based on limited commentary suggesting that line conditioners make SQ worse. Of course, on the internet you can always find a contrary point of view. However, the vast majority of articles, product reviews, etc. (based on my rigorous 5 minute Google search) indicate improved SQ or no change.

Interestingly, there's an AK thread on the same subject that's almost 10 years old, with very similar comments, http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/archive/index.php/t-25551.html. Déjà vu.
 
PAGS said:
It's a reasonable conclusion based on limited commentary suggesting that line conditioners make SQ worse. Of course, on the internet you can always find a contrary point of view. However, the vast majority of articles, product reviews, etc. (based on my rigorous 5 minute Google search) indicate improved SQ or no change.

Interestingly, there's an AK thread on the same subject that's almost 10 years old, with very similar comments, http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/archive/index.php/t-25551.html. Déjà vu.
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Yeppur.

Just about any data you wish to evoke, you can find a contrary point somewhere in searching. You gotta' love cheap instant information!

Love the line... "Rigorous 5 mintue Google Search". :D
You deserve some time out now, sir!
 
Understand I was being the devil's advocate here. "It can't hurt" just seemed like a pretty broad based statement.
 
APC Corporation can bury you in data showing charts and graphs of why you can't connect sensitive electronic equipment directly into your wall socket. It's almost comical how bad they make U.S. 110 Volt domestic power appear "On Paper". But again, they are trying to sell UPS units far and wide. It's their job to try and scare you into buying a UPS.
 
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