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RE: Power conditioners vs. isolation transformers

Posted by d3vkb on April 5, 2011 at 19:34:21

In Reply to: Power conditioners vs. isolation transformers posted by Jack D II on April 4, 2011 at 16:42:36:

Isolation transformer: uses transformer to isolate A/C from wall. Helps.
Can be a 1:1 normal (120V hot/0volt neutral) with no other filtering, or a split to 'technical power: which is a 60V/60V with both legs carrying a 60V to add together to make 120V. (illegal for lighting, or in the wall without special warnings etc, certainly illegal inside residential walls) 60v/60v is good for ANY electronics and any stereo gear.
(I use only technical power 60V/60V for all my gear)
The advantages of 60v/60v are beyond my making a reasonable and valid technical attempt to explain, other than it is good.
A good quality isolation transformer that hangs on wall at Goertz online store with prices from $285 to $433. Recommended if you just want an isolation transformer with 60v/60v technical power.
Other kinds and brands of isolation transformers are available. Mostly from hospital and industrial sources... which makes them a kind of unknown, other than some folks say they use them.

Then for powerline conditioners.
Two real sort of different types.
The first is like your Monster, only better. Various Monster, Furman, types around. I own several of these: A Monster 5000, a Monster 7000SS, a Furman REF20i.
These have various bits to clean and refine the power. For these bigger IS usually better. And the top of the line Monster. and Furman are pretty good. Both create 60v/60v balanced power. (the Monster has a switch to use 60/60 or 120/0 at the flip of a switch)
The other type is a "regenerator" like the now somewhat famous PS Audio Premier Power Plant, which is basically an amplifier making a 60hz output. They use a lot more power to recreate the A/C from scratch so to speak. And that is the one drawback: they use about twice the power they make. And so cost a lot to use for all the equipment. For specialized items, they are great if costly to use in that fashion. I own two PS Audio regenerators used for spcial tasks only, so they use little power as they are not used for amps or big current hungry items. (I own a Ps Audio PPP and use it for a few small wattage devices in the 'tube power output setting', and I also just bought used a giant PS Audio P600 regenerator, which i plane to set to 90hz ouput instead of the normal 60hz, and use it for my preamps and one ot two sources only (the PS Audio P600,1000,2000 were unique in that they could alter the output frequency. super cool in my book. even though they weigh a TON and are HUGE devices.)
Within the above are some which can adjust the voltage output to a specific voltage. The PS Audio PPP is set to 120v ditto Furman, and Monster. The PS Audio P600 can be adjusted to a variety of output voltages in 1V increments.
Another type of device is the Monster AVS2000 voltage regulator. It does nothing but keep the output at 120 volts using a GIANT reostat and weighs a ton. (I own one, but not for any reason. Buy ONLY if you have a lot of BIG voltage fluctuations. Normal fructuations are from 114v to 125v in a day. If you get down to 110v and up to 130v get a voltage regulator or a powerline device that includes one built in.

Then the third sort are the high end conditioners, Richard Gray, etc which use different sorts of way to filter, and usually cost a LOT more.
Some even have big Teflon caps $$$$
I have NO experience with these, and would need to defer to others with experience in this area. They range in price from a few thousand to many thousands. But are highly recommended by folks I trust. I would not buy them as they are not a real bang for the buck. But ARE high end for the well heeled.

Then whole house ones, which are REALLY expensive, and permanent. I would NOT recommend these as they are built in, cannot be changed if they do not please. So you would be taking a BIG leap of faith to install one if these. They cost $5,000 to $15,000. And I would NOT recommend them ONLY because ofthe high initial cost AND no changing your mind if they do not do what you want.

Edits: 04/05/11 04/05/11 04/05/11

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