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I've been considering adding a balanced power transformer to my system. I'll probably go with something from Equitech or BPT but recently came across Toroid Corp. in MD that seems to manufacture something similar. Would a Toroid product be close in performance to a similar Equitech (thinking a Son of Q 1500VA model)? Link to Toroid product below.
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I have experience with both Toroid Corporation of Maryland balanced transformers and Equi=Tech Q type. The larger size Toroid Corp transformers are not as good as the Equi=Tech Q type. The Q types are larger compared to equivalent rated Toroids. I have been using the small Toroid Corp transformers with sources and preamps for many years.
Sounds better to me! Rid my system of radio station gremlins and just sounded better. Surprisingly, the turntable sounded better too.
Your gear needs to be third wire grounded or double insulated. Old metal chassis electronics that take one AC prong to be ground would be very exciting!
I can see where wiring a room full of balanced AC wall outlets could raise unexpected problems but a dedicated quad or whatever for the stereo should be very reasonably safe. Don't quite get the GFCI requirement. Is a 60 V ground fault worse than a 120 v ground fault? It's probably to act as a last ditch safety measure if the other limitations are not observed.
The toroid solution will allow a wider band of noise through so you probably would get better performance from a standard E style core.
Mike
I was exploring this idea because I keep reading about supposed sonic benefits, and not because I have some obvious power problem (the only noise I have in my system is a very slight hiss that can only be heard a couple inches from the speaker, pretty normal). I'd really be curious to read if anyone realizes a sonic benefit from a power conditioner/regenerator even if not trying to address an obvious hum or other issue. Or is there noise in the power delivery I don't perceive, yet, when "removed," will yield a sonic benefit?
An Overview of Audio System
Grounding and Interfacing
by
Bill Whitlock, President
Jensen Transformers, Inc.
Life Fellow, Audio Engineering Society
Life Senior
So-Called “Balanced Power”
• Properly called SYMMETRICAL power
• Has very seductive intuitive appeal
• NOT similar to balanced audio lines in any way!
• Uses transformer having 120 V center-tapped secondary
• Both line and neutral output blades are energized at 60 V
• Although advertising often implies endorsement, NEC seriously restricts
its use – because it’s potentially dangerous!
• ONLY FOR PROFESSIONAL USE
• NOT to be used with lighting equipment, especially screw-base bulbs
• MUST have GFCI at outputs
• Only technical function is to reduce leakage currents
• Leakage currents are trivial system noise sources
• Reported noise reduction generally less than 10 dB
• Any real benefit likely due to its clustered outletsThis is an example of “marketing gone wild” if ever there was one!
From page 201, PDF Link below.
Edits: 05/18/14
I'm going to pull my balanced power conditioner out of my system this week and compare. Always wondered what ever happened to the balanced power theory. Not many manufacturers using it any more. Maybe they got scared away?
Interesting read--thanks. So I guess I shouldn't waste my money.
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