DOEPKE Residual Current Circuit Breaker AUDIO GRADE

[Stereophonic]

First impressions after 24hrs.
Sound changes constantly, very extended sometimes, energetic other time, very controlled other time....
It seems hard to break in....

 

[Stereophonic]

https://www.hifi-advice.com/blog/audiophile-insights/doepke/
I don’t listen still that:
“Within a few bars of music, it was clear that the bass had become more authoritative but without also becoming fat or less well-defined. It was unmistakably more robust but still crispy and absolutely nothing was lost in terms of speed, transient attack or articulation.”

 

[Rocoa]

Stereophonic,

I'm afraid you'll have to be patient and in two weeks you will enjoy the full sound in your system.
Cheers

 

[Stereophonic]

Thank you very much.
As always, patience is mandatory....

 

[Blackmorec]

And as my wife is fond of saying’ “patience comes to those who wait”

 

[Stereophonic]

And as my wife if fond of saying’ “patience comes to those who wait”

 

[Blackmorec]

Well here we go. Electrician scheduled for 2 weeks hence. My upgraded LPSs will have been installed for 3.5 weeks so will have 600 hours so any changes i hear will be down to the new mains topology and switches.

 

[Blackmorec]

And here’s what its replacing. In essence this new set up will replace 2 x 100amp cut-out switches plus an RCD switch with a simple RCCB (`Doepke). In addition it will replace 2 fuses with the far superior contacts of the GigaWatt MCBs. Finally it will completely bypass the household consumer unit and will place the ground at the earthing point upstream of the ALL house grounding points, so should be a lot quieter. I’m going to oversee the installation to make sure aesthetics plays a role. When you spend what these cost, you want something nice for your money and not a rat’s nest of cables like the above

 

[Blackmorec]

Just to follow on; interesting little note in the Doepke Switch box.

If you are running a dedicated line or lines for your hi-fi in a dedicated consumer unit, they recommend taking your hi-fi neutrals straight to the terminal of the Doepke switch, bypassing the neutral rails in your CU. There’s plenty room for multiple cables. Apparently it makes a positive difference to SQ. Interesting
Of course, this is only something with your qualified electrician as we‘re dealing with very lethal currents and this is the SAFETY switch we’re talking about.

 

[Kingrex]

Non of this equipment or installation topology is USA legal.

Even an under the table install would be odd as you would have to feed the Doepke or Gigawatt circuit breaker with a USA breaker. So all you did was add wire, terminations and contacts between your rack and panel. You have also screwed up your ground plain and probably introduced loops.

You could build up a subpanel at your audio room with the gigawatt breakers. But they are not UL so god forbid a fire occurs, you may find your homeowner insurance 100% legitimate in denying any insurance coverage.

The Doepke CB appear to be 240 volt usng 2 phases which is not USA standard. No one knowing what they are doing in the USA powering audio uses a 240 volt breaker for a number of reasons.

As for outside the USA. Your lucky you have aftermarket power supply devices to play with.

 

[Kingrex]

And FWIW, when I install audio power infrastructure, there is very little up and down. Its an immediate and apparent loweing of noise. Kind of a calm. Dynamics jump. Similar sound pressure levels are achieved with lower setting on the preamp. All this 100 hours break in, ups and down. Its not normal. It brings into question psychological influences.

A good audio install feeds all new branch circuits and leaves the original house power intact. Branch wiring is were the lions gain of improvements is achieved. That and proper grounding. It should be fairly easy to plug back into normal power 3 months down the road and A/B between your audiophile upgrades and baseline. This gives a much truer indication of what changes are apparent.

 

[audioblazer]

Turbocharged the syst replacing a cryoed abl sursum elcb & 2 cryoed ABL Sursum MCb with Doepke & Gigawatt MCB

 

[_Alchemist_]

has anyone compared the gigawatt vs fuse holders like this one

Kemp Elektroniks | Supreme³, gold plated | Cylindric Fuse Cartridge

Supreme audio grade replacement for ALL standard circuit breakersDurably silver/gold plated contacts for best conductivityCryogen treated and demagnetizedOne HiFi-Tuning Supreme³ Copper or Quantum Sience Audio Blue fuse and neutral rod installedIncluding silver plated spare fuseAvailable in 16...

www.kempelektroniksshop.nl

I'm about to order the doepke and just hesitating which surge protection to use behind it

 

[Blackmorec]

Scroll up about 4 posts and you’ll see I replaced exactly that type of fuse holder with Gigawatt circuit breakers. The Gigawatts are a lot better

 

[_Alchemist_]

Scroll up about 4 posts and you’ll see I replaced exactly that type of fuse holder with Gigawatt circuit breakers. The Gigawatts are a lot better

Thanks for your fast reply, I will order them right away then!

 

[marty]

has anyone compared the gigawatt vs fuse holders like this one

Kemp Elektroniks | Supreme³, gold plated | Cylindric Fuse Cartridge

Supreme audio grade replacement for ALL standard circuit breakersDurably silver/gold plated contacts for best conductivityCryogen treated and demagnetizedOne HiFi-Tuning Supreme³ Copper or Quantum Sience Audio Blue fuse and neutral rod installedIncluding silver plated spare fuseAvailable in 16...

www.kempelektroniksshop.nl

I'm about to order the doepke and just hesitating which surge protection to use behind it

Kemp Elektroniks Supreme³, gold plated Cylindric Fuse Cartridge​

Are these UL approved for use in the USA? (I presume they are not ).
Doe anyone know of a good "audio grade" circuit breaker for use in the USA?.

You are fortunate in the EU to have access to "better sounding" breakers than we do in the US.
Pisses me off....arghhhh!!

 

[_Alchemist_]

Kemp Elektroniks Supreme³, gold plated Cylindric Fuse Cartridge​

Are these UL approved for use in the USA? (I presume they are not ).
Doe anyone know of a good "audio grade" circuit breaker for use in the USA?.

You are fortunate in the EU to have access to "better sounding" breakers than we do in the US.
Pisses me off....arghhhh!!

Maybe you can check this out:

Power System Upgrade - Audionirvana.org

I recently had my power system upgraded by Rex Hungerford (kingrex (https://www.audionirvana.org/member/652-kingrex)) and Ed DeVito (UltraFast69 (https://www.audionirvana.org/member/1984-ultrafast69)) who have started a new company, Audio-Ultra (https://www.audio-ultra.com/). Major upgrades...

www.audionirvana.org

http://www.kosmic.us/Power%20System%20Upgrades%20-%20Feb%207%202021%20.pdf

These guys seem to do custom power installs in the US. https://www.audio-ultra.com

 

[matthias]

Power System Upgrade - Audionirvana.org

I recently had my power system upgraded by Rex Hungerford (kingrex (https://www.audionirvana.org/member/652-kingrex)) and Ed DeVito (UltraFast69 (https://www.audionirvana.org/member/1984-ultrafast69)) who have started a new company, Audio-Ultra (https://www.audio-ultra.com/). Major upgrades...

www.audionirvana.org

Very similar to this mains configuration I implemented one for my system a few years ago:

One dedicated in-wall circuit (5 AWG) to the sub panel in the listening room and hard-wired (11 AWG) power cords to the devices.

No power conditioners, all IEC inlets replaced by Neutrik PowerCon 32A.

TBH, optimising the power system is the best what you can do for your set-up.

Matt

 

[_Alchemist_]

I installed a complete new system about 3 weeks ago.
I had ordered the gigawatts and the doepke at the same time but the Doepke was backordered, it only came yesterday.
I installed the lines first with only the gigawatts (but there was still the main 300mA differential behind for protection).
The sound was finally starting to be enjoyable this week.
I just installed the Doepke this afternoon and now it sounds completely plugged.
As reported, the volume is much lower, no bass, lost depth and definition.

What has been your experience regarding the Doepke break in? 2/3 weeks?
They state after 2/3 hours it gets better and then optimal after 50/100 hours. I didn't get a difference yet.

Thanks god I'm going on business trip tomorrow for a couple of weeks, my GF will have to do the break in

 

[Rocoa]

Alchemist,
You should be patient. When you get back from your trip you'll see the change and enjoy listening to the sound enhancement.