Isolation Transformer and Balanced Power versus PS Audio Regenerator

[Ricardo007]

Hello
I want to isolate m'y streaming bedroom system fron thé TV and PoE WiFi AP.
Any suggestion for balance isolation transformer one or 2 output for Europe ?

 

[CKKeung]

Hello
I want to isolate m'y streaming bedroom system fron thé TV and PoE WiFi AP.
Any suggestion for balance isolation transformer one or 2 output for Europe ?

PLiXiR got 3 series of balanced transformer conditioners :
Elite Series ; Cube Series ; Elementa Series.

Elite BAC 400 – Plixir Power

www.plixirpower.com

All Products – Plixir Power

www.plixirpower.com

All Products – Plixir Power

www.plixirpower.com

Highly recommended!

 

[Ricardo007]

PLiXiR got 3 series of balanced transformer conditioners :
Elite Series ; Cube Series ; Elementa Series.

Elite BAC 400 – Plixir Power

www.plixirpower.com

All Products – Plixir Power

www.plixirpower.com

All Products – Plixir Power

www.plixirpower.com

Highly recommended!

Thanks CK!
My system has no earth wire in the wall so just phase and neutral. In that case, does it still make sense to use a balanced isolation transformer versus a standard isolation transformer?

 

[CKKeung]

Thanks CK!
My system has no earth wire in the wall so just phase and neutral. In that case, does it still make sense to use a balanced isolation transformer versus a standard isolation transformer?

Hi Ricardo,
Then probably you have to consider non-balanced type of isolation tranformer conditioners instead.
The same situation is in Japan, where most of the mains are two-ponged.

 

[LL21]

Hi Ricardo,
Then probably you have to consider non-balanced type of isolation tranformer conditioners instead.
The same situation is in Japan, where most of the mains are two-ponged.

Does your Plixir eliminate ground loop hum?

 

[QuadDiffuser]

Four of my seven PLiXiR Elite BACs are in this pic - I’m so happy that every front-end component (and their outboard DC power supplies) are now fed with AC power from the “magnificent seven” Elite BACs !

 

[Jeffy]

PLiXiR got 3 series of balanced transformer conditioners :
Elite Series ; Cube Series ; Elementa Series.

Elite BAC 400 – Plixir Power

www.plixirpower.com

All Products – Plixir Power

www.plixirpower.com

All Products – Plixir Power

www.plixirpower.com

Highly recommended!

Why can't they just make a one plug version. I would put 6 of them on each of my dedicated lines,

 

[Michael Davitt]

This was a great string, I had a power conditioner back in the 90s but I felt my amp was being choked down, maybe time to revisit some new devices. How many others here unplug from ac when not in use. Had a serious melt down with a power surge a few years back ?

 

[DetroitVinylRob]

Wouldn’t a regenerator be the only devise to guarantee proper voltage to motorized devises (transports, turntables, tape decks) in an under supply condition? I often recall my PS Audio Premier displaying a line input with low voltage or momentary dropouts. On the output, it displayed low distortion THD and a rock steady117 VAC @ 60Hz. It was my experience in Listening that these devices often sounded much better on the PS than direct connected to the wall.

I understand a preamp or especially power amplifier sounding better not on a devise that limits dynamic instantaneous current.

 

[ArnoFenn]

We keep it as simple as possible Kris, a DC filter of 16,500 uF is all that is required. The transformers do the rest. Start up is handled by a 2 stage process, a current limiting switch and direct switch in parallel. This proved better sonically than relays etc..

To my knowledge, no other unit uses multiple circuits, this is key to get the best out of the principle of balanced power, the improvement is not subtle either, and immediately obvious..

KR,
Paul

Paul, since it is about AC, what are the capacitors for wrt DC?

 

[Uk Paul]

ArnoFenn,

The caps block any residual DC component riding on the AC line introduced by half wave rectifiers in many household appliances, commonly causing toroidal's to hum.
Rgds,
Paul

 

[Cedar]

Has anyone used balanced isolation transformers provided by Toroid Corporation, located in Maryland? They offer transformers in enclosures.

Balanced Transformer with Enclosure – 2000VA

Enclosed Balanced Power Transformers for Audio Applications *If out of stock, 1-5 pieces can be manufactured in 2-4 weeks (Higher quantities will be put in at normal lead times).

toroid.com

 

[ArnoFenn]

Currently I am working on having my dedicated audio power supply upgraded to 10 AWG and ending in a 6x furutech box at the audio system.
Secondly I received the isolation transformer (3kVA) this week and will connect this soon at the incoming side.

http://www.amplimo.nl/images/downloads/ds%20audio/XN1903PS.pdf

I am going that direction after doing several listening trials with 2 older 1.5kVA transformers, connected as balanced (without shield/screen) and the difference was substantial (for the positive) with the transformers.

From the furutech-box, the SET amps are directly fed as well as the tube phono-pre. The rest, mainly digital is going through an IsoTek.

 

[heebrog]

ArnoFenn,

The caps block any residual DC component riding on the AC line introduced by half wave rectifiers in many household appliances, commonly causing toroidal's to hum.
Rgds,
Paul

Hi Uk Paul,

This may be a silly question but can you please explain what is stopping residual DC on an incoming AC line causing vibration and hum on the toroidal transformer of the Symetrica?

 

[Uk Paul]

Hi Uk Paul,

This may be a silly question but can you please explain what is stopping residual DC on an incoming AC line causing vibration and hum on the toroidal transformer of the Symetrica?

heebrog,

Hello; we use 2 large Vishay capacitors and a 35amp bridge rectifier (in parallel to the caps), all in series on the primary side of course.

SYMETRICA – Balanced Output AC Power Supply

Probably the biggest upgrade without changing the whole system? SYMETRICA by Z:Axis Audio Because life should be balanced.. Early Review of a pre production version here PRODUC…

zaxisaudio.com

Best Regards,
Paul

 

[ArnoFenn]

Had some days of listening trials with/without isolation transformer....and this is not a subtle difference I must say. Second thought was, did it get better or worse with the transformer. Listening to a double bass, without seemed better, but voices....500% for the transformer better. Now my analysis would be that the any distortion/noise added to a single double base gives it some extra crunch/harmonics etc...but this is destroying the mids of a voice. Next steps, get a nice cabinet and install the transformer ;-)

 

[QuadDiffuser]

I don’t remember the exact source of this information, but FWIW, it was from a North American toroidal isolation transformer manufacturer. Note the first graph - most relevant for audio. Basically obliterates common mode noise on the AC line. The graph to the R also says “common mode”, but I suspect that it’s a typo - it should read “differential (normal) mode”.

I wished that “power conditioner” manufacturers would be more transparent with the objective data / measurements of their products and provide more graphs like these!

 

[cal3713]

Haven't read the entire thread, so please do let me know if this issue has been addressed, but...

I've had very mixed results with my balanced power unit (BPT 10.5 Ultra). There's no doubt that it improves my digital equipment, but I've had two tube preamps that just don't sound right on it. Given the basics of the technology, I am convinced that I'd hear the same thing on any balanced power based conditioner. Both of those pres did improve when plugged into my Elgar power conditioner though (bought on Ralph's recommendation @Atmasphere). And my First Watt amps prefer being straight into the wall.

The variance in experiences across devices makes it very difficult for me to make solid recommendations about power, other than that dealing with it is essential.

The effects are always small, but they're of a really important type. The noise that otherwise makes it through just makes it impossible to fully relax into the music in my system. Sadly, I'm also sure I'm not all the way there yet.

 

[Atmasphere]

Both of those pres did improve when plugged into my Elgar power conditioner though

Did you get the Elgar refurbished?

 

[cal3713]

Did you get the Elgar refurbished?

Not yet. I was planning on doing it myself, but then it sounded too good to unplug (and was also so f***ing heavy I didn't want to move it). I was actually going to email you and see if you happened to have a BOM for a 6006B...

Thanks again for the recommendation. As I said above, I still prefer my amps straight to the wall, but everything else sounds way worse without it. I also run my balanced power conditioner on the Elgar line.