Something New Has Arrived :~)

[Lobbster]

General question on Balanced Power Isolation Transformers implementation. Is it best to have them near the room outlet or is it equally effective wired in at the mains distribution panel using sheilded (BX) AC runs?

 

 TIA!

[tmfidelis]

On 2/9/2020 at 5:49 AM, jabbr said:

I eagerly await what the "100% proprietary design" is  

First, I wish everyone well.

Second, please note I am associated with the product in discussion and sincerely hope readers are not offend that I comment. 

 

Thinking back when we outlined the product description as being "100% proprietary design", we were simply trying to state the main component is not an off the shelf part.

 

As with many manufacturers, the design process begins with extensive computer modeling. In this case, data was entered into MATLAB, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MATLAB. After data analysis, manufacturing specifications were submitted to build samples for testing.

 

The manufacturing specifications included:

 

Transformer core shape.

Transformer core input, (primary).

Transformer core output, (secondary).

Transformer core metallurgy.

Transformer wire gauge and wire shape.

How the wire is wound.

 

Naturally, all is meaningless if the results yield poor measurements and bad sounding playback systems.

 

Respectfully,

 

Tim Marutani

  

 

[One and a half]

On 2/25/2020 at 2:35 AM, Lobbster said:

General question on Balanced Power Isolation Transformers implementation. Is it best to have them near the room outlet or is it equally effective wired in at the mains distribution panel using sheilded (BX) AC runs?

 

 TIA!

Dedicated line from the main panel to the audio system trumps a line conditioner plugged into a standard wired wall socket every day. Some iso transformers are noisy, when lightly loaded, and are best placed at the switchboard. Shielded cable from the Transformer is recommended, since the cable run can be some distance, and can pick up noise from other cables in close proximity. The worst kind of pickup is from a large circuit, like A/C or deteriorating light switches which don't switch clean, and create a click which is audible. Safe distance is 200mm (8 in).

[tmfidelis]

On 3/25/2020 at 11:34 PM, One and a half said:

Dedicated line from the main panel to the audio system trumps a line conditioner plugged into a standard wired wall socket every day.

 

Installations have specific requirements unique to each room and playback or production system.

 

Recently, we worked with an electrician that provided a 120v 30A outlet, (NEMA 5-30). The outlet is approximately 30 ft. from the sub panel using 6-gauge wire with a twist at minimum of one turn every 1.0 ft.  The isolation transformer in this application is local with the electronics and provides power for everything in the system. (Each isolation transformer outlet is wired directly to the transformer.)

 

One should note that in room installations using existing electrical outlets may provide benchmark results providing there is ample current.

 

A practical application for dedicated lines from the main panel with an isolation transformer may be for cinema rooms that have a plethora of active and passive speakers.

 

Regards,

 

Tim Marutani

 

[AudioDoctor]

Great... Now another thing I need to buy.  

I need to stop visiting this site... 😉

 

 

[tmfidelis]

24 minutes ago, AudioDoctor said:

Great... Now another thing I need to buy.  

Let's say another area to raise one's attention. Everyone develops a system to different degrees for different reasons. This said, perhaps at some point paying attention to the quality of power, ground, and system ground reference may bring much value. It's not a glamorous purchase but when accomplished with engineering may be extremely rewarding. 

 

Regards,

 

Tim Marutani 

 

 

 

[AudioDoctor]

1 hour ago, tmfidelis said:

Let's say another area to raise one's attention. Everyone develops a system to different degrees for different reasons. This said, perhaps at some point paying attention to the quality of power, ground, and system ground reference may bring much value. It's not a glamorous purchase but when accomplished with engineering may be extremely rewarding. 

 

Regards,

 

Tim Marutani 

 

 

 

 

 

I think that my system has risen to the point where this is something I need to start considering.

[One and a half]

14 hours ago, tmfidelis said:

 

Installations have specific requirements unique to each room and playback or production system.

 

Recently, we worked with an electrician that provided a 120v 30A outlet, (NEMA 5-30). The outlet is approximately 30 ft. from the sub panel using 6-gauge wire with a twist at minimum of one turn every 1.0 ft.  The isolation transformer in this application is local with the electronics and provides power for everything in the system. (Each isolation transformer outlet is wired directly to the transformer.)

 

One should note that in room installations using existing electrical outlets may provide benchmark results providing there is ample current.

 

A practical application for dedicated lines from the main panel with an isolation transformer may be for cinema rooms that have a plethora of active and passive speakers.

 

Regards,

 

Tim Marutani

 

Agreed, in the context of 'power conditioner', the models typically have chokes (not the differential type), a set of caps, and a plethora of VDRs. The combo causes unpleasant reaction with linear audio equipment. As far as isolating the 'high' power and 'low' power device, how is it possible, other than to add in another choke. Power conditioners are great for printers and computers to provide for overvoltage protection, but not for audio use.

 

If your isolation transformer is quiet, then yes, it can be applied locally to the equipment. For those of with empty wallets, the Topaz type isolation transformers perform very well for their price, however they aren't spring chickens any more and tend to rattle at low power, and for that reason are best placed at the switchboard. The dedicated line adds more wire were noise is likely not to venture, and the HF currents end up at the transformer anyway, cancelled out when using a symmetrical supply (dependent on the transformer construction and symmetry of the windings).

 

[Foggie]

@One and a half What if your service panel is located in listening room area with regard to something like a Topaz?  Can they be put outside?  Although we have some brutal winters

 

I have thought about adding a couple dedicated lines, but dread the thought of having rip all the sheet rock up etc..  From my understanding the power quality in my area is very good and conditioners et al would be a waste of $

[Jud]

11 minutes ago, Foggie said:

@One and a half What if your service panel is located in listening room area with regard to something like a Topaz?  Can they be put outside?  Although we have some brutal winters

 

I have thought about adding a couple dedicated lines, but dread the thought of having rip all the sheet rock up etc..  From my understanding the power quality in my area is very good and conditioners et al would be a waste of $

 

The power quality in your *area* is nearly always very good by state regulation. The quality in your *home* is affected by many things in your home, from refrigerators to small appliances to lighting to everything (right down to toasters) that has a microcontroller these days. Tearing up sheetrock and putting in a separate line from an isolation transformer isn't the only way to attack this, though it's an excellent one. I was dealing with new construction and went the route of the isolation transformer, so unfortunately I haven't done research on alternatives.

[One and a half]

On 4/11/2020 at 11:42 PM, Foggie said:

@One and a half What if your service panel is located in listening room area with regard to something like a Topaz?  Can they be put outside?  Although we have some brutal winters

 

I have thought about adding a couple dedicated lines, but dread the thought of having rip all the sheet rock up etc..  From my understanding the power quality in my area is very good and conditioners et al would be a waste of $

Any electrical equipment outside is a challenge. The Topaz units are only indoor type. Even if it were placed outside in a weatherproof box, the design of the windings do allow moisture to creep inside and one day will pop. The box should have an anti-condensation heater, with an alarming system so that if the heater fails, it emits a warning....gets really messy. Any chance to install in a roof or under the floor?

 

Not all Topaz units are noisy, it's a lottery, I bought two, the 1kVA is noisier at low loads but not powerful enough to drive the whole system, the 2kVA is fine with no load.

[Foggie]

2 hours ago, One and a half said:

Any electrical equipment outside is a challenge. The Topaz units are only indoor type. Even if it were placed outside in a weatherproof box, the design of the windings do allow moisture to creep inside and one day will pop. The box should have an anti-condensation heater, with an alarming system so that if the heater fails, it emits a warning....gets really messy. Any chance to install in a roof or under the floor?

 

Not all Topaz units are noisy, it's a lottery, I bought two, the 1kVA is noisier at low loads but not powerful enough to drive the whole system, the 2kVA is fine with no load.

Thanks, kinda figured as much.  I wasn't aware they're not all noisy, but probably not something for my room.  My listening room is a basement on slab, so not a lot of options.  Dedicated lines would be the way to go.

 

 

[jamesg11]

You come up with in-room solutions, eventually, for iso tran noise ... in my case the Elgar 2.5kV, 0.0005pfd unit had a low level but intrusive vibration hum, even after tightening down etc.

Solved by going into a pvc storage box, lined with thick-ish amplifier acoustic sheets, open at top, ... & conveniently located in the unused chimney fire place behind the audio gear & speakers.

Extremely marginal added benefit to sonic improvements: iso tran heat output ameliorates the thermal mass cold of the disused chimney (closed off both externally & above fireplace).

 

 

[tmfidelis]

I hope the readership allows me to share a story.

 

We delivered a 1:0.7 image of vinyl record albums stored in crates to a master picture framer a gave them total design freedom and displayed the framed image in a warehouse room. The illusion from the famed image triggers visitors the urge to remove an album from the crate in the image.

 

Audio playback systems are very similar. In the case of the image, there was a master photographer and master framer. Each step of the process was carefully implemented to create the illusion.

 

The requisites of an excellent power source for audio are:

• broadband low noise out to radio frequencies.
• common ground architecture providing a low impedance physical ground.
• robust system ground reference that places all components at the same potential.
• ample instantaneous and sustained current delivery.
• excellent component noise isolation.

When requisites are compromised results are compromised. One may have quiet power delivery into a room and compromise the outcome using multiple outlet strips that may restrict current delivery or minimize component isolation.

 

Good system engineering in power distribution is a requisite for a system to yield a similar illusion. It allows the system to translate the intent of the recording artist and music producer; the reason we continue to refine our systems.

 

 

CREDITS:

Original photograph by Mark Dubovoy captured using a 100 Megapixel PhaseOne Trichromatic Medium Format back mounted on a PhaseOne XF Camera System with a 150 mm Schneider Kreuanach Blue Ring lens.

 https://photoaesthetics.com/photographer/mark-dubovoy/

 

Frame design by Barbara Anderson using a solid backing and museum glass.

https://www.barbaraandersongallery.com/

 

Regards,

 

Tim Marutani