Balanced Mains!

There was a thread on this around 3 years ago - Marc (Newman? in the States) has done this with very good results, and there was someone in the UK who was looking into it IIRC

I also use the 10kVA, 300-plus pound Equitech balanced transformer. It works a treat with a CDS3/552/500/DBLs. Every aspect of the sound gets better with no downsides. And the price is about 50% of a Supercap, so I would say it is considerable value for money.

I think 'Emil F' in Bulgaria has done this...

I believe the idea is to isolate the supply from line noise by not using Zero (earth potential) as the voltage return. Interestingly I as I understand it Naim uses the same principle in the 'Split Rail' power in both the 500 and the 552......basically for example +24V to 0 becomes +12V to -12V.

regards
Geoff

Probably very dependent on the quality of implementation. The Equitech seems to be one that gains consistent applause.

quote:

10kVA

That is massive, the one RA is offering is a mere 3kVA. I've had a quick look around and you can get something similar designed for medical applications 3kVA sub £200. That is a lot less than a SuperCap! I'm not sure how wrong you can go transformer wise, and I can't imagine they're selling duds to hospitals. Russ wants £2500 and he'll charge you a bomb to install it too I suspect. Hmm, £200 and buying my mate (an electrician) a few drinks. Might be worth a try!!!

How is it wired?
Is that one input and 2 outputs,a ring output or even something else?
Is it for a single feed/spur/ring or the whole house feed?

Fascinating thread. Love the giant hi-cap fastened to the wall. Would look great in black with green light!

quote:

Originally posted by djftw:
something similar designed for medical applications 3kVA sub £200.

I'm not sure how wrong you can go transformer wise, and I can't imagine they're selling duds to hospitals.

Ahhhh that good old "lack of imagination".

It is quite possible that the important parameters for medical and audio use are different.

The only one I can think of that would be significant would be the transient current you can draw, and the output impedance. But you wouldn't expect that to be unimportant in a medical application would you?

Ron

Impressive red speaker cable you have hanging on the wall there!

Cheers

Jim

The Equitech feeds a single socket through which the entire hi-fi is powered (via a CablePro power strip). It takes 240V input and converts it into +60/-60. As predicted the noise floor goes WAY down with a greatly increased sense of vigor and clarity. Gotta get those two eight-foot deep earth rods just right though (one for the chassis and one for the transformer).

For the technically ignorant, like me, is someone willing to explain what this thread is about, please?
What is the proposition on offer; what are the benefits and why/how are they achieved; is this restricted to the music system or will my washing machine sound better, too?
Any help would be appreciated.
Cheers.

quote:

For the technically ignorant, like me, is someone willing to explain what this thread is about, please?

It seems to be about doing things the hard way.

I just plug my system into the wall socket and enjoy the music.

Bob

quote:

Originally posted by Goldstar:

It seems to be about doing things the hard way.

I just plug my system into the wall socket and enjoy the music.

Bob

there is a good description of balanced mains in the latest Russ Andrews newsletter. definitely interesting, but the price is higher than i expected -- although strangely i am somehow prepared to pay £400/£500/£1650 for Power/Hi/Superline, etc etc.

enjoy
ken

quote:

The Balanced Mains unit can also be supplied as a stand-alone device wired with Signature PowerKord and fitted with a double SuperSocket mains outlet (as main pic). Install the unit between your existing mains socket and your existing mains extension block.

Or you could try one of these



a power regenerator.

The Equi=tech stuff looks superb, but I'm less convinced about the RA product - especially as it is more expensive than a PS Power Plant.

Any views?

quote:

Originally posted by ROTF:
a power regenerator.

The Equi=tech stuff looks superb, but I'm less convinced about the RA product - especially as it is more expensive than a PS Power Plant.

Any views?

I've no expereince of this particular one, but I've heard three different makes of mains regenerator, all in poor to very poor mains conditions.

In each case they removed some harshness and superficially made things sound better, but one did this at the cost of wrecking the timing (this in an all Naim electronics system), the other two did the smooth thing but the music was renedered flat and rather lifeless.

In all three situations it was a swings and roundabouts thing, but in all three I preferred the raw mains overall. However, I was lucky in the end in that I could sort my mains issues in another, more fundamental, way.

No, though I've heard the results and they're good. However, if your mains is stuffed at the point of ingress then thereafter you're only really trying to polish a turd.

It was a horribly long and complicated route aided by many many good folk here, but having tried non-Naim equipment (just in case), humidifiers (yes really), the mains regenerator, installing three spurs terminating in 15 amp round-pin (fuseless) sockets, getting the local virgins to make a blood sacrifice to Thor (closest I could get to the god of electricity) I was still afflicted.

In the end a fellow forum member loaned me some measuring equipment which demonstrated to the local supplier that they weren't delivering what they should be and they re-layed my mains supply from a different source. That did the trick, though if it hadn't they were then going to give me my own sub-station, which would have been neat.

Some explanations and diagrams

Here

Yes, I had an Equitech. Two questions here: can it fix poor mains and can it feed large systems? BTW Equitech is not affecting PRAT.

quote:

Originally posted by BigH47:
Some explanations and diagrams

Here

Great article - thanks.

Does anyone know if Equitech have a UK distributor? I can't seem to find one!

quote:

Originally posted by djftw:
Does anyone know if Equitech have a UK distributor? I can't seem to find one!

Nor could I, but would be interested.