Looking for dedicated power line advice.


I've read just about everything I can find on running dedicated power lines. I met with a good electrician and he is going to run a dedicated line from the main panel to a 6 breaker subpanel with 6 20amp lines to my system. I have lots of questions. Here are a few:
(1) Should all 6 outputs be in the same phase? I've read conflicting opinions. In one of Jonathan Scull's Stereophile "Fine Tunes" columns he suggests that the AC output to a pair of monoblocks should be out of phase. This way noise will cancel out.

(2) Is it worth it to use Wattgate outlets ($150/ea) and will there be audible differences from Hubbel or Marinco or Leviton which would be MUCH cheaper?

(3) Is it worth it to use JPS Labs in-wall cable at $18/ft? Would Virtual Dynamics cable at $6/ft sound as good?? What about much cheaper Romex??

I figure I'm only going to do this once......but I hate dropping a ton of cash unless there is going to be an audible difference.

Thanks for the help!!!
hbrandt

Showing 3 responses by rushton

Harry, FWIW, I had a 55' run to make and we pulled all six dedicated lines in a continuous run directly back to the main panel using 10 gauge. Can't say that the technicians were real happy working with the 10 gauge when it came to doing the receptacle hook-ups, but it all worked out well.
Hbrandt,

Just one further question for you to ponder: Why the subpanel? By using a subpanel you are inserting another set of electrical connections for everything: positive, neutral and ground. Plus, all of the current for all of your system is being pulled along the one line from the main panel to the subpanel. If the distance from the main panel is not outlandishly excessive, you may have better a result by pulling the 6 dedicated circuits directly from the main panel in uninterrupted runs of cable (provided you have the capacity in your main panel to add the breakers you need.
.
Harry, we didn't use any of the audiophile in-wall wire. We did use a good quality metal clad cable with isolated neutral suitable for hospital installation (green in color, three insulated wires, white/black/green, plus a fourth bare grounding wire). Nothing special about the metal clad other than the added shielding it provides. Also didn't test it for directionality before installing it. (I'm a believer in directionality of wire for audio circuits, and I believe people who say they have observed the difference for power installation. We just didn't take the time given everything else I was working on at the time.) I can certainly hear the improvement made by the dedicated lines; don't know what more improvement could be achieved with the audiophile in-wall wire since I haven't tried any of it.