Cleaner AC Source for Better Sound

Sugarbie, I have seen a number of your posts. Do you own an all-Blue Circle system, or do you work for, sell, or otherwise represent Blue Circle? :-) How the heck do these Noisehounds work? Aren't they a passive plug-in things that aren't directly connected to anything except the wall socket? How can that help AC to components? Not saying it doesn't just questioning how.

Plus, wouldn't each one of these Noisehounds reduce by one the number of available outlets for components?

Oh, life would be sweet indeed if one high quality power cord going into the power conditioner would be all that was needed. Actually, I've found the opposite to be true. Your best power cords are needed coming out of the power conditioner (in my case the Ultimate Outlet) and into your source or other components.

A friend of mine and I used both a stock and then Mini Lab Cable going into my Ultimate Outlet and then a Mini Lab going out to the CD player. We really couldn't tell a diffference between the cords on the input side of the UO, but there was a big difference on the output side of the UO.

To make matters even more confusing, there was a noticeable improvment when I upgraded from a Mini Lab cable to a Lab Cable for my PS Audio HCA-2 amp. These amps just sip juice and don't even get warm. Yet the huge Lab Cable made a big difference in the sound. I still want to get a P300 with multiwave for the source, but that's down the road.

BTW, my same friend had a Richard Gray in his system for a month or so, and it definitely helped. He also has a Power Wedge and it basically performs the same. I just preferred the UO. Taking them out of the system and plugging directly into the wall is almost torture now. Ditto, going back to stock power cords.

Yes the noisehounds would reduce the number of outlets. They can go into the wall as well as an outlet on a conditioner. Also any outlet within 10 feet or so would be fine.

I personally think the Harmonic Tech AC-11 power cords are slightly grainy; so you may want to try another cord and test for yourself. Speaking of Blue Circle, they make some nice cords as well. The BC62 is great for about the same price as the AC-11.

As I read these responses and those in other threads, my best bet might be to upgrade the AC cord for my amp and plug it straight into the wall via an upgraded duplex outlet on a line separate from the components. Then run the TT, tuner, CD and preamp to something like a Chang LS 6400ISO or a PS300. Seems like this would provide a good and clean power supply to the front end stuff and provide solid power to the amp, albeit without surge protection. I live in an area of California where lightning is nearly nonexistent but I do have some concern with regard to power spikes. Perhaps the thing to do is go the "direct-to-the-wall" route for now and consider a more amp-ready unit later. Reasonable? Also, would it be overkill to use something like the Noisehound in the second outlet of the duplex where I plug in my amp power cord? I would like to limit spending to about $880 and it doesn't seem possible to do ALL I want at this price. Isn't that ALWAYS the way, though?