Backup Generator transfer switch

I plan to install a Generac whole house after the disaster here in Texas and will be digging down with the same electrician that installed the subsystem I use to power the hi-fi, which is essentially a 60 amp feed from the main service entrance to a sub panel that goes into a 10kVA iso transformer and routes via 4 gauge to a sub panel dedicated to the system and from which are pulled dedicated lines. 
I have no interest in playing the system during any electrical back up period, but the Fremer experience was brought to my attention. Given that virtually all this electrical equipment is outside in close proximity to the service panel (no basement, just pier and beam construction), it should be possible to route this back up in a way that does not involve the switch but I'm not an electrician and haven't thought this through yet, let alone met with the electricians to discuss it. I had a terrific experience with them in installing the above described subsystem-- mainly commercial contractors, they really knew their stuff. I haven't focused on this yet, but if anybody has any thoughts, I'd certainly welcome them. Sorry to piggy back on your thread, @deadlift .

If all you do is add a transfer box, essentially nothing more than a box with some switches, one switch per circuit you want to be able to transfer, then no problem. That is what I did. When power cuts out I start up the generator, plug it in and use the transfer box switches to power the few circuits I want to keep running.  

This works great, no impact on SQ, but is manual and limited. The whole thing could be automated for a lot more money and still have no impact on SQ. 

But the reason for the lack of SQ impact is the whole thing is out of the circuit other than when in use. The minute you do anything that is in the circuit- ie connected- then it will degrade SQ no matter what. You might not hear it. From what I can tell a lot of people won't. Or you can imagine and exaggerate, like Fremer. 

Yes folks even Fremer can't get it right. One more example why of all the mountains of bull in audio none even comes close to the Himalayan Range of BS around AC. 

I have a whole house Koehler generator that I had installed when we built our house four years ago. I cannot comment on on the transfer switch as my stereo room was the last major indoor project I did after occupying the house. Since moving in  we have unfortunately had numerous outages with the longest being 6 days. I have tried playing music with the generator running and even though I get a spot on 120V there is a constant annoying low level hum like a bee coming out of each speaker so I don’t play music on my system during outages. 

Where is @jea48 when you need him?
Bob

I have been following M. Fremer's problem in Stereophile closely as well.   As I mentioned before in other posts, I am Director of Engineering at a green energy company and we bought that exact same transfer switch to reverse engineer.   As you might guess, his problem certainly hit close to home.

One possible problem is the ATS isn't "just a switch".  The problem with any ATS is UL108 which applies to all ATS units.   There is no relay company on the planet that can make a relay meet the requirements of UL108, rather it is left up to the manufacturer of the ATS to build enough logic and microprocessor power around a solid relay to handle the requirements.   That stuff is running full time, so expect it to bleed EMI into the lines and into your gear.   

A solid EMI brick wall filter or power regeneration system like the PS Audio one that M. Fremer installed would do the job.   The fact is, the power lines and house wiring make excellent EMI antennas, so expect some EMI to bleed into your system, and cause some havoc at some level.   

There are only two ways to eliminate the ATS and still be code compliant.   One is a manual switch, which you have to operate yourself.   The other is an ATS that has a five+ minute lag between grid failure and switch over to generator power.   That is a long time to be in the dark!  

M. Fremer also mentioned in the latest issue of Stereophile that he had a "flat topped" waveform, I assume he meant he has a clipped sine wave, for AC power.   If that is the case, he really has some serious problems there that go beyond the ATS.   
We have a customer that has the top level of his 60 Hz power waveform clipped at the transformer at the street.  His power company won't replace the transformer, since he is the only one who complained about the noise in his high end audio system.   For him, running off the solar, batteries, and inverter was the best solution.