Dedicated Electrical

Thank you, @millercarbon ; to have enough outlets for all the gear (amp, pre, digital source, sub) on the one dedicated circuit, are there any acceptable alternatives to connecting an outlet to the existing outlet that I am going to use as the dedicated circuit? That probably sounds like a stupid question, but is there such a thing as an acceptable grade of strip (other than a power conditioner)?

And as it happens, I do have a power conditioner; I bought it around 25 years ago from a dealer in Philthadelphia who was very good at selling me things. At the time, I considered the $600 to be outrageously expensive. It is the "Prometheus Power Flo" and there is no point on doing a search on it as I just did and . . . nothing. I have used it and not used it (was in the NOT mode the last time I was running my system on three ’dedicated’ circuits, and if it made a difference, my ears were not picking it up. That typed, I am the first to admit that I probably don’t have the ears for this "hobby" . . . however I do enjoy immersing myself in in music and my ears are good enough to tell when it sounds good or not so good.

First rule of audio, if you don’t hear any difference, don’t worry. My rule anyway, if I don’t hear it, why bother? So it seems to me you already have a power strip, in this case one called "Prometheus Power Flo" and so you might as well use it.

That said, there is a way to determine for yourself whether it "works" or not. Start by plugging everything into it and listening to your system that way. Do this long enough to get used to the way this sounds. Then unplug one component and plug it directly into the same outlet as the conditioner. This avoids potential differences between outlets, possibility of ground loop noise, etc. This is a true test because the only variable is the conditioner.

Hopefully you prefer the conditioner. But if not then use the same process to find a power strip.

Don’t worry if you don’t hear any difference. In this case there are two ways to go. One, you remain happy as a clam, content in being satisfied with whatever you have. Two, this bugs you and you want to find out whether your lack of hearing any difference is based in reality, or a lack of listening skill.

I know which one it is, but remain agnostic on which choice you make. For the simple reason this is all about building a system you enjoy. Not me. Not anyone else. Just you. If I can help you be happy with what you have, that is just as gratifying to me as if I can help you learn to master all the many ways you can make it better, and appreciate it for being better.

To that end I will soon be writing a series of articles on how to listen, critically and effectively. How to evaluate what you are hearing, with the words to describe and talk about this with others. And best of all, how to develop the ability to do this with aspects of sound you are not currently aware of or able to identify.

Thank you, @millercarbon ,

last question (for a while) it was either here or on AA, that I read something to the effect of ’most powered subwoofers have such crappy power that they feed crap back into whatever circuit they are on, and therefore. . . .’ now I apologize for not being able to pull the entire quote from my memory word for word and possibly not in context, but for that reason I had my sub all by itself on one of my three dedicated circuits. But I am now assuming that that statement about a powered sub degrading everything else on the circuit was untrue?

Oh, and on edit

Two, this bugs you and you want to find out whether your lack of hearing any difference is based in reality, or a lack of listening skill.

I am pretty sure I know the answer as well, I am pretty sure it is hearing/listening skill.

But the thing is, for me, I think hearing is kind of like the subconcious. I may not immediately hear something, but it can sound better without me immediately knowing it, except, over a period of time, I begin to realize that I am more gratified than I was in the past . . . which makes critical listning A?Bs difficult for me.

Oh, and on another edit, to one of my earlier questions:  ideally I should probably put another outlet inline with whatever I choose for my one dedicated circuit outlet?

Everything feeds crap back into the line. DACs and other digital gear with high frequency chips are probably much worse than subs. In general though it is fruitless to point fingers power is dirty, and more things being plugged in only makes things worse. 

There is a clear distinction between hearing and listening. What you just described 

I may not immediately hear something, but it can sound better without me immediately knowing it, except, over a period of time, I begin to realize that I am more gratified than I was in the past

is the result of a process that can be learned, practiced, and improved, just the same as any other skill. You will want to search my name and read about it. Coming soon!

🙄