Should Amps be plugged into a power conditioner?


Greetings,

After reading about the amplifier hum, it was mentioned that some knowledgeable people say NOT to plug an amp into a power conditioner. Plug it directly into a wall outlet. Thankfully, I do not have a hum issue, but am curious as to what others say about where to plug your amp into. 

Thank you!

lovehifi22

I plug my amps into Monster power conditioners that help with power outages, which is commonplace where I live. No hum. And thankfully I’ve never had gear affected by power surges. 

Shunyata Denali 6000S-V2 all Shunyata Apha V2 power cords, amp is a Aestheix Mimas, no issues with dynamics. 

Just curious regarding 'headroom' (and potentially limiting it using a power conditioner): can someone link to articles where they measured the actual draw of (high power) amps? I would assume the outpout power demand peaks are very short and should be 'covered' by large capacitors, with the resulting input power demand (draw) peaks being in a range that a power conditioner should NOT limit. 

I need to read up on the limitation of my simple and cheap conditioner, but envision a real world test: my air compressor (rated at 3.7 kW or 32A at 115V) draws a LOT (i.e. needs a LOT of head room), and its headroom IS noticeably limited (light bulbs dim when in DRAWS). When connecting it my conditioner, any 'headroom limiting' would be evident by the lights bulbs dimming a lot more and longer. 

Reverse test: my ICE design sub amp has a 1.325kVA rating for the transformer. Transformer power output is supplemented by a capacitor rated for 10000 mF at 160 VDC. The rated power consumption listed on the back plate for the amplifier is 1200W at 115V. That amp driven hard does NOT result in 'dimming' (my visual sign for 'headroom limiting'). Maybe a bit more of this helps with headroom?

But again, someone surely has measured such 'headroom limiting' from the power source. Sounds to me more like an issue of the power supply of the amp not having sufficient power STORAGE to cover the peak demand?  Reference the car guys with their gigantic power storage to overcome 'headroom limitation from power source'. Sound Storm Laboratories C352 Car Audio Capacitor – 3.5 Farad, Energy  Storage, Enhance Bass from Stereo, for Amplifier and Subwoofer, Warning  Tones, ...

Interesting. My 1974 Accuphase M-60 monoblocs specifically state "pug directly into a wall outlet". The Accuphase hardware has built in surge protection and power conditioning. Power surges, which have occurred here, and are likely more often with the Shakey California power grid, I would hope most if not all new high-end hardware has built in surge protection.

The issue I do have is RT speaker hum from my 1968 Sansui 3000A. This unit has been rebuilt and initially did not have any hum, but at first it was not into a battery backup surge protector as it is now. I have not read in the Sansui manual where the Sansui is similarly protected as is the Accuphase hardware. Later today the Sansui goes directly into a wall outlet, the other stuff will remain attached to the battery backup, will see what happens... or is it a bad resistor?

With a correctly designed power conditioner like a transformer based unit, which actually takes you off the grid, you are much better off plugging your amplifiers into the power conditioner.. This type of power conditioner does not limit dynamics at all, as long as you get the proper size transformer for your system. As a dealer, we have tried many power conditioners, but the ones that we sell are very effective.

That being said, if you live in the middle of nowhere, and have no electrical noise on your line, you can get very nice sound by plugging your amplifiers directly into the wall.