Would this be an good?

[MartinC]

Not sure if this should maybe go in the DIY thread, but what do people reckon to using this isolation transformer for HiFi?

http://custom1.farnell.com/cpc/prod...pc+catalogue&category_name=&product_id=275800

Obviously is it is somewhat aesthetically challenged, but sonically what do people reckon? I'm guessing someone has probably investigated such options... I've been considering something like a Trichord Powerblock, but am wondering if there might be cheaper, non-HiFi specific options out there to achieve the same thing?

 

[penance]

A good idea, buy a tad low powered.
You would need one for an amp but should be able to fit less power hungry stuff all on one Tx

 

[MartinC]

Originally posted by penance
A good idea, buy a tad low powered.
You would need one for an amp but should be able to fit less power hungry stuff all on one Tx

Really? Trichord claim their 500VA Powerblock is sufficient to drive HiFis of up to 100WPC. Is that maybe overoptimistic, or am I not comparing the right figures?

 

[wadia-miester]

Martain to gain max benefit from a power conditioner, the power amps, are far better on a seperate circuit, to that of the source/pre, I have 2 of them, One 500va powers the Trans/dac/upsampler, the 2kva (specialy built unit) powers the the power amp only, It makes a serious difference on configuration of these things, CookieMonster runs an olsen into a lynwood.
You could use a 1kva to power the whole system, but personaly I know the differenices, and I choose to run 2 seperate, but thats me.
If you are interested in a Trichord unit Phone Graham and tell him you wish to take up the Zerogain Discount, I managed to 'extract from him' it's 10%, but better than nothing. they do work well, as do the Lynwoods, thtrichord/Ben/duncan/Moth units are identical, and produce some of the best common mode rejection bar none (my view, although a few others may share it) WM

 

[MartinC]

Originally posted by wadia-miester
Martain to gain max benefit from a power conditioner, the power amps, are far better on a seperate circuit, to that of the source/pre, I have 2 of them, One 500va powers the Trans/dac/upsampler, the 2kva (specialy built unit) powers the the power amp only, It makes a serious difference on configuration of these things, CookieMonster runs an olsen into a lynwood.
You could use a 1kva to power the whole system, but personaly I know the differenices, and I choose to run 2 seperate, but thats me.

I'm read before about it being best to have two seperate isolating transformers, although I had thought the split was usually one for digital components and another for analogue ones? Were you thinking of your combined DAC/Pre, or is it a question of power amp on it's own whatever? Anyway, it was partly the fact that at £50 a go I could easily get two of them that in part made the isolation transformer I started this thread about so appealing

If you are interested in a Trichord unit Phone Graham and tell him you wish to take up the Zerogain Discount, I managed to 'extract from him' it's 10%, but better than nothing.

Cheers for that I'll bear it in mind. I can't really stretch to the 1kV Trichord at the moment though, which it sounds like is the minimum I should consider.

 

[wadia-miester]

Martin, my pre is digital (part of the dac), however normal analogue pre-amps have sensitive curcity inside as well, they also don't take a lot of power and are more sensitive to mains bourne noise in my reckoning, a 500va would cover nearly all digital/pre requirements no probs, else just stick one on the power amp/int, you need to experiment to see how it works best for you.
Digital curcitry responds the best in a pound for pound way I feel. WM

 

[MartinC]

Does anyone else have any thoughts on the el-cheapo isolation transformers I put at the top of the thread?

WM - Thinking in terms of which parts of a HiFi put noise out onto the mains, in some places I've read that power amps are the biggest source, and in other the digital components. If it were the power amp it would make sense to put an analoge pre-amp with the digital stuff, but if the digital components were the problem then putting the pre with the power amp would make more sense. Should I ever get round to having two isolation transformers, then I guess it will be just be a question of trying things out. Much as I'm going to do with HenryT's PowerKord which arrived this morning .