1) Power Conditioner: Does anyone have any suggestions on what to replace the Sola with? Max budget is $1k (no preference on new or used; cheaper is better! 4-6 plugs is ideal). My biggest preference is just having something to protect the gear from electrical surges/spikes. Any improvement in SQ is great but I know there's a lot of controversy about power conditioning so I won't get into it here. I do have two strongly preferred requirements, though:1a) The device shouldn't give off any audible sound. The Sola gave off a really audible hum and was really distracting.1b) The device should have minimal air circulation needs and not give off much heat. It's going to probably be located in a place that won't get a ton of passive air circulation.2) Power Cables: What should I replace my long Monoprice power cables with? More Monoprice power cables? Some other cost-effective option? I've never experimented with power cables before. I'm open to any recommendations. Cheaper is better. I'll need to replace 4-6 cables so keeping each cable within the $10-50 range is strongly preferred (runs will only be 4-6ft this time around).Thanks for any suggestions Links to listings and websites would be most appreciated, too.
Isolation transformers, particularly the balanced variety are very effective line noise killers, but the transformer hum from residual DC on the line can definitely be an issue as you've noted. They are also of course limited by their output, and it's not a good idea to run a bunch of components through them that get them close to their rated output, which makes them really only suited for low power source components unless you get the humongous, 100lb. 2400VA variety. So called AC regenerators are basically power amps that output 60Hz tones. I've tried them, and they are not as effective as the best passive types. They are also the least reliable in my experience. I do not recommend series type capacitor/inductor based filters for serious listening environments. They are cheap and many of them are very effective surge protectors, but they all, ALL absolutely strangle amplifiers to death. They are restrictive by design, despite so called "high-current" outlets. It's BS. You're legitimately better off with a $20 surge protector strip than one of these types of power filters. I've tried most of the power products out there, and there are two that I would recommend. 1. Used Running Springs Haley. No power robbing series filters, no crappy sounding MOVs. To stay in budget you'll need to get a gen 1. (Gen 2s have carbon fiber front panels and some internal component updates). The Haley was RSA's entry level product and so you don't get the performance of a Dmitri or Maxim, but it does everything you require, and from everything I know about them, they are extremely reliable unlike say PS Audio Power Plants. I use a Running Springs Jaco in my main system with excellent results. http://app.audiogon.com/listings/ac-conditioners-running-springs-haley-2015-01-01-power-07857-netcong-nj2. PI Audio Mini Buss and Buss Stop. PI Audio sells these factory direct, and they can be made to order. I haven't tried these two together, but my guess is they would be fairly comparable to the Haley. A MagikBuss or UberBuss would be a big step up sound wise, but you wouldn't be able to add the Buss Stop to either of those at under $1K. As for power cables, a $50 power cable is no different than a $10 power cable. The $50 cable will probably have some Techflex on it and some Marinco hospital connectors instead of molded plastic plugs or those cheap Schurter plugs. That's really it. That's not to say that power cables don't do anything, in my experience they absolutely do, but you really need to spend a good $200+ before you'll start to notice a real difference. http://power.apitech.com/audio-power-conditioners-and-cords.aspxhttp://www.piaudiogroup.com/
For someone with an even lower budget, how do products like the PI MiniBUSS and BPT Pure or Clean Power Center compare in terms of quality and overall purpose in relation to audio equipment? Not sure what the lower end API models go for, how good they are, or what purpose they have. These are all standalone products you can use by themselves, right? Any of them help with older houses where voltage drops when you've got too many electronics going at once? My APC H10 helps with that, but I know it's not ideal for audio equipment.
