Bill Thompson
September 9th 03, 04:16 PM
xy wrote:
> i'm thinking this coming year is the year i finally drop $700 on a
> "box that does nothing".
love the description... some marketing folks missed the chance!
> but seriously, since i'm such a low-noise freak, a balanced power box
> appeals to me.
As a rule, balanced (more properly differential) power is the icing on
the cake. If you've already built a low impedance, single reference
ground system then it might be time for the icing, but make sure the
rest of the cake is as good as it gets first.
> so two things if that's ok:
> 1)can anyone convince me *not* to buy one of these power boxes? (that
> will be tough!)
Wouldn't even try. They will provide a little lower noise floor once
everything else is done well. They may also hide problems, which is my
biggest objection.
> 2)why is the eta brand one so much more than the furman ones? it will
> be hard to convince me that the eta is "better", but maybe it is in
> some esoteric power-rail slew rate mojo...
Equi-Tech was the first to market black boxes that balance AC power, and
they make boxes that are a lot higher capacity than Furman, but if you
are comparing similar capacity rack mount units I'm not sure why there
is such a price difference. I've never looked all that closely at the
Furman models, but I'd expect them to work just as well as the Equi-Tech
models.
> furman makes i think the it-1210 and the it-1220. one of those uses
> a regular wall outlet and does not require one of those weird
> air-conditioner outlets. i like the idea of buying the "regular" one
> since my power requirements are modest.
Ah, good question... there are a couple of ways to do the balanced power
thing... one is to power the entire studio from a single transformer, in
which case you're pretty much stuck with DIY or Equi-Tech. The other way
is to distribute smaller transformers all around the studio, in which
case you have to choose between the 10 Amp or 20 Amp models. The 20 Amp
model requires the oddball plug because you aren't really supposed to
draw 20 amps from a single household type outlet.
If I had a sufficiently low noise floor already, and I had to make the
choice, I'd probably go with the 10 amp model, and put one in each rack
where I had problem gear, with a 20 amp unit sitting somewhere
convenient for folks to plug in gear they brig with them. BUT, at that
point it might just be cheaper to go with a single transformer feeding
the whole place. Tough call!
If you are just experimenting, start with the smaller unit and make sure
you are getting some improvement... then, when you have some bucks do
the whole place and sell the little one to someone else getting their
feet wet... or keep it for remote gigs, or whatever.
FWIW, several years ago I tried an approach where I distributed low
voltage differential AC to all my racks. It was a lot easier than it
might sound, most of my rack mount gear either uses a wall wart to
deliver low voltage AC already, or there is an el-cheapo transformer
inside doing the same thing. It worked really well, but over time gear
came and went and I didn't keep up with it. UGH!
> basically doing some pre-work before aes...can't wait!
Me either!!!
Bill
> i'm thinking this coming year is the year i finally drop $700 on a
> "box that does nothing".
love the description... some marketing folks missed the chance!
> but seriously, since i'm such a low-noise freak, a balanced power box
> appeals to me.
As a rule, balanced (more properly differential) power is the icing on
the cake. If you've already built a low impedance, single reference
ground system then it might be time for the icing, but make sure the
rest of the cake is as good as it gets first.
> so two things if that's ok:
> 1)can anyone convince me *not* to buy one of these power boxes? (that
> will be tough!)
Wouldn't even try. They will provide a little lower noise floor once
everything else is done well. They may also hide problems, which is my
biggest objection.
> 2)why is the eta brand one so much more than the furman ones? it will
> be hard to convince me that the eta is "better", but maybe it is in
> some esoteric power-rail slew rate mojo...
Equi-Tech was the first to market black boxes that balance AC power, and
they make boxes that are a lot higher capacity than Furman, but if you
are comparing similar capacity rack mount units I'm not sure why there
is such a price difference. I've never looked all that closely at the
Furman models, but I'd expect them to work just as well as the Equi-Tech
models.
> furman makes i think the it-1210 and the it-1220. one of those uses
> a regular wall outlet and does not require one of those weird
> air-conditioner outlets. i like the idea of buying the "regular" one
> since my power requirements are modest.
Ah, good question... there are a couple of ways to do the balanced power
thing... one is to power the entire studio from a single transformer, in
which case you're pretty much stuck with DIY or Equi-Tech. The other way
is to distribute smaller transformers all around the studio, in which
case you have to choose between the 10 Amp or 20 Amp models. The 20 Amp
model requires the oddball plug because you aren't really supposed to
draw 20 amps from a single household type outlet.
If I had a sufficiently low noise floor already, and I had to make the
choice, I'd probably go with the 10 amp model, and put one in each rack
where I had problem gear, with a 20 amp unit sitting somewhere
convenient for folks to plug in gear they brig with them. BUT, at that
point it might just be cheaper to go with a single transformer feeding
the whole place. Tough call!
If you are just experimenting, start with the smaller unit and make sure
you are getting some improvement... then, when you have some bucks do
the whole place and sell the little one to someone else getting their
feet wet... or keep it for remote gigs, or whatever.
FWIW, several years ago I tried an approach where I distributed low
voltage differential AC to all my racks. It was a lot easier than it
might sound, most of my rack mount gear either uses a wall wart to
deliver low voltage AC already, or there is an el-cheapo transformer
inside doing the same thing. It worked really well, but over time gear
came and went and I didn't keep up with it. UGH!
> basically doing some pre-work before aes...can't wait!
Me either!!!
Bill