Mains Conditioners - Amp Stranglers?

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maxflinn:mains cables r us:Do you know what is inside the Isotek Isoplug? Lot's of fresh air! Mine is used to keep cats away from the Hi-Fi, it seems to work!
ah but i bet its high quality air
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Specially filtered air no doubt
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Overview

When
we developed the GII IsoPlug we wanted to do our best to improve on
what is basically a text book application to a problem, i.e. a delta
filter configuration across the tree poles of the mains, this
configuration formed the basis for the original IsoPlug.

Over
the last three years our products have been developing through our
ongoing research and development programs. It soon became apparent that
it was possible to advance the original IsoPlug design, thus bringing
it into GII status.

The
GII IsoPlug is a careful balance between quantity and quality, as the
circuit had to be highly effective, but be built essentially for a
price point. Even at this level the quality of components used within
the design are paramount, therefore we've employed highly effective
design principles with critical component specification.

Because
capacitors suffer from inductance (which is the opposite of
capacitance), very high quality capacitors with the least inductance
were specified. The over voltage protection has three functions,
firstly to protect your audio or AV system, secondly, to protect the
device itself (IsoPlug) and thirdly, to ease the workload of the
capacitor. This has a highly desirable effect on the overall function
of the device. A poor choice of any of these components, especially the
over voltage device can actually have an adverse effect and ruin sound
quality (dynamics).

Features

The
GII IsoPlug features two highly effective circuits that work together
and synergise to create a result far greater than the sum of the parts.
In sonic terms the GII IsoPlug has a way of making the music more
involving to listen to. The midrange, where the ear is more sensitive,
is extremely open with an increased realism in terms of imaging.

Applications

We
live today in an environment where the majority of appliances that draw
power corrupt the mains electricity supply, for example computers,
fridge freezers, TVs, etc. The result is a heavily distorted waveform
and this is not good for audio equipment. The irony is that many audio
products and often the best ones produce a lot of noise themselves.
Without doubt, the best way to attenuate this noise is as close as
possible to the source. The GII IsoPlug will solve this problem.

Simply
plug the IsoPlug into any UK 13A socket, European shuko or U.S. three
pin next to, or as close as possible, to any domestic appliance that
produces, or is suspected of producing noise. This will prevent it from
polluting the mains in the rest of your home. Use the IsoPlug to
eliminate mains noise so that your Hi-Fi or A/V system can perform at
its best. More than one IsoPlug can be used to reduce mains noise
further. We suggest that you should start with the socket next to your
system, and then position additional IsoPlugs near noisy appliances,
fridge freezer, computers, etc.

There
is no harm in experimentation. Make sure your plug socket switch is in
the on position. Although the IsoPlug works brilliantly on its own
further benefits can be achieved when more than one are used together.
 
I can hear some loss of dynamics with most conditioners I've tried (when hooked up to a sizeable amp). When biamping, I hook up the amp for the highs to a conditioner, and leave the amp for the lows connected straight to the mains.
 
mains cables r us:Do you know what is inside the Isotek Isoplug? Lot's of fresh air!
Yes... it's exactly the same circuit as a Russ Andrews Silencer (amongst many others). I'd post pictures, but I can't be bothered...
 
mains cables r us:Do you know what is inside the Isotek Isoplug? Lot's of fresh air! Mine is used to keep cats away from the Hi-Fi, it seems to work!

From your website....

"Mains-Cables-R-Us Ltd has a clear mission, to help people get more pleasure from listening to their hi-fi system or watching their AV system. We make products that work and will not sell you something you don't need. We treat our customers the way we would expect to be treated ourselves. Based in West Yorkshire, we are here to help."

(Highlight mine.)

My question... Is it right for a manufacturer/dealer to offer negative comments (albeit in jest) of a specific competitor's product?

You declare on your website that you.. "make products that work" so I am posting this on the assumption that you are a manufacturer too.
 
chebby:
mains cables r us:Do you know what is inside the Isotek Isoplug? Lot's of fresh air! Mine is used to keep cats away from the Hi-Fi, it seems to work!

From your website....

"Mains-Cables-R-Us Ltd has a clear mission, to help people get more pleasure from listening to their hi-fi system or watching their AV system. We make products that work and will not sell you something you don't need. We treat our customers the way we would expect to be treated ourselves. Based in West Yorkshire, we are here to help."

(Highlight mine.)

My question... Is it right for a manufacturer/dealer to offer negative comments (albeit in jest) of a specific competitor's product?

You declare on your website that you.. "make products that work" so I am posting this on the assumption that you are a manufacturer too.

AFAIK, all plug in mains conditioners are full of air and are pretty much the same design. If a comment is clearly in jest, I don't see any harm, particularly on a not always entirely serious forum. At an Isoteck sales conference, it could be a different matter depending on your audience. Anyway as the components are small but the case needs to be big enough to fit a plug, just like many components, it will be full of air..
 
A speaker, especially in the bass department has lots of air, it better be.
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But i understand the complain, it's always nice to have something weighty and solid build quality.
 
you should see whats inside a russ andrews supercube then.....jesus!
 
reggaedave:you should see whats inside a russ andrews supercube then.....jesus!

Well, I checked inside of my supercube, no sign of jesus anywhere
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changing subject, check this out.

i have my cd player connected to cd in on 8000s...

and my pc/dacmagic connected to aux in on 8000s.

yesterday i had a cd playing on the player but the amp was still on aux input, turned it right up and could hear the cdplayers music faintly.

is this the norm? i would of thought the inputs would be completely isolated from each other!!!!!...

Going to pick up isotek isoplug from post office, and then walk round town all day playing the ideal boyfriend for the enemy...
 
reggaedave:i have my cd player connected to cd in on 8000s...
and my pc/dacmagic connected to aux in on 8000s.

yesterday i had a cd playing on the player but the amp was still on aux input, turned it right up and could hear the cdplayers music faintly.

That is odd and points to bad design (or a fault). It is not going to be a problem unless you are playing from one source and taping from another though. (Quiet gaps in your taped material might then have a faint 'bleed-through' of the music you are listening to on another source.

Unlikely given how few people tape anything nowadays.

It might also be a problem if you are listening to CD and have - say - a tuner switched on. You might get a faint 'echo' from the tuner signal during quiet parts in your CD music. (Or vica versa if a CD is still playing whilst you are listening to the tuner).

However unlikely these scenarios are, it is still unacceptable after almost a century of amplifier developments especially for a reputable brand.
 
MENISCUS:

reggaedave:you should see whats inside a russ andrews supercube then.....jesus!

Well, I checked inside of my supercube, no sign of jesus anywhere
emotion-2.gif


I got my Russ Andrews magazine today and there are no Jesus upgrades available. It is unusual for RA to leave a gap in the upgrade market.
 
reggaedave:

changing subject, check this out.

i have my cd player connected to cd in on 8000s...

and my pc/dacmagic connected to aux in on 8000s.

yesterday i had a cd playing on the player but the amp was still on aux input, turned it right up and could hear the cdplayers music faintly.

is this the norm? i would of thought the inputs would be completely isolated from each other!!!!!...

Going to pick up isotek isoplug from post office, and then walk round town all day playing the ideal boyfriend for the enemy...

That is wrong as Chebby has said. Just because an input says CD does not mean you need to put the CD into it. It just means the selector on the front of the amp makes sense. The only input you need to avoid is a phono one because of the extra amplification. I would try different connections and see what happens.
 
Grottyash:

Oh, I get it, it's a picture taken of the inside of the Supercube gizmo!

(Still don't see Jesus yet though - do you have to unfocus your eyes or something?)
 

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