Mains Conditionres

[ebentjerodt]

Hi,

do someone have expirience withmains conditionres? I am evaluating to buy a Isotek sigma, but have never heard any mains conditioners. Form waht I can read it should improve the sound.

thank you in advance

Eduardo

 

[richardw42]

Get ready for a **** storm on this.

There really is FA inside.

 

[Alantiggger]

Lol

 

[matthewpiano]

Have to say, I'm extremely sceptical. The whole concept of 'hearing' a mains conditioner bemuses me really. Why not spend the money on music instead?

 

[FennerMachine]

A main conditioner might make a difference if your mains supply is 'dirty'.

I personally noticed a difference the first time I used my mains conditioner.

If your mains is good though its probably not worth it.

The only way to be sure is to try one on home demo.

Spend a day or so listening with no mains conditioner then a day or so with and repeat until either you have to return it or until you are sure either way. Don't rush to a decision as other factors may be playing a part on any perceived improvement or detriment to sound.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Hi Eduardo

I would not recommend using mains conditioners with Chord Electronics and active ATC monitors as in my experience performance is compromised. Plug your components directly into wall sockets or use a Wilkinson Stores mains extension block.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[Alantiggger]

Mains conditioners.... really ? C'mon....you're going to MEGA extremes which do not mean diddly... enough already.

 

[michael hoy]

Better still, a mains regenerator.

 

[shafesk]

In contrast to most posts on this thread, I have found differences in sound quality when the product claims to be 'mains conditioning'. I've had a block with filtered and unfiltered sockets, the filtered one sounded more quiet but I felt that I had to compensate for lack of volume by turning the amp up. The unfiltered sockets sounded powerful but it was obvious that it was amplifying the noise as well. To be honest I preffered the powerful sound because my already paltry 18 watt amp cannot afford to lose some power. I've also had better results just changing my amp's mains plug to a choseal mains cable and using a surge protector at the end of it, the surge protector has no difference in sq to my ears. In short, if you are going for cheap then I think mains cables are better...I have yet to try expensive mains conditioning but cannot justify the expense relative to the prices of my current equipment.

Just sharing my experience, yours may differ.

Shafin

 

[CnoEvil]

This is yet another area where there is little consensus.

There are 3 basic options, and how effective they will be, depends on how dirty the mains is, how well designed / expensive the item is and if it can cope with the power being drawn by the components being plugged into it.

1. Mains Conditioners

2. Power Re generators

3. Balanced Mains Transformers

IMO. This cannot be done cheaply and well.....and the effect may be different, but not always better. It is essential to try one in situ, as they can be equipment and location dependent.

I have heard stuff from Isol 8 (Re-generator) and IsoTek (conditioner), but the best I've come across is the Atlas Balanced Mains Transformer.....but none of it is cheap, so tread carefully.

 

[CnoEvil]

Have to say, I'm extremely sceptical. The whole concept of 'hearing' a mains conditioner bemuses me really. Why not spend the money on music instead?

If you believe that poor quality power feeding your equipment can have a detrimental impact, then sorting this out could well prove beneficial.....ie. you hear the effect a conditioner has, rather than the device itself.

 

[GMK]

I bought one of those £30 WHF rated Tacima mains conditioners. It takes the life out of my hifi equipment imo, although it appears to clean up the picture of dvd player and tv.

 

[wilro15]

I've also got one of those £30 Tacima mains conditioners that I picked up from Richer Sounds. I was having a problem with my surrounds where there was crackling noise when watching E4 - bizarre that it was the only channel this happened on. The Tacima cleared this up.

 

[Sospri]

I bought one of those £30 WHF rated Tacima mains conditioners. It takes the life out of my hifi equipment imo, although it appears to clean up the picture of dvd player and tv.

Yes, I agree it works for some gear but do not put your amp through it, it will strangle it...........