I am currently building my system, and I'm going to be hardwiring as much as I can. I am not going to be putting IEC inlets in, and I am trying to remove as many interconnect as possible. (my ASP is going in the same box as my amps).
So why should I get an outlet strip? I am going to have two outlets in the floor, both with there own dedicated circuit. So what I'm thinking is that I will just hard wire all my devices in parallel. All analog on one circuit, All digital on the other. My feeling is that no connector is as good as a soldered connection. The only outcome I can see to this is improved power, as the number of connections has been eliminated.
What are you feeling on this?
Ps. The system is pretty much permanent, so not much moving around.
So why should I get an outlet strip? I am going to have two outlets in the floor, both with there own dedicated circuit. So what I'm thinking is that I will just hard wire all my devices in parallel. All analog on one circuit, All digital on the other. My feeling is that no connector is as good as a soldered connection. The only outcome I can see to this is improved power, as the number of connections has been eliminated.
What are you feeling on this?
Ps. The system is pretty much permanent, so not much moving around.
I assume you mean power outlets?
I put four IEC outlets on the back of my preamp, switched via a relay. I connect the poweramp, DVD player, TV, and set top box to them. That way when I turn off my preamp, all these devices are turned off.
My TV standby power consumption is 17W. The digital set top box uses 12W (whether it's running or on standby). The DVD player uses 10W on standby, and my power amp runs about 25W when it's on with no audio playing.
So by switching all this off with a relay in the preamp, rather than using their standby functions, I save myself some 64W of standby power (the standby consumption of the preamp is a few hundred milliwatts), or something like $80 per annum, not to mention the CO2.
I put four IEC outlets on the back of my preamp, switched via a relay. I connect the poweramp, DVD player, TV, and set top box to them. That way when I turn off my preamp, all these devices are turned off.
My TV standby power consumption is 17W. The digital set top box uses 12W (whether it's running or on standby). The DVD player uses 10W on standby, and my power amp runs about 25W when it's on with no audio playing.
So by switching all this off with a relay in the preamp, rather than using their standby functions, I save myself some 64W of standby power (the standby consumption of the preamp is a few hundred milliwatts), or something like $80 per annum, not to mention the CO2.
Yes,
I figured that the electrical code would be the problem, however, I'm already violating it by making the power supplies for my amps, so at this point it doesn't matter. I know that certain IEC inlets, outlet plugs, and outlets are sold at rediculous prices, but none can form as good a connection as a soldered joint. With all the recent talk of how power is really a big factor in the music, I want my power to be as clean as possible, which is why I am going to hardwire everything, minus the plugs going into the main outlet. That way if I have to move the system, I can just move the entire rack.
I'll let you all know if I run into problems doing this/kill myself.
I figured that the electrical code would be the problem, however, I'm already violating it by making the power supplies for my amps, so at this point it doesn't matter. I know that certain IEC inlets, outlet plugs, and outlets are sold at rediculous prices, but none can form as good a connection as a soldered joint. With all the recent talk of how power is really a big factor in the music, I want my power to be as clean as possible, which is why I am going to hardwire everything, minus the plugs going into the main outlet. That way if I have to move the system, I can just move the entire rack.
I'll let you all know if I run into problems doing this/kill myself.
whubbard said:
I assume you're implying that that might make it sound better.
I don't know if it would even be noticeable or not.
But, if you do it, think about safety, first. Solder, alone, is probably not a safe method for making the connections to the mains wiring. I think that they should be bolted (or welded), so that a large fault current (think 'lightning', or a short around your pole transformer) won't instantly melt your solder connections, freeing the wiring to connect to who-knows-what, possibly causing a lethal situation, and/or equipment damage. You can probably solder them, too, just not 'only' solder them.
And please let us know if you think it makes a significant difference in the sound.
Honestly I doubt you'll notice any difference between having stuff hard wired vs using IEC sockets.
I don't know where you're looking, but IEC chassis connectors can be had very cheap, about $1 each, or even free if you salvage them off old computer power supplies.
As for the cord part of it, any computer store sells them, and they do the job very well.
No need to go hard wires or go with gold plated connectors, silver shielded cords and all that money wasting nonsense, for something that isn't going to give a measurable improvement.
After all, even high-end pro audio equipment uses IEC connectors. I think the advantages of using connectors far outweighs the disadvantages (if any).
I don't know where you're looking, but IEC chassis connectors can be had very cheap, about $1 each, or even free if you salvage them off old computer power supplies.
As for the cord part of it, any computer store sells them, and they do the job very well.
No need to go hard wires or go with gold plated connectors, silver shielded cords and all that money wasting nonsense, for something that isn't going to give a measurable improvement.
After all, even high-end pro audio equipment uses IEC connectors. I think the advantages of using connectors far outweighs the disadvantages (if any).
The big problem with this thread is practices which are actually in violation of the electrical code are being comingled which things which are probably just a violation of your homeowner's insurance policy or a municipal bylaw. There's a big difference, and details like this should not be glossed over.
You mentioned
If you do go ahead and actually hardwire all devices with soldered connections, then you are violating the NEC. This is because the ground connection must be a mechanical connection with lockwasher, etc. This was just discussed in the Tubes forum.
You mentioned
This is wrong. Just because you DIY your PS's, doesn't mean you violate the NEC. If you build it following the recommendations that most of us make on the forum, it will be compliant with the NEC. If you do not follow through with actually getting a certified inspector to slap a UL or whatever-the-US-uses sticker on it before plugging it in, then you will be violating your insurance policy and/or possibly some state law or municipal bylaw or whatever.
If you do go ahead and actually hardwire all devices with soldered connections, then you are violating the NEC. This is because the ground connection must be a mechanical connection with lockwasher, etc. This was just discussed in the Tubes forum.
First off, thank you all for the information.
I really like the idea of bolting them down, it does seem a lot safer than just solder.
What I find odd is that many people are saying that the connections don't really matter, but I find this a little hard to believe, but maybe I am thinking about it wrong. It seems that almost everyone says that soldered connections are better on interconnects and the sorts, so why wouldn't this hold true for the power cables?
Many people in hi-fi today seem to be saying that clean power matters alot, so I just want to make sure I do as best as I can, as cheap as I can.
Now for the whole saftey code, I don't see how it would violate it any more then building you own power supply, as I will be plugging it into the outlet with a proper plug, it will just be like one GIANT component in a bunch of different boxes, no?
Thanks Again
I really like the idea of bolting them down, it does seem a lot safer than just solder.
What I find odd is that many people are saying that the connections don't really matter, but I find this a little hard to believe, but maybe I am thinking about it wrong. It seems that almost everyone says that soldered connections are better on interconnects and the sorts, so why wouldn't this hold true for the power cables?
Many people in hi-fi today seem to be saying that clean power matters alot, so I just want to make sure I do as best as I can, as cheap as I can.
Now for the whole saftey code, I don't see how it would violate it any more then building you own power supply, as I will be plugging it into the outlet with a proper plug, it will just be like one GIANT component in a bunch of different boxes, no?
Thanks Again
whubbard said:
The way I understood it was that you were going to hardwire it directly to the house circuit without the use of a plug.
About the power cleanliness, the difference is going to be quite negligible compared to the dirtiness that's already on the AC line. Really there are two ways to effectively clean up the power: one would be a well designed power supply using quality parts, the other would be using a power line conditioner such as a UPS with true sinusoidal output (not the "simulated sine" or square wave ones, harmonics galore!).
Unless of course you have a VERY high powered amp and resistance in the supply line might matter.
This is all assuming that good clean connectors are used. A corroded/worn connector is of course more likely to cause some noticeable problems.
Hehe, yeah I'm not that crazy that I would make it so that there was no way to turn of power other than running down 2 flights of stairs to the breaker.
On most of my components I will have very nice power supplies. (not sure how the NAD PP2 one is...might be time for a PSU upgrade)
Also right now I am getting ready to build some Felix line filters. One day I think I'll get a good UPS, as I believe it is the best way to do it, but I feel like PSUs and Filters will do a pretty good job.
I guess it seems like it really won't do much, but I might just be stubborn and see how it goes. It worth a shot!
On most of my components I will have very nice power supplies. (not sure how the NAD PP2 one is...might be time for a PSU upgrade)
Also right now I am getting ready to build some Felix line filters. One day I think I'll get a good UPS, as I believe it is the best way to do it, but I feel like PSUs and Filters will do a pretty good job.
I guess it seems like it really won't do much, but I might just be stubborn and see how it goes. It worth a shot!
Having a very clean power supply is less important with amplifiers that have good PSRR, like most decent modern solid state ones. Valve amps often have relatively low levels of power supply rejection.
An NE5532 opamp, for example, has typically 100dB PSRR. Your power supply has to have some pretty shocking voltage excursions before you're going to see them above the noise floor on the output.
An NE5532 opamp, for example, has typically 100dB PSRR. Your power supply has to have some pretty shocking voltage excursions before you're going to see them above the noise floor on the output.
No one so far has really asked HOW you plan to do this.
Will all the analog power supplies be connected into one of the supply boxes, then a power cord out of that? Or separate power cords out of each PSU in some other box, a sort of hard wired power strip? Ditto the digital side.
There are different ways it might be done. A hard wired power strip, say using terminal blocks inside a small case shouldn't violate any codes. Though I don't know for sure.
From you first post it sounds like you wanted to jump all the power cords into one of the chassis, connect them, then go out to your single supply power cord. This for each section, analog and digital. In practice very similar to the hardwired power strip, but maybe not in code.
Will all the analog power supplies be connected into one of the supply boxes, then a power cord out of that? Or separate power cords out of each PSU in some other box, a sort of hard wired power strip? Ditto the digital side.
There are different ways it might be done. A hard wired power strip, say using terminal blocks inside a small case shouldn't violate any codes. Though I don't know for sure.
From you first post it sounds like you wanted to jump all the power cords into one of the chassis, connect them, then go out to your single supply power cord. This for each section, analog and digital. In practice very similar to the hardwired power strip, but maybe not in code.
I was planing on having the first section of the cable run to the rack, at which point it will be split off into the three other cables. I feel this will be the easiest to deal with.
The best way to describe it would be an outlet strip, that has all the outlets removed, but the connections stay the same. Like you said, a hard wired outlet strip.
The best way to describe it would be an outlet strip, that has all the outlets removed, but the connections stay the same. Like you said, a hard wired outlet strip.
I was kinda thinking of sort of the same thing. I was going to build my monster power filter distribution into a new rack and hardwire the cables to it but retain the IEC connector at the amp end. I was planning on providing separate channels in back of the rack for power and signal distribution. I don't think it would be am unsafe arrangement.
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