AC power is a complicated subject if quality is to be considered. The number of problems needing attention includes regulation, removal of noise, guarding against surges and spikes, lowering of impedance, isolation, restoring missing energy, attaining the correct level, uncontaminated grounds, ensuring there is enough current (both dynamic and steady state) for the job.
What possible difference can perfect power make when our equipment’s dangling at the end of miles of who cares utility company wiring?
Our equipment is not at the end of a long wire between the power station and our home. Instead, it is in the middle of a circular loop—a loop shared by our neighbors and their power hungry equipment.
All power products handle some specific aspects well: isolation transformers isolate, power conditioners clean, surge protectors save equipment from damage, regenerators do most of the list but not all.
In the complex area of power delivery, it’s difficult to know which device provides the greatest degree of benefit. If your home is next door to the city power plant you don’t need anything but surge protection. But how far away are you? How many neighbors share power with you? What kind of polluting equipment do they have? Do you need the full benefits of regeneration or the partial and specific benefits of isolation, cleansing, or simple protection?
We’d no doubt like to have it all. You can get close, but there’s no such thing as perfect.
I suppose where I am going with this is a reminder of just how important power purity and plentifulness is.
If you can’t get it out of the wall in pure, unrestricted, undistorted form, uncompromised music can’t reach your speakers.
It all matters.
Paul McGowan / PS AUDIO
