Power conditioners and noise floor

[bikescene]

I’ve sporadically read threads over the years about people using Tripp Lite LC series conditioners and isolation transformers to clean up noise. I figured those in this sub forum are watching the DAW meters for noise in your systems at one point.

Have you observed a discernible drop in noise with these devices? I’ve resorted to transformer isolation on the audio signal occasionally if I get some nasty hums and buzzes. However, I haven’t looked into my incoming power.

Last night, some miracle happened and the peak noise with my Recto MW through a Suhr Reactive Load into my DAW dropped about 10-15dB. It was probably the least noise I’ve ever gotten in a playing and reamping situation. My guess is some nearby, typically noise-inducing device was off at the time.

I of course would prefer to maintain this noise performance. I’ll probably check tonight if the noise comes back.

 

[PatF]

I have the LC2400 and neglectfully have not been using it much. This morning I compared plugging a noisy 50w tube amp into the LC2400, straight into the wall, and with a variac. I didn't notice much difference in noise floor but that could be my amp's fault.

I will try the DAW tonight

 

[PatF]

No difference in noise floor with the amp plugins. Bummer. Still a nice unit for regulation.

 

[TJontheRoad]

Paying attention to your electrical circuit chain can pay big dividends. All my studio gear runs on an individual house circuit. It feeds into a 1500w commercial grade UPS unit and then into Furman line conditioners. All computer USB ports are ground isolated. Nearly all studio lights are run on a totally different house circuit and no fluorescent lights are used. Only LEDs to eliminate potential noise problems.

I consider this stuff essential studio gear and worth every penny and effort it took to install.

 

[bikescene]

No difference in noise floor with the amp plugins. Bummer. Still a nice unit for regulation.

Thanks for taking a look into it. I appreciate the extra effort. I’ll still take a deeper look into whether the LC1200 or 2400 might be helpful in my applications

Paying attention to your electrical circuit chain can pay big dividends. All my studio gear runs on an individual house circuit. It feeds into a 1500w commercial grade UPS unit and then into Furman line conditioners. All computer USB ports are ground isolated. Nearly all studio lights are run on a totally different house circuit and no fluorescent lights are used. Only LEDs to eliminate potential noise problems.

I consider this stuff essential studio gear and worth every penny and effort it took to install.

Great points. I’m not a big fan of the electrical wiring in my basement space: Some outlets were wired reverse polarity, dimmers on lights when I first moved in. I’ll probably upgrade during a greater home improvement effort.

It was just a weird thing to have the noise floor be so unpredictable. I probably haven’t paid attention to it, but the tube amps probably hum a bit more on some days than others. My line level gear seems to be behaving well.

 

[TJontheRoad]

Thanks for taking a look into it. I appreciate the extra effort. I’ll still take a deeper look into whether the LC1200 or 2400 might be helpful in my applications


Great points. I’m not a big fan of the electrical wiring in my basement space: Some outlets were wired reverse polarity, dimmers on lights when I first moved in. I’ll probably upgrade during a greater home improvement effort.

It was just a weird thing to have the noise floor be so unpredictable. I probably haven’t paid attention to it, but the tube amps probably hum a bit more on some days than others. My line level gear seems to be behaving well.

Getting the lights and dimmers off the same house circuit you use for your studio gear can eliminate potential buzz issues. Using only one wall outlet for entire studio gear through a quality line conditioner will eliminate potential grounding issues and insure you're getting clean AC. Once that's done and you're still getting noise, you can be confident it's coming from the gear itself and not the house electric.