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From: chrisc@gold.gvg.tek.com (Chris Christensen)
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: RE:Power Conditioners, Audio Power in general
Message-ID: <13497@uwm.edu>
Date: 27 Jun 91 12:54:14 GMT
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There seems to be a lot of interest in mains supplies for audio and I
thought that I would throw in my two cents.

I have a sound system that amp specs indicate a total of 2600 watts.
This is RMS and doesn't include and peak capability.  I usually spec
two decidated 30 amp mains supply.  I have run the system on two 20
amp circuits.  

If one believes that a well designed amplifier has an efficiency of
50% that the peak power draw fron the mains would be (in my case) 5200
watts and that translates to about 42 amps at 125 volts (no power
factor correction included to keep it simple), so two 30 amp mains 
circuits work well for me and thats how I get away with it on 
two 20's......

Some of my colleagues have suggested that an audio power amp can draw
4 times the RMS rating on peaks.

The above discussion applies to "analog" power supplies for audio
power amps.

It has been my experience that there is no substitute for raw power.

My suggestion to those concerned is to have a dedicated mains supply
for the audio system.  This circuit should be of the heaviest guage
pratical and a home run to the main power box feeding the house.

The reasoning behind this is to have the lowest impedance supply to
the lowest impedance source.

I located my studio in a berdoom that my sons vacated when we added on
to the house,  the mains sypply just hapened to be located on the
outside wall of that room.  I have glitch free power in the room due
to the fact that I am in a dedicated home run to the house power box.

I believe that my suggestions will provide the best possible "sonic"
results as well as minimise the dimming of the lights in the house.

Chris Christensen