Add a power conditionner or a new breaker panel?

[Parabellum]

Hi there,

Since a while I want to add a power conditioner as my next upgrade and I was pretty much set on the Shunyata Talos. In the meantime, I told myself I would start upgrading the el'cheapo 0.39$ sockets to Shunyata SR-Z1. But, continuing my thinking, I asked myself "why not change the breaker panel and add a dedicated 20A circuit?"

My house was built in 1983 and I have the original 150A breaker panel. My listening room is original both in electricity and decor And each time my electrician comes to do some work, he complains about my breaker panel and also, it is loaded with only one breaker space left.

I've read numerous times here on AA and other forums that people in general says a lot of good things about having a dedicated 20A line. So, with this in mind I believe it would be wise for me to start "fresh" with a new and upgraded 200A breaker panel and run dedicated 20A lines in the listening room. While I am at it, I would install the Shunyata SR-Z1 sockets.

I believe it would be better to do a full electrical upgrade rather than add a power conditioner while running on crappy and noisy circuits. Am I right to think this way? I see this as an opportunity to hit two birds with one stone. Upgrading the breaker panel would be a good thing for insurance purpose and if I get some improvement on the audio side that would be the icing on the cake. And if I consider a Shunyata Talos, I have to think about adding another fine 20A cable to feed the beast. Upgrading the breaker panel, run dedicated lines and adding Shunyata SR-1 would cost me about 2000$. A talos with an Anaconda CX would run for about twice as that. I don't know which one would give best results but still I believe a good foundation is the right way to go.

I have invested a lot in good cabling (Shunyata Python CX on MC252 and Black Mamba HC-CX on MCD301 and C46). As I see it, it is a bit of a non-sense to run all these fine cables on crappy power...

Your comments are welcomed.

Thanks,

Serge

[GaryProtein]

DEFINITELY get a new breaker panel before anything else.

[jdandy]

Serge.......It is a wise move to upgrade your residential power. Going to a full 200 amp service is a good thing, especially since modern times have everything running on electricity. Your service is 30 years old so a new service panel and circuit breakers will provide improved protection. Make sure you have a licensed contractor do the work and have it properly inspected. A new 200 amp service may even require that the power company upgrade the cable that feeds your meter. It will require new wire from your meter to the new panel.

When you electrical contractor installs the dedicated 20 amp circuits to your listening room remind him you want them on the same phase. He will understand what your are requesting. My suggestion is to run a minimum of two dedicated circuits.

[rlw3]

New romex and the new 20 amp breaker will take time to break in. I am currently using some fans. new romex sounds extremely bad. Why does unequal romex length between 2 different 20 amp circuits cause a hum? how perfectly matched do the lengths have to be?

[Mikado463]

Originally Posted by Parabellum

I believe it would be better to do a full electrical upgrade rather than add a power conditioner while running on crappy and noisy circuits. Am I right to think this way?

absolutely !

I believe a good foundation is the right way to go.

you believe correctly !

Originally Posted by rlw3

New romex and the new 20 amp breaker will take time to break in.

pray tell.......why....and how ??

[The Attorney]

Originally Posted by Parabellum

Hi there,
I believe it would be better to do a full electrical upgrade rather than add a power conditioner while running on crappy and noisy circuits.
Serge

I agree in general, but I do think that YMMV does apply here. When I added a dedicated breaker box (with RCDs) plus dedicated lines, I was underwhelmed by the subtle sound improvement compared to my existing box and ring main. This could have been because the existing stuff was relatively clean to start with.

Believe it or not, I was more impressed when I changed the socket from stock to Furutech, and even when I changed the fuses.

Adding a dedicated line doesn't necessarily mean that the Power Conditioner becomes redundant. Because there is noise from outside the house, and also noise created by the very equipment you're trying to protect. By far the biggest improvement for me was my Audience PLC - whether on old ring main or new dedicated lines. There are a number of PLCs that are as good as or better than the Audience, but unfortunately none of the well reviewed ones are cheap.

[-E-]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Serge.......It is a wise move to upgrade your residential power. Going to a full 200 amp service is a good thing, especially since modern times have everything running on electricity. Your service is 30 years old so a new service panel and circuit breakers will provide improved protection. Make sure you have a licensed contractor do the work and have it properly inspected. A new 200 amp service may even require that the power company upgrade the cable that feeds your meter. It will require new wire from your meter to the new panel.

When you electrical contractor installs the dedicated 20 amp circuits to your listening room remind him you want them on the same phase. He will understand what your are requesting. My suggestion is to run a minimum of two dedicated circuits.

^^^^^^This.

Audio gospel chapter 1: feed thy gear with dedicated power.

GIGO principle applies here, and starting at your functional source is very important. I remember that as soon as I moved into my home a few years ago, even before I moved in, I had an electrician running dedicated 20-amp lines, CAT6, and RG6 all over the place, well before the first piece of furniture arrived.

[coxhaus]

When I upgraded my main breaker box from 150 amps to 250 amps we also upgraded the wires going from the breaker box to the pole. We went to a much larger size wire. I think we used 000 wires. Make sure you up size the wires to the pole. You may have to any way depending on the size of the wire. My pole wires were 40 years old and were corroded. These are small costs compared to stereo wires.

[Masterlu]

coxhaus... Welcome!

[BlueFox]

My lights used to flicker when the washing machine ran, or the fridge started running, even though they were on separate circuits. After I upgraded to a 200 amp panel, and no other changes, the lights are solid. My reaction was "WTF! What does a new panel have to with that?" Anyway, that was my first inclination that power does matter.