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[Oldfart]

Hello MEs,

Do you guys and gals use voltages regulators?

If so, which are you using?

Is there a reasons why they shouldn't used?

If you had a choice which would you choose?

I'm just curious if I should be adding one prior to the power conditioner I plan on utilizing


As usual, thanks in advance for your replies,

Oldfart

[j.hall]

probably a good question to ask Klett, and those guys.

i'd imagine that older tube designs would enjoy a regulated voltage.  

[bobkatz]

j.hall wrote on Mon, 15 November 2004 17:28

probably a good question to ask Klett, and those guys. i'd imagine that older tube designs would enjoy a regulated voltage.

Enjoy or actually have? In U.S.-based designs, tube regulators were rarely used. In my 1964-era Studer C37, there is a tube regulator, something I rarely if ever saw in U.S.-made tube designs. It wasn't until the modern era that audiophile-level tube designers started doing solid-state power supplys and HV-level regulators, which to my ears are superior to the tube regulators of the Studer tube era. Unless you like the spongy sound of the old C37s, which I generally do not.

BK

[dcollins]

Oldfart wrote on Fri, 12 November 2004 19:48

Do you guys and gals use voltages regulators? If so, which are you using? Is there a reasons why they shouldn't used? If you had a choice which would you choose? I'm just curious if I should be adding one prior to the power conditioner I plan on utilizing

I assume you mean a mains regulator and not the internal voltage regulators that are used in audio circuits?

Firstly, do you have troubles with mains voltage sags or overvoltage?  If not, then save your money.  Maybe spend it on an hours time with your electrician to have a look at things.

There are different types of mains regulators and the transformer-tap switching type like Furman has seems best for audio use.  

If you have a big power amp it's possible that a voltage regulator may restrict the maximum current available

DC

[David A. Gatwood]

Even if you are experiencing regular power sags, it probably isn't worth the effort to add hardware to fix the problem, as most electronic equipment these days has a power supply that can accept voltages in a range from... oh, 100-250V or so, well beyond the range that power would normally fluctuate.  Of course, your mileage may vary.

That said, if you're worried, buy a line conditioner.  As for myself, that's what my UPS is for.  Similar protection and then some, and relatively cheap.  Most of them even have lifetime guarantees against equipment damage for anything connected through them (as do most line conditioners).

[genericperson]

if i had my choice i would have the top-of-the-line Furman balanced power box.  it costs something like $3000.  

to quote Buddy Guy or B.B. King (I forget which!):
"Someday, Babe"