Over 15 years ago, I built a sizable remote truck. Over my first year of operation, while pulling shore power, too many problems with ground loop. These commercially available balance power units, like the type you described I understand on an excellent investment. I ended up purchasing an industrial, 75 amp power isolation transformer. Basically a 100 pound adjustable input, adjustable output, giant audio transformer. I basically wired up my facility in a balanced style configuration. On the primary side, I was able to select 208 to 220 taps for power input. On the secondary side, wired for 110 volts. Basically a balanced output where my ground was derived from the center tap on the secondary of the transformer. No more ground loops, better signal to noise. It worked fabulously! Probably a good investment for your studio. Same concept in the commercial units. At first I also tried to balance the power distribution but later decided to put all audio equipment on one side of the transformer and all lighting and ancillary power from the other side.

While not a must have, they do have many advantanges. One being that you can worry less about ground problems. As stated above, a very worthwhile investment. Even more so if you are in a bad electrical environment where motors, dimmers and poor wiring exist.

thanx for input guys. I'm going to get one.
Anyone knows where I can get one in Toronto area? This is a heavy one but so far I only found a good price in US.

chris

3dchris wrote: Do you think balanced power unit like Equi=Tech 1 R Power Source is necessary in pro studio? How much difference in sound does it make? Any input is highly appreciated.

thx,

chris

The Equitechs are great. I'm currently using a 1.5RQ, I upgraded from the regular 1.5R a while back. You'll notice an immediate difference. The Q option is an isolation transfomer that will help filter out RF too. It dropped the noise floor in my studio noticably. (y)

I've read that some people instead use a UPS system.....the special kind that convert incoming AC to battery DC, then back to AC...so that essentially your equiptment is running off battery...and this "isolates" any interference that may have been there before the UPS (at the wall socket).

Any truth to this?

example:
http://www.tripplite.com/products/product.cfm?productID=2949

=RR=

trippin'

I wouldn't buy anything from tripplite. I find their equipment to be poorly built, and as a result, it fails easily.

Thx one more time for all the inputs. I already ordered it.

chris