Phono shootout CH/EAR/Thoress/Phasemation

[Juiced]

thank you for the review.

it's nice seeing the ear 88pb compared to heavy weights such as the CH and Thrax

 

[thekong]

Thank you for your reply. I’m not electrician, but I guess the noise of my power supplies goes as: power supply>turntable>phono cable>phono stage, that’s why the SUT blocks it (both Phonos have built in SUT). Will a transformer between power grid and the power supply solve the situation? But I will try for sure.
My question is there should be a voltage difference between input and output of the transformer, my grid is 230v and my turntable is also 230v, is there an isolation transformer doing this job?

I am no engineer, so can’t explain how exactly an isolation transformer works, but as far as I understand an isolation transformer keeps the input/output voltage the same while filtering out the noise.

 

[mtemur]

An isolation transformer alone doesn’t necessarily filter noise. Some noise filtering can occur only if there’s an additional filtering circuit integrated with the transformer.

From experience, adding an isolation transformer before the main receptacle that powers the entire audio setup is one of the worst things you can do. All isolation transformers impart their own character to the sound — they slow it down and kill the liveliness. Maybe, just maybe, one could be used only for the turntable power supply, but I seriously doubt even that.

I know these are strong words, but in my opinion, there’s simply no way an isolation transformer powering the whole system can sound better than a direct, uninterrupted connection.

 

[thekong]

An isolation transformer alone doesn’t necessarily filter noise. Some noise filtering can occur only if there’s an additional filtering circuit integrated with the transformer.

From experience, adding an isolation transformer before the main receptacle that powers the entire audio setup is one of the worst things you can do. All isolation transformers impart their own character to the sound — they slow it down and kill the liveliness. Maybe, just maybe, one could be used only for the turntable power supply, but I seriously doubt even that.

I know these are strong words, but in my opinion, there’s simply no way an isolation transformer powering the whole system can sound better than a direct, uninterrupted connection.

I agree, an isolation transformer for the audio system is probably not a good idea. My suggestion for the isolation transformer (maybe needing some extra filtering circuit) was only for the turntable power supply, which, in this case, is feeding noise to the phono!

Would an isolation transformer for only the turntable power supply block its noise from feeding back into the main electric circuit, and then to the phono? Thanks

 

[mtemur]

Would an isolation transformer for only the turntable power supply block its noise from feeding back into the main electric circuit, and then to the phono? Thanks

It can — maybe it uses a filter circuit or is designed with a balanced topology. Even then, such designs help prevent mains noise from leaking into the audio equipment, but they can also work in reverse, isolating noise generated by the equipment itself.