1. Home
  2. tech-talk
  3. 1130980608

Changed circ.breaker-vocals became shouty:why?

Hi
I live in pre-war apt.building.The circuit breaker that was feeding my system was an old 15 amp gadget that was long ago discontinued.When i noticed that it was 15 amp i went and bought a $25 30 amp replacement for it.After installing it in the box i noticed that vocals and solo guitars became shouty and flat even though the rest of the spectrum became more dynamic,especially bass.After i put back the old breaker,the sound became 3-D and warm again,even though the system was straining at high volumes.Is it a circuit breaker burn in factor or something else at play here?My power amp is Pass X 250,5 driving 86db/4ohm Snell type B speaker (6 drivers per side,3 of which are 10 inches).
Outlets by PS Audio.Any ideas?Thanks a lot.
overhang
duane
189 posts
 
Eldarford, there are rip offs and steals at every price. There are $800 amps that sound better than $2000 amps and $20,000 amps that are 10 times better than $10,000 amps.
You can't find a new amp for $300 that is any good because there is a minimum in every industry where you can't build stuff that cheap without cutting MAJOR corners. Line conditioners that don't starve amps start at $1600. Dishwashers that don't break, $700. Dress shoes that don't hurt to wear all day and don't go out of style, $300. Plasma TV's that look good and don't break $4500. Table saws that cut ebony and cherry wood all day without over heating $25,000. Wives that don't cheat on you and are good looking $1,000,000.
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Duane...I guess I got one hell of a deal on my wife.
jea48
2,944 posts
 
>"The dynamics changed a lot with a 30 amp,a lot of headroom and the lights on my Panamax power conditioner are not flickering on the border of underpowering anymore.( 11-04-05: Overhang)"<
>>>>>>>>>>>

>"and the lights on my Panamax power conditioner are not flickering on the border of underpowering anymore."<

>"I live in pre-war apt.building.The circuit breaker that was feeding my system was an old 15 amp gadget that was long ago discontinued"<
>>>>>>>>>>>
It is possible the contacts in the old 15 amp breaker were corroded, or the contact pressure was poor, causing a voltage drop across the contacts in the breaker. This could definitely affect the dynamics of a power amp and the other components of the audio system. Line voltage to the system when loaded, bouncing all over the place with the demand of the power amp constantly changing.
===========

>"The wire is 12 gauge.I will step down to 20 amp breaker"<
>>>>>>

Are you sure? Odd a 15 amp breaker was installed on #12 awg copper wire. If indeed the wire size is #12 awg then yes install the 20 amp breaker.
When you change the breaker to the 20 clean the wire with something like sand paper to remove any corrosion.

For a good termination the connection must have,

Surfaces must be clean
Surface area
Contact pressure.

Curious, what is the manufacture of the old electrical panel? Frank Adams, by chance? What brand of replacement breaker did you use, Bryant?

Jim
More to discover