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AC Power Between Amp and Preamp

For as long as I've had my ARC D-90 amp and SP-12 pre-amp I have connected the amp's AC Power Cord to the Switched AC outlet on the Pre-amp. I actually connect a decent quality surge protected power strip to the switched pre-amp outlet and plug the amp, subwoofer and cooling fan to the multi-outlet power strip so everything powers up and down together.

I have not noticed any issues at all with this set-up and have been doing it for years. I did read in another A/V Receiver manuel however where they cautioned against plugging high current components into the back of their (Pioneer) receiver/amp type unit.

Needless to say the D-90 amp pulls a lot of current. The Bob Carver Sub supposedly has an 1100 watt internal amp, so the big question is should I be running these high current components through the pre-amp. Otherwise I'll have to come up with another way for easy on/off for the amp and sub.

Thanks for any comments.
jamesk58
detlof
1,899 posts
 
Just a 2-cent suggestion:
Why don't you experiment? Leave out the surge protector and power up your amp and sub apart from your pre and listen to some music with lots of dynamics in it. If you hear a pleasing difference in the music, try the same, powering ALL your units through the protector. If the sound doesn't change, fine. The protector obviously does no harm. Now plug it all back in as you usually do it. If you don't hear any real change from before, why worry. Leave it as is.
Actually though, powering your units the way that you do is supposed to be one of the biggest mortal sins in Audiophila. However, we all are sinners and there are always exceptions to the rule. (:
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Switching the many amps drawn by the power amp will shorten the life of the switch in the preamp. Why not get a heav duty relay from Radio Shack and let it do the switching. You can get a relay where the coil (control) is 115 volts. Install the relay in an electrical box with an outlet turned on by the relay.
electroid
283 posts
 
I had a CJ preamp with outlets, one switched the others always on. Not only did equipment sound better when it was not plugged into it but the preamp sounded better when those outlets were disconnected internally.

ET
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