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Isolation transformers

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SoundMods

Post subject: Isolation transformers

Posted: June 23rd, 2018, 9:54 am

Joined: July 24th, 2015, 4:17 pm
Posts: 1876
Location: Parkville, Maryland

I read with interest Art Dudley's review of the Shindo isolation transformer in the July 2018 Stereophile Vol. 41 no.7 issue and wish to convey that Art’s experience duplicates my own experience. The only difference is that my experience has been over a 30-year period using Paul McGowen's PS Audio isolation transformer that was on the market long before PS Audio developed power re-generators.

My isolation transformer has anchored my system those many years and any time I decided to run a trial without the transformer -- WOW! It was not even a contest. To quote Art, "No more muddy water for me or my playback system."

The beauty of an electronically-shielded isolation transformer is that it is low maintenance -- actually no maintenance. It will outlast many changes to one's system over the long term.

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Walt

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Jay Bala

Post subject: Re: Isolation transformers

Posted: June 23rd, 2018, 8:14 pm

Joined: July 25th, 2015, 12:47 pm
Posts: 60

Good link. There was a comment on a much cheaper product:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000 ... 0DER&psc=1

Maybe its worth a try?

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TubeDriver

Post subject: Re: Isolation transformers

Posted: June 23rd, 2018, 10:36 pm

Joined: March 12th, 2013, 11:12 am
Posts: 742

I have been very satusfied with my Bryston BIT-15 Balanced Output Transformer.

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GaryB

Post subject: Re: Isolation transformers

Posted: June 23rd, 2018, 11:56 pm

Joined: May 21st, 2017, 11:34 am
Posts: 30

I'm also a fan of isolation transformers. Plitron makes some very nice ones with NBT technology that is very effective in filtering out high frequency noise. The Torus line of power conditioners use these. Plitron published a good paper on their approach to building quality isolation transformers, which is worth a read https://docs.google.com/viewerng/viewer ... oblems.pdf

If you want to do things on the cheap, then head over to ebay and search for medical isolation transformers. You can get nice ones for not much money. Follow them up with some simple filtering (Capacitor/common mode choke/capacitor) and you'll have a great solution for not much money.
---Gary

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SoundMods

Post subject: Re: Isolation transformers

Posted: June 24th, 2018, 10:17 am

Joined: July 24th, 2015, 4:17 pm
Posts: 1876
Location: Parkville, Maryland

Jay Bala wrote:

Good link. There was a comment on a much cheaper product:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000 ... 0DER&psc=1

Maybe its worth a try?

Definitely worth a try. Electrostatic isolation transformers have been around for decades. You don't have to buy the $2,000 Shindo. However, I found it intersting that Art Dudley's favorite audio manufacturer thought enough of the worth of the transformers to market one.

A friend of mine found that a variable auto-transformer that one would use in a shop to soft start electronics does one hell of job to block all of the "trash" that follows the 60-Hz. sine wave into the house.

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Walt

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ratbagp

Post subject: Re: Isolation transformers

Posted: June 24th, 2018, 10:50 am

Joined: January 14th, 2015, 11:15 pm
Posts: 501

Interesting. I have lashed out and purchased the following 2000 watt unit:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/283020670952

Datasheet at
https://www2.mouser.com/datasheet/2/410/media-845085.pdf

$40 including free shipping!

ray

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SoundMods

Post subject: Re: Isolation transformers

Posted: June 24th, 2018, 11:34 am

Joined: July 24th, 2015, 4:17 pm
Posts: 1876
Location: Parkville, Maryland

ratbagp wrote:

You stole it!! Based on the Shindu brag we now know what their raw cost is.

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Walt

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ratbagp

Post subject: Re: Isolation transformers

Posted: June 24th, 2018, 11:38 am

Joined: January 14th, 2015, 11:15 pm
Posts: 501

It is quite a monster and weighs 20 lb. When it arrives I will take the lid off to see what is inside and take some photos. Then I will ask for suggestions on how to improve it.

ray

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SoundMods

Post subject: Re: Isolation transformers

Posted: June 24th, 2018, 11:52 am

Joined: July 24th, 2015, 4:17 pm
Posts: 1876
Location: Parkville, Maryland

ratbagp wrote:

It is quite a monster and weighs 20 lb. When it arrives I will take the lid off to see what is inside and take some photos. Then I will ask for suggestions on how to improve it.

ray

It is nothing more than an electrostatic-shielded transformer. When you open it up you will be underwhelmed. Since your unit has fuse protection you might want to change the fuse to something more "audiophile." Here is a link to a line of sand-filled fuses with silver elements:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R ... s&_sacat=0

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Walt

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Jay Bala

Post subject: Re: Isolation transformers

Posted: June 24th, 2018, 1:55 pm

Joined: July 25th, 2015, 12:47 pm
Posts: 60

Here is another one for consideration:
https://media.digikey.com/pdf/Data%20Sh ... lug-In.pdf

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