Power Conditioners: What's Your Gear Plugged Into?

Investing in the right tool for the job isn't always exciting. Good power management doesn't make as noticeable of a difference to your sound as a new effects pedal, yet how much of your valuable equipment do you put at risk without it? Under optimum conditions, if nothing ever goes wrong, you won't need a power conditioner. But when is the last time you remember having optimum conditions? Most experienced professionals use some kind of power conditioning system, because all too often, musicians are asked to plug into substandard AC power. So, what does a power conditioner do for you? Let's look at the features of the Carvin Audio AC120S Power Conditioner / Sequencer to learn more.

Bringing it all Together

Modern AC power is very simple to use: plug in your appliance and you've got power! Well, at least the concept is simple, until you start setting up multiple electronic devices that are all interconnected, in a very small area. Before long, you are looking for an extra outlet, running extension cords and power strips all over, and your equipment is plugged in haphazardly. Making changes to your setup configuration or troubleshooting power issues becomes time consuming and tedious. The random order in which devices are connected has a high likelihood of creating ground loops caused by multiple paths to ground. These ground loops often produce an irritating hum, degrading sound quality and reducing the system's signal-to-noise performance. The Carvin Audio AC120S offers one centralized power source for your equipment, a star-ground system where all grounds are ultimately connected to only one system grounding point. And, if you ever do have to trace a power issue, with the AC120S can tell you at a glance if the problem is in your rig, or the house power supply. 

Sequential Start-Up and Shut-Down

Centralized power distribution offers the convenience of flipping a single switch to power the system up and down. Unfortunately, a lot of modern musical equipment takes a moment to power up or down and produces an audible pop or thump in the audio signal path. If you switch on your power amp and one of these units simultaneously, the thump is amplified, which is annoying and can damage your equipment. The Carvin Audio AC120S has 10 power outlets that activate sequentially. You can choose the order in which your gear switches on and off, and still enjoy the convenience of having a single switch to control all your AC power.

Filters that Provide Extra Protection and Enhance Performance

We have all heard stories about someone who lost all of their equipment because a lightning strike sent a power surge through all their gear. Of course, there are many potential causes of power surges, but what they all have in common is the damage they can do to your electronics. The Carvin Audio AC120S has special filters designed to suppress power surges and spikes before they can harm your gear. In addition, the AC120S provides filtering to reduce RF interference that can inject random high frequency signals into your audio path.

Little Conveniences for Dark Stages

When the lights go down, you could be left completely in the dark. Fortunately, you'll have no trouble finding the LED voltage meter of your AC120S. Use the meter to verify your source power is the right voltage before firing up your system. You'll also enjoy the convenient LED lamps on the front of the AC120S which help you see to adjust the other gear in your rack with ease.

For such a small investment, having centralized power conditioning offers many advantages. And you never know if it will save your entire rig some dark and stormy night in the years to come. Click here to order your AC120S today.

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