In a search for a piece of gear to help provide clean power for my system, I remembered a suggestion from Vince Galbo of MSB Technologies during a wide-ranging discussion about the MSB Analog DAC and the importance of clean power. Vince recommended the Tripp Lite IS500HG, which is a 500 watt, hospital grade isolation transformer. In doing some research, I opted for the IS1000HG which is the 1000 watt version of the Tripp Lite as I was plugging everything except the subwoofer into the isolation transformer and more power handling capacity is better, right? While the Tripp Lite doesn't have fancy case-work, an audiophile reputation or an audiophile price tag, it does noticeably lower the noise floor and improve the clarity of the music. The improvement is also demonstrable with an Alpha Labs Line EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) Meter (recommended by Stirling Trayle) or an Entech Wide Band Power Line Noise Analyzer which measures RFI (Radio Frequency Interference), which is a subset of EMI. (I have both in case anyone wants to borrow either or both.)
The pictures below are a little difficult to read, but on the left is a reading from the Alpha Labs meter from the wall socket in my listening room and reads 112.4 mV of EMI noise. The reading on the right is 25.6 mV out of the Tripp Lite isolation transformer. Readings from the wall socket in my listening room generally range from the 50's to 120 mVs and out of the Tripp Lite are always in the low to mid 20 mVs. The Tripp Lite provides a measurable and audible improvement in line noise. I also had Richard Gray's 600 RM Pro and a Synergistic Research Powercell 10se III power conditioners, neither reduced the amount of EMI from the wall socket.
