Weird comment about AC in the Triaxis manual.

[joegold]

"NOTE: The A.C. power for TriAxis should be derived from the same power strip as that of the power
amp in use. Any effects units used should also be plugged into this same strip. This close proximity
of A.C. power supply for units within a system will prevent TONE degradation. Failure to follow this
wiring scheme may result in harsh or excessively bright tonal characteristics."

What do you guys make of this?

My Simul-Satellite (which I used as a powered speaker for the Triaxis) has an AC outlet on its back.

If I plug the powerstrip that the Triaxis is plugged into (the Triaxis is in a small rack), into the back of the Simul-Sat (the Simul-Sat itself is plugged into the wall), will I be satifying the "same strip" requirement mentioned in the manual?

Or do I have to plug the rack's power strip itself into the wall and the Simul-Sat into the strip?

 

[ylo]

By "tone degradation," they probably mean ground loops and AC hum.

Using a quality power strip or power conditioner plugged into a single outlet can reduce the chances of ground loops and hum.

For example, I read a story about faulty club wiring in a trade journal for electricians. The club had taken a 220 volt line and split it into two 110 volt outlets at either end of the stage. The band experienced horrible hum and several pieces of equipment got fried. The club had split the 220 line incorrectly and had reversed some of the wires to the outlets. Lucky for them nobody was electrocuted.

Plugging everything into a single outlet diminishes the chances of this sort of thing occurring. The challenge is that running a whole band off a single outlet can easily exceed the current rating of the outlet, and cause a house fuse to blow.

I use a small rack and Furman power distributor for all my wall warts and amps. This gets the AC and hum-inducing magnetic fields from the wall warts away from the guitar and my feet, and seems to take care of any ground loops. I don't like doing an electric dance when the beer starts flowing across the floor at those wild fraternity dances.

Also consider a Furman power conditioner, which actually adjusts its output voltage if the house voltage sags. If you have a lot of expensive equipment, this might pay for itself.

 

[joegold]

By "tone degradation," they probably mean ground loops and AC hum.

Thanks. But that's not what the quote (from the Triaxis manual) says.

 

[ylo]

OK, if you mean "harsh or excessively bright tonal characteristics," I guess I missed the significance of this. I have no idea how Mesa figures this could result from not using the same power strip.

 

[joegold]

OK, if you mean "harsh or excessively bright tonal characteristics," I guess I missed the significance of this. I have no idea how Mesa figures this could result from not using the same power strip.

Yeah, I know. It's weird, eh?