F.A.Q.s

I have read in Hi-Fi News that I must re-register my warranty and guarantee with another company is this true?

No not at all, all guarantees for new and previous products are covered by IsoTek and will contiune to be for the forseable future.

I have heard that mains conditioning has a negative effect on amplifiers, due to it restricting (or throttling) the dynamics. Is this true?

Yes, unless the peak power delivery of the filter is significantly in excess of the peak power required by the amplifier. We use massive laminated isolation transformers run at low flux and current densities that are capable of massive peaks. When titans are used, practically all people report an increase of system dynamic range. This is in part due to lowering system noise and part supplying "purer" power to the amplifier which in turn may deliver a more competent performance.

What is the benefit of the Nova over the Solus?

The level of noise attenuation, spike removal and general conditioning of the mains supply is superior in the Nova and when correctly configured with a module for each hi-fi component it will stop cross component contamination which the Solus cannot.

How do I plug my CD player into the Solus, Mini Sub etc.?

For the Solus, Mini Sub and Nova, 6 outlets will be located at the rear of the unit to plug in your CD player, etc.

What does 'This product must be earthed' mean? Do I need a dedicated earth spike?

No, this product like most, is not double insulated and has to have its chassis connected by means of the green and yellow wire in the mains lead to the earth pin in the mains plug.

How many items can I plug into a Solus?

You can plug six items into a Solus, providing that the total load is below the 10 Amp current rating of the Solus.

What does a isolation module do which a filter module will not do?

In the vast majority of situations the isolation modules will result in superior sonic improvements over the filter modules. It achieves this by having a greater attenuation of noise over a larger range of frequencies.

My pre amp / CD player has an external power supply, so will it still need or benefit from filtering?

Yes, wherever the power supply is makes no difference. It will still be effected by noise and poor power and will still produce some corruption itself.

Can you advise what form and level of filtration is performed by the IsoPlug.

Regarding the level of filtration, this is a very difficult area to quantify. It has been noted that some companies are making misleading claims as to attenuation of noise. Generally we recommend you try a product and within our product range, the larger you go the better it gets.

Are both the filter and isolation modules able to remove ground loops?

No, neither can. By law, unless a product is double insulated, no manufacturer is allowed to break continuity of the mains earth. It could be potentially lethal. Ground loops must be broken elsewhere.

I am using a Solus to power my kit but I am hearing a buzz through the speakers. I also hear a similar buzz through other mains powered audio equipment I have. I do not know whether this interference is mains-born or environmental. If it is mains-born then should I expect the Solus to be eliminating it? Put another way, what types of noise should the Solus be removing?

There are many forms of noise that a hi-fi or AV system can produce.

If the actual pieces of equipment are buzzing this is generally one or more of the following:

• Poor transformer design or construction.
  
  
• Poor mechanical mounting.
  
  
• Over voltage supply.
  
  
• Significant distortion of the supply.
  
  
• DC present on the supply.

If there is noise from the speakers then it may be one or more of the following:

• Poor noise performance of one or more of the pieces of equipment.
  
  
• Incorrectly matched sensitivities between products (eg too sensitive power amp for pre amp, too efficient speakers for power amp).
  
  
• Under voltage supply (may cause regulators within a product to drop out of regulation).
  
  
• Earth loops.
  
  
• No earth.
  
  
• Poor earth.
  
  
• Significant distortion of the supply.
  
  
• Significant RF present either mains born or environmental (even by a piece of audio equipment).
  
  
• Significant electromagnetic field present which can effect the equipment or the cabling.

All our mains filters act to reduce mains born broadband noise. The frequency and degree of attenuation depends on the model, generally delivering better results as you go up the range. In addition, our models with isolation transformers will, to a large degree, stop DC from passing to the equipment at the expense of some mechanical noise if the DC content is very high.

Only complete regeneration can provide an absolutely pure waveform, devoid of any aberrations.It must be remembered that much of the acoustic improvements that mains filtering bring about is due to what we don't actually hear. No piece of equipment is perfect and even a small amount of mains born energy other than the 50 or 60Hz fundamental can have a significant detremental effect on how the equipment handles the actual audio (or video) signal passing through it.

What is Mains Noise?

There are many forms of noise that a hifi or AV system can produce. If the actual pieces of equipment are buzzing this is generally one or more of the following; poor transformer design or construction, poor mechanical mounting, over voltage supply, significant distortion of the supply or DC present on the supply.

If there is noise from the speakers then it may be one or more of the following; poor noise performance of one or more of the pieces of equipment, incorrectly matched sensitivities between products (eg too sensitive power amp for pre amp, too efficient speakers for power amp), under voltage supply (may cause regulators within a product to drop out of regulation), earth loops, no earth, poor earth, significant distortion of the supply, significant RF present either mains born or environmental (even by a piece of audio equipment), significant electromagnetic field present which can effect the equipment or the cabling.

All our mains filters act to reduce mains born broadband noise. The frequency and egree of attenuation depends on the model, generally delivering better results as you go up the range. In addition, our models with isolation transformers will, to a large degree, stop DC from passing to the equipment at the expence of some mechanical noise if the DC content is very high. Only complete regeneration can provide an absolutely pure waveform, devoid of any aberrations.It must be remembered that much of the acoustic improvements that mains filtering bring about is due to what we don't actually hear. No piece of equipment is perfect and even a small amount of mains born energy other than the 50 or 60Hz fundamental can have a significant deteriorious effect on how the equipment handles the actual audio (or video) signal passing through it.

Noise from Equipment

Noise from Speakers