Enhance the quality of AC electricity for your audio and AV systems.
If you have a mechanical hum, deploy the DC Blocker+
Sayonara mechanical hum.
Mains electricity, crucial to your audio systems, can often be disrupted by various interferences, distorting the AC waveform, and reducing audio quality. ‘DC on the mains’ is a common problem, particularly with amplifiers.
Although household outlets are intended to deliver pure AC power, a range of your home appliances—from lighting controls to home appliances power supplies—create ‘asymmetrical loads’, resulting in DC voltage on the AC supply.
When a small amount of DC voltage from the mains reaches the transformer, it can cause ‘saturation’, leading the transformer to produce a significant and persistent humming sound. You can hear it when you bring your ear close to or next to the chassis.
The DC Blocker+ is a smart device that, when you place it at the IEC (the rear power inlet), prevents DC from getting into the amplifier, thus eliminating transformer hum.
Plus for Higher Power Equipment.
The bigger the amplifier, usually, the larger the toroidal transformer — often sensitive to residual DC voltage. Simply add the DC Blocker+ at the IEC to stop DC from getting in.
- Globally compatible (90-250V).
- Designed for high-power equipment (Continuous current rating: 10A).
- Compact design ensures it doesn’t obstruct other connectors, sockets, or cables.
ZERO DC Block technology – stops DC from getting into your amplifier and eliminates amplifier transformer hum.
Designed for high-power equipment (continuous current rating: 10A).
EMI shielding is retained.
High-performance glass passivated semiconductor. High-case dielectric strength of 1500VRMS. UL listed. Flame resistant IEC socket/connecter/chassis (Fireproof polymers UL94-V0).
Here's a comparison of the DC Blocker!
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Cheers!!
"Ifi Audio DC Blocker & Ground Defender: A Story of Silence
In the world of audiophile madness, we're always on the lookout for ways to optimize our sound quality. But let's be real – sometimes our rigs can get a little wonky. That's where the Ifi Audio DC Blocker and Ground Defender come in: the ultimate dynamic duo of audio protection!
First, let's learn what this little gizmo is all about. The DC Blocker is a tiny titan of a device designed to eliminate DC offset and ripple – those pesky electrical gremlins that can ruin your audio party. It's like having a personal DC bodyguard, protecting your equipment from unwanted electrical interference. With the DC Blocker, you can say goodbye to annoying hums and hello to pristine sound quality. Remember, the location of this device in your system will determine its validity.
In my system, I had to test a few places since it's a bit complicated. My tube preamplifier is 220V, so I needed a step-up transformer – not ideal but necessary, as the quality of the transformer will influence sound quality. My preamplifier runs through a step-up transformer, powered by studio monitors via the Ifi Audio Power Station (120V).
Let's find out more about the Ifi Audio Ground Defender, which I also have, to completely eliminate any hum in my system. The Ground Defender is the DC Blocker's trusty sidekick, working together to keep your audio setup grounded and stable. This clever device eliminates ground loops, ensuring your equipment operates smoothly and without interference. When paired, the DC Blocker and Ground Defender form an unbeatable team, safeguarding your audio equipment from DC offset, ripple, and grounding issues.
So, are they working well together? Are they an effective team? In one word: Yes, at least in my case, but not without experimentation with the position of both devices in my system. My preamplifier has some attention paid to DC blocking, but it's not as sophisticated as the Ifi Audio DC Blocker, nor the power distribution where the preamplifier is connected. However, it was not enough to completely eliminate the bit of hum I was getting – quite normal with tube gear, but not this type of noise.
I tried two positions for both units. First, on the power input of the step-up transformer, both the DC Blocker and Ground Defender spent some time in that location. Then, on the power input of the preamplifier, both devices interchangeably spent some time there. So, what worked best in my case? The DC Blocker goes on the power input of the step-up transformer powering the preamplifier, and the Ground Defender ends up on the power input of the preamplifier. That eliminated any buzzing I was previously getting. Great job! Thank you for that; I was thinking I would have to live with that.
Both units are quite sizable, and if you have thick heavy cables, this could add strain to the power socket. Since mine power transformer (step-up) is on the ground, I placed a block of wood to support it, and that was a done deal. On the preamplifier side, I was lucky enough that my power cord is not too heavy, despite being of audiophile quality. However, the Ground Defender sticks out a bit – I guess it's unavoidable.
Use them together; it's worth it. At least try them in your system, and depending on the setup, you can try them in various locations to see where the best place to install them is.
The bonus here is that you will get smooth and more relaxed sound.
After researching the subject, I found that DC leakage can affect the whole audio chain – from preamp to amp, DAC to speakers. Thank you, Ifi Audio, for addressing this important aspect of the audio chain. Here it is what search on DC leakage and tubes says :
Vacuum tubes can be affected by DC from the mains power supply.
1. Tube biasing: Vacuum tubes require a specific DC bias voltage to operate correctly. If the mains power supply introduces DC offset or noise, it can affect the tube's biasing and alter its performance.
2. Hum and noise: Mains power supply DC can also introduce hum and noise into the tube circuit, degrading the overall sound quality and affect other equipment in the system. So once again thank you Ifi audio for those clever additions to my system .
Until next time... when we peak and see what's cooking in the Ifi Audio kitchen!"