DIY Power Conditioner for Audio Built From an Old Cable Box

The term "Power conditioner" is a very controversial subject in the world of hifi audio, it has lots of defenders and detractors that argue each other with endless enthusiasm.

Its main purpose is to avoid the electromagnetic noise present on the mains to pass through the power supply of the audio equipment and distort the sound. Also it can provide some protection against power surges and short circuits.

There are many variants, from simple power strips with some filtering to complicated devices with isolation transformers or individidual filters for each outlet or both.

There are some pros and cons as anything in life. By the side of the detractors they argue that a power conditioner destroys the soundstage because it increases the impedance of the power line. They may be right under certain circumstances.

Also there is too much snake oil selling in the audio business that complicates the panorama.

The present project is more for the simpler side from the configuration point of view and it is intended to be used with my vintage audio gear, which has not too much soundstage to destroy by nature but is very sensitive to emi from todays power grid full of smps and digital stuff.

-Mostly common tools like pliers, wire cutter, crimp tool, small wrenches etc. were used to build the project, things that can be found in any workshop.

-An old REGENCY cable box provided the cabinet.

-Access to a 3D printer was needed to make extra parts.

-The core of the device is a second hand industrial grade CORCOM 20VR6 line filter, a SIOV and a CARLINGSWITCH 15amp circuit breaker.

-Electrical stuff like 3m of 3 x 2.5mm2 cable, a good plug, threaded cable gasket, Cambre SIGLO XXI outlets, isolated crimpable terminals, single pole 2.5mm2 and 1.5mm2 cable.

-Matte black paint spray can.

-Miscellaneous materials, small screws, four plastic stand salvaged from an old CRT tv, etc.

The cable box was totally dismantled, the only parts to preserve were the lid and the bottom plate and the inner frame.

The useful parts were washed with dish detergent. The sticker on the bottom plate was pretty hard to remove, it required some scratching and a hot air blower to get rid of it, so a quick spraying of black paint was needed to restore the finishing.

The front and back plates were used to model new 3D printed parts, the rest of guts gone to the junk box for future projects.

The line filter and the new(ish...) stands were fixed with 3mm screws.

The front and back plates served as model for the new ones. At the front end goes the circuit breaker, also I modelled a decorative triode symbol.

The power outlets and the cable gasket are attached to the back plate.

The triode was filled with several layers of acrylic paint. The excess of paint was successively washed with a wet sponge.