Would using AC outlets on back of receiver degrade sound quality?

[Cristofori]

Hello All,

My question would seem simple, but I can't recall ever seeing it mentioned.

Would using the AC outlets on the back of the receiver possibly degrade sound quality or cause some other kind of problems? Also, would the other components being plugged into them still be protected during a surge if the receiver itself was plugged into the surge suppressor?

I've noticed that some receivers and higher end models don't have these AC outlets, making me think that not every manufacturer thinks they are a good idea.

Never being one myself to sacrifice SQ for convenience, it wouldn't bother me to plug everything in separately. But it would be nice to power up some of my other units with one touch as long as there was no effect on anything.

 

[mike c]

the switched outlet at the back is only good for low wattage items like CD/DVD/BD players

if the max wattage requirement is followed (it should be printed near the switched outlet), i doubt it would make a difference with sound quality

if the receiver is on a surge protector, i believe the switched outlet would be too.

 

[3db]

Hello All,

My question would seem simple, but I can't recall ever seeing it mentioned.

Would using the AC outlets on the back of the receiver possibly degrade sound quality or cause some other kind of problems? Also, would the other components being plugged into them still be protected during a surge if the receiver itself was plugged into the surge suppressor?

I've noticed that some receivers and higher end models don't have these AC outlets, making me think that not every manufacturer thinks they are a good idea.

Never being one myself to sacrifice SQ for convenience, it wouldn't bother me to plug everything in separately. But it would be nice to power up some of my other units with one touch as long as there was no effect on anything.

Its possible that it could degrade the sound if there was a sloppy implementation of the plu on the chassis and that the AC was nosiy to begin with and induced 60Hz hum into the receiver's circuit. But most if not all companies who supply addidtional outlest on their receivers do a good job with that and its not a problem.

 

[highfigh]

If something is plugged in and it causes a major voltage drop, it could cause a problem but the receiver has a rating printed on the back for the outlets. The courtesy outlets are only intended for low wattage electronics, not amplifiers.

Think about this for a minute- if the power cord is rated for a certain amperage, how would plugging an amp or receiver into the outlet be a good idea?

 

[saea501]

I wouldn't use them at all. Anything plugged into those outlets will draw more current through the receiver and increase noise level.

With regard to a surge , the receiver itself will provide no protection.

 

[GlocksRock]

I wouldn't use them at all. Anything plugged into those outlets will draw more current through the receiver and increase noise level.

With regard to a surge , the receiver itself will provide no protection.

What if you are using an external amp, would it still create more noise then?

 

[highfigh]

I wouldn't use them at all. Anything plugged into those outlets will draw more current through the receiver and increase noise level.

With regard to a surge , the receiver itself will provide no protection.

There's no change in the noise level when using the courtesy outlet. If the unit that's plugged in is a tuner or something that draws little current, it will have no effect.

 

[highfigh]

Its possible that it could degrade the sound if there was a sloppy implementation of the plu on the chassis and that the AC was nosiy to begin with and induced 60Hz hum into the receiver's circuit. But most if not all companies who supply addidtional outlest on their receivers do a good job with that and its not a problem.

If the receptacle is loose, the receiver should be jammed down the manufacturer's throat because it's a safety issue.

 

[3db]

I wouldn't use them at all. Anything plugged into those outlets will draw more current through the receiver and increase noise level.

With regard to a surge , the receiver itself will provide no protection.

This is an incorrect assertion on your part. Why would current draw from an on chassis receptacle increase noise?

 

[saea501]

Because the additional flow will come through the power supply which is common to the outputs. Any increase in noise would be proportional to the device plugged in and even a worst case would be small. And, depending on the speakers, maybe unnoticed.

Always been my practice not to use these.

 

[3db]

Because the additional flow will come through the power supply which is common to the outputs. Any increase in noise would be proportional to the device plugged in and even a worst case would be small. And, depending on the speakers, maybe unnoticed.

Always been my practice not to use these.

Again, incorrect ; The outlets aren't wired as outputs of the receiver's power supply. That would be a bad design practie.

 

[Rickster71]

Because the additional flow will come through the power supply which is common to the outputs. Any increase in noise would be proportional to the device plugged in and even a worst case would be small. And, depending on the speakers, maybe unnoticed.

Always been my practice not to use these.

Not true.
The 'extra flow,' as you put it does not go through the PS.
The courtesy outlets are tied directly to the power cord before entering the PS.
Every outlet in your house is 'common' to every other one, if you want to use your rational of them being common.

I don't use the extra outlets either; except for an occasional pancake fan in the switched outlet.
EDIT:3db you beat me to it. I went upstairs to take the covers off of an amp and an AVR just to check first.

 

[Cristofori]

If something is plugged in and it causes a major voltage drop, it could cause a problem but the receiver has a rating printed on the back for the outlets. The courtesy outlets are only intended for low wattage electronics, not amplifiers.

Think about this for a minute- if the power cord is rated for a certain amperage, how would plugging an amp or receiver into the outlet be a good idea?

I had no intention of hooking up an amp to them, even I know doing that would not be good. I only want to use them for a CD/DVD Player, Cassette Deck, etc.

Would those units be protected during a surge if plugged into a protected receiver?

 

[j_garcia]

Would those units be protected during a surge if plugged into a protected receiver?

Yes because it is the same circuit.

 

[highfigh]

I had no intention of hooking up an amp to them, even I know doing that would not be good. I only want to use them for a CD/DVD Player, Cassette Deck, etc.

Would those units be protected during a surge if plugged into a protected receiver?

Using the outlets for somehting like what you listed is fine. If the receiver is plugged into a suppressor, anything plugged into the receiver is, too.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Because the additional flow will come through the power supply which is common to the outputs. Any increase in noise would be proportional to the device plugged in and even a worst case would be small. And, depending on the speakers, maybe unnoticed.

Even if this were true which it is not, why wouldn't the same issue be the case when the amp is drawing more current? It doesn't matter. Just check the amp specs at 1 watt and full power with lots of current draw.

Always been my practice not to use these.

That is a different issue from your above statements

 

[Cristofori]

Using the outlets for somehting like what you listed is fine. If the receiver is plugged into a suppressor, anything plugged into the receiver is, too.

Thanks!

To clarify and refine my other question further, as I'm not sure it had been answered definitively yet, would using these outlets possibly cause ANY difference in SQ at all, even if I didn't notice it?

It's really no big deal for me to use separate outlets, because the thought of degrading my system for an unnecessary convenience, even if I couldn't hear it, would still bother me.

Also, I question why most higher quality stereo amps usually delete this otherwise convenient feature if it has absolutely zero effect on anything.

 

[highfigh]

Thanks!

To clarify and refine my other question further, as I'm not sure it had been answered definitively yet, would using these outlets possibly cause ANY difference in SQ at all, even if I didn't notice it?

It's really no big deal for me to use separate outlets, because the thought of degrading my system for an unnecessary convenience, even if I couldn't hear it, would still bother me.

Also, I question why most higher quality stereo amps usually delete this otherwise convenient feature if it has absolutely zero effect on anything.

It won't matter as far as sound quality is concerned. If a CD/DVD/Cassette player draws more than 2A, I would be very surprised.

"even if I couldn't hear it, would still bother me."

Look up the definition of 'Neurosis'. You got it, you're hooked.

You're weird, you're a mutant, you're a lean, mean Audioholic machine!

 

[Cristofori]

It won't matter as far as sound quality is concerned. If a CD/DVD/Cassette player draws more than 2A, I would be very surprised.

"even if I couldn't hear it, would still bother me."

Look up the definition of 'Neurosis'. You got it, you're hooked.

You're weird, you're a mutant, you're a lean, mean Audioholic machine!

Yes I know, but the doctors keep telling me I'm getting better.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Yes I know, but the doctors keep telling me I'm getting better.

You mean you were worse off before?