I've just bought a balanced transformer!

[YNWaN]

Received, wired up, and testing:

[sq225917]

I bet that's all air inside.

[GJO]

You need a gland on that cable.

[YNWaN]

Yeah, I’ve got one coming.
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The top section of the box is relatively empty except for the 13A sockets (MK ones) and the circuit breakers. The rest of the box is pretty much taken up with the transformer.

[GJO]

A friend brought round the 3K version,but it would trip the circuit breakers in the distribution board when powered up,fortunately the 2K works fine.

[YNWaN]

Hmm..odd, it's got an element of anti-surge and turning mine on and off a few times hasn't caused any issues. In a very quiet room there is a very low level mechanical hum from the transformer, it is very quiet though.

(sorry about the massive pictures, I've resized them now)

[DSJR]

The [edit] 1000 VA BMU I use seemed to make a positive difference and it was missed when I took it out of circuit, so I ended up buying it. The mains here isn't bad, unlike the dire mains we had in Luton, but I still prefer the 'sound' through the workroom setups (headphones and various amps and speakers) with it in place. Not sure a 3000VA isn't overkill to be honest, but if noise isn't an issue from the transformer, then fine I reckon and none of my amps are power-houses to be fair (100WPC max)

BMU's seem to be dependant on where they're used I'm told. I think the 'principle' is sound, but not everybody is going to 'need' one I reckon.

[The Black Adder]

When you don't have any hifi on... does it still keep running or does it go in to sleep mode? If so, does it constantly use the same energy, 1K,2K,3K or whatever?

[YNWaN]

It doesn't have 'sleep mode' or anything like that (it doesn't need it) - it doesn't really use anything if nothing is being powered from it. Of course you can switch it off with the switches on the front, either switch off at the input or the output, or both.

I don't have 'problem mains' as such, though I'm not even sure what that means! I never get clicks or pops when appliances are being used or the heating comes on for example. The previous owner of the house had the whole place rewired and the main input fuse uprated - my hi-fi has its own dedicated ring.

The electrician at work has just supplied me with a 20mm cable gland and a couple of blancking washers - should have it all installed this evening .
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Airlink, who supplied this unit, primarily sell them to recording studios. I notice the 'hi-fi' manufacturers who do them (like Russ Andrews*) leave out the circuit breakers (which are fitted for safety reasons). Presumably they feel removing these safety features improves sound quality - personally I feel uncomfortable with this approach and prefer the well engineered and safer route!

EDIT: * I've just read the Russ Andrews info for his and this isn't true:

Protection is afforded by twin, resettable thermal fuses on the transformers together with a 2 pole (live and neutral) circuit breaker for the output, specifically selected for its high sound quality.

[DSJR]

As I understand it, it consumes nothing when 'idling.'