A short talk with Martin Glasband... Owner and designer of Equi=Tech.

> What did you do before Equi=Tech?

I was an electrical contractor and engineer who primarily worked in industrial & commercial locations as well as movie, tv and recording studios in Los Angeles. Specializing in heavy power distribution and technical power applications, some of my clients have been: IBM, PBS Television Network, ABC Radio Network, New World Pictures, Sony, Warner Brothers and Texas Instruments. > > I've read that your balanced power design was basically built by > request of clients. How long did it take to design and build what we > see as the current balanced power systems?

The first system was designed and built for a client, "The Post Complex" in 1988. It was my design inspired by a conversation with an audio engineer who showed me how filter capacitors may leak noise. As there had been no previous systems of that sort built in that way, there were no references in the National Electrical Code to justify the wiring methods used. So it required special permission from the City of Los Angeles, Dept. of Bldg. & Safety to make the installation.

About 1992, prototype systems were being built and tested in the field for smaller studio applications. The Equi=Tech rack system was concieved and developed as a result of these tests.

From the initial crude design that came from the Post Complex Project, it was inadvertantly discovered that balanced power dealt with other noise related issues irrespective of filters that leaked. The "Holy Grail" of power quality and electrical interference had been unearthed without my even knowing it. Some years passed before this discovery was realized. These discoveries now form the basis of balanced AC technology under the industrial umbrella called the Power Quality Industry.

> What were some of the challenges of designing such a system?

Once the design perameters of the components were established, the rest was easy. Some of the important criteria that were used in the design included: low magnetic strayfield design so sensitive electronic equipment could be used in close proximity to the Equi=Tech, low temperature rise to protect sensitive electronics from heat, transient voltage surge protection, critically balanced output for maximum effect and elimination of weight.

> Were you the pioneer of balanced power?

Yes.

> Are other manufaturers versions of balanced power just nock offs of your design?

Yes. I am flattered that other companies view balanced power as a valuable enough product to sell, however it's only a matter of time until the US Patent Office awards me the claims that will provide me with intellectual property rights.

> The advantages of balanced power is well defined in your articles and > other industry related magazines .... Do you think people really realize the impact of what a balanced power system can do for them?

No, but they will in time. It is a clearly superior method of powering sensitive loads.

> Good power can change everything. Often we read stats on the backs of product liturature giving different ratings for products and their performance. It seem as though balanced power would change a lot of those figures. Any thoughts on that?

Balanced power, when applied as a basic system of providing EMF to electronics signal circuits, provides more stable power and a much cleaner signal reference thus raising the performance level of most every type of electronic apparatus or system.

> Is it true that in some cases people have had drops in floor noise -16 to -20 db?

Yes. The highest known increase in dynamic range resulting from dropping the noise floor was about 42dB! But that was a rare situation. 16dB to 20dB is what we most often see. Applying balanced power to some systems have yielded less spectacular results, but regardless, I have never seen less than a 10dB improvement where multiple channels are mixed. Even in mastering facilities where there may be only 2 channels involved from a single 48-track tape source, noise reduction may not be as critical a factor as regenerating a second generation copy with all of the detail. Balanced power reduces IM distortion as well as harmonic power distortion. This provides more signal accuracy in recording and playback equipment. So even in situation where dropping noise may not be quite as spectacular, improvement in sonic quality can still be expected.

> What can Equi=tech systems do for digital audio that most people might > not realize?

Elimination or reduction of digital jitter (timing errors) and reduction of noise at the A to D or D to A stages of signal processing will provide enhanced clarity and signal definition. (And rid the equipment of digital noises one would never expect...e.g. 3kHz plasma display noise on MDM's.)

> What about the effects of a power hunger Class A microphone pre-amp?

Balanced power can sometimes be described as having an astonishing effect on the quality of sound in these situations. I am only repeating what various audiophiles and recording engineers have said to me. One would think that they all discussed the matter at dinner one night. The feedback seems to echo in unison. Tube equipment loves balanced AC.

> Many people don't really understand of effects of a good electrical power source ... Do you think people really believe the balanced power claims?

I would welcome a spirit of discovery as well as a some of skepticism.

I don't think people as a whole realize the impact that balanced power has. From a technological standpoint, it is about as bomb-proof as any technology has ever been. Results will vary from user to user, the quality of components still being a major factor in most cases. However in nearly every situation, balanced power unleashes the performance capabilities of equipment that regular power restricts.

> Do you have plans for any new products in the future or to be release during AES?

Yes, some are secret but the ones that are currently in the works that I can tell you about are smaller, lighter and less expensive versions of what we already make. Naturally we wouldn't even consider these modifications at the expense of performance or reliability, so one can count on "just better" products.

As a note:

Martin Glasband also has several articles he has written regarding his products and balanced power at the Equi=tech web site. You can get to the Equi=Tech site by clicking here:

Thanks again Mr. Glasband for your knowledge and insight!!!