MUSICAL FIDELITY BPC3 Balanced Power Conditioner Instruction Manual

: July 17, 2024
: MUSICAL FIDELITY

Table of Contents

MUSICAL FIDELITY BPC3 Balanced Power Conditioner
FAQ
Models
Safety Information
Installation
BPC Compatibility Chart
Facilities & Connections BPC16
Facilities & Connections BPC10
Facilities & Connections BPC5
Facilities & Connections BPC3
Troubleshooting
Statement of Conformity
Item Disposal Information for Europe
Contact
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Download This Manual (PDF format)

MUSICAL FIDELITY BPC3 Balanced Power Conditioner

FAQ

Q: Can I mix analogue preamps with power amps?
- A: Yes, you can mix and match analogue preamps with power amps as long as the power amp provides enough power for the preamp in the connected zone.

Models

BALANCED POWER CONDITIONER: ВРСЗ
BALANCED POWER CONDITIONER: ВРС5
BALANCED POWER CONDITIONER: BPC10
BALANCED POWER CONDITIONER: BPC16

Safety Information

This unit is designed and built to provide trouble-free performance. As with all electronic devices it is necessary to observe a few precautions:

Heed all warnings shown on the back of the product.
Only connect the unit to a mains outlet having the same voltage as marked at the back of the unit.
Always ensure that when disconnecting and reconnecting your audio equipment the mains supply is switched off.
Position the mains lead and signal interconnects where they are not likely to be walked on or trapped by items placed on them.
Do not use near water, or place water-filled containers on the device, for example, a flower vase or potted plants. If water does spill inside, immediately pull out the mains plug from the wall socket and inform the dealer, who should then check the unit before further use. Entry of liquid into the device is dangerous and may cause electric shock or fire hazard.
Do not place the unit near direct heat sources such as radiators, direct sunlight or other equipment.
Do not remove any covers or try to gain access to the inside. There are no user adjustments or fuses to change without qualification. Refer all service work to an authorized Musical Fidelity agent.

Note: Unauthorized opening of the equipment will invalidate any warranty claim.

The electronics in modern hi-fi equipment are complex and may, therefore, be adversely affected or damaged by lightning. For protection of the system during electrical storms, remove the mains plugs. If after-sales service is required, to help the dealer identify the product please quote the serial number located on the rear panel of the unit.

WARNING

This appliance MUST be earthed.

Precautions & User Information

WARNING: Any modifications to this product, not expressly approved by Musical Fidelity, who is the party responsible for standards compliance could void the user’s authority.

Installation

Introduction

This unit has been designed for maximum performance. It easily powers your speakers at high levels and allows you to fully enjoy audio and video sources with great dynamics.

Note: In normal operation, the unit dissipates a small quantity of power at all times, and it is important that it is adequately ventilated. The device must be protected from humidity – if the unit is moved from a cold place to a warm room, leave the unit for an hour or so to allow sufficient time for the moisture to evaporate.

Cleaning

Before cleaning the unit, switch off power at the mains switch and remove the mains plug from the wall socket. Clean the cabinet and remote-control unit using a moist cloth. Using solvents, white spirit or thinners is not advised, as they could damage the surface finish.

Installation

Position the unit on a stable, horizontal surface where there is no risk of it being knocked or subjected to vibration such as from loudspeakers.

Power Input Connections

The unit is supplied with a standard IEC mains cable which plugs into the IEC socket at the back of the unit.

Power Output Connections

Connect your analogue and digital sources, power amps and integrated amps to the power outputs on the back panel. Use good quality power cables or the cables your source or amplifier units were shipped with.
You can use the zones on the backpanel to split up your amplifier, digital and analogue source components. Amplifiers have the biggest power draw, so make sure to connect them to the zone with the most VA on your BPC.
Additionally, confirm with your amplifier’s manual that its power draw does not exceed the maximum power output of that zone. Use the chart on the next to pages to see which Musical Fidelity devices are best paired with which BPC and which zone.
Digital and analogue sources usually have much lower power requirements, so you’ll be safe in almost all cases and all zones.
We recommend to split up digital and analogue source units. Use one zone exclusively for digital sources, like streamers, DACs and CD players. And connect analogue sources like preamplifiers or turntables to a different zone.
It’s OK to mix and match analogue preamps with power amps, as long as the power amp leaves enough power for the preamp in the zone it’s connected to.

BPC Compatibility Chart

| BPC3| | BPC5
---|---|---|---
product| type| | 300W| 300W| 200W| 800W
| | | |
A1| power amplifier| | MA| MA| MA| MA
M2s/M3si| power amplifier| 1| 1| –| MA
M2/M3/M6s CD| digital source| MD| MD| MD| MD
M3/M6/M8xVinyl| analogue source| MA| MA| MA| MA
M3/M6/M8x DAC| digital source| MD| MD| MD| MD
M5/M6si| power amplifier| –| –| –| 1
M6si500| power amplifier| –| –| –| –
M6s PRE| analogue source| MA| MA| MA| MA
M6s PRX| power amplifier| –| –| –| 1
M8xi| power amplifier| –| –| –| –
M8s PRE| analogue source| MA| MA| MA| MA
M8s-700m| power amplifier| –| –| –| –
M8s-500s| power amplifier| –| –| –| –
V90-Blu5 HD| digital source| MD| MD| MD| MD
MX-Stream/DAC| digital source| MD| MD| MD| MD
Nu-Vista Vinyl| analogue source| MA| MA| MA| MA
Nu-Vista Vinyl 2| analogue source| MA| MA| MA| MA
Nu-Vista 600| power amplifier| –| –| –| 1
Nu-Vista 600.2| power amplifier| –| –| –| 1
Nu-Vista 800| power amplifier| –| –| –| –
Nu-Vista 800.2| power amplifier| –| –| –| –
Nu-Vista PAM| power amplifier| –| –| –| –
Nu-Vista PAS| power amplifier| –| –| –| –
Nu-Vista PRE| analogue source| MA| MA| MA| MA
Nu-Vista DAC/CD| digital source| MD| MD| MD| MD

| BPC10| | BPC16
---|---|---|---
product| type| | 200W| 200W| 1550W| 2000W| 600W| 600W
| | | | | |
A1| power amplifier| | MA| MA| MA| MA| MA| MA
M2s/M3si| power amplifier| –| –| MA| MA| 1| 1
M2/M3/M6s CD| digital source| MD| MD| MD| MD| MD| MD
M3/M6/M8xVinyl| analogue source| MA| MA| MA| MA| MA| MA
M3/M6/M8x DAC| digital source| MD| MD| MD| MD| MD| MD
M5/M6si| power amplifier| –| –| MA| MA| 1| 1
M6si500| power amplifier| –| –| –| 1| –| –
M6s PRE| analogue source| MA| MA| MA| MA| MA| MA
M6s PRX| power amplifier| –| –| MA| MA| –| –
M8xi| power amplifier| –| –| –| 1| –| –
M8s PRE| analogue source| MA| MA| MA| MA| MA| MA
M8s-700m| power amplifier| –| –| –| 1| –| –
M8s-500s| power amplifier| –| –| 1| 1| –| –
V90-Blu5 HD| digital source| MD| MD| MD| MD| MD| MD
MX-Stream/DAC| digital source| MD| MD| MD| MD| MD| MD
Nu-Vista Vinyl| analogue source| MA| MA| MA| MA| MA| MA
Nu-Vista Vinyl 2| analogue source| MA| MA| MA| MA| MA| MA
Nu-Vista 600| power amplifier| –| –| MA| MA| 1| 1
Nu-Vista 600.2| power amplifier| –| –| MA| MA| 1| 1
Nu-Vista 800| power amplifier| –| –| 1| MA| –| –
Nu-Vista 800.2| power amplifier| –| –| 1| MA| –| –
Nu-Vista PAM| power amplifier| –| –| –| 1| –| –
Nu-Vista PAS| power amplifier| –| –| –| 1| –| –
Nu-Vista PRE| analogue source| MA| MA| MA| MA| MA| MA
Nu-Vista DAC/CD| digital source| MD| MD| MD| MD| MD| MD

MD: multiple digital sources. Connected more products from “digital sources” up to maximum output power of the zone.
MA: multiple analogue sources. Connected more products from “analogue sources” up to maximum output power of the zone.
1: single product in zone. Power consumption of the product is already close to maximum output power of the zone.
-: means that power consumption of the product exceeds the output power of the zone.

Don’t mix analogue and digital sources in one zone.
Don‘t mix switch mode PSUs with toroidal/linear PSUs!
Don’t mix power amplifiers with digital or analogue sources.

Facilities & Connections BPC16

Power/Standby button and LED’s
- The Power button turns the unit on or off. When turned on the left LED will light up blue.
- The right LED lights up green if the BPC is in regular working status. Should the right LED light up red, please check if your input voltage is correct (between 100V and 130V or 210V and 250V depending on which country you are in).
Isolated 600VA Output Zones
Isolated 2000VA Output Zone
Power Reset Switch
Mains IEC socket

Power Reset Switch

When the BPC detects an overload, the built in safety mechanism will prevent any damage to the BPC or the connected devices and turn off the BPC. If needed and an overload should have occurred, press the reset switch. Disconnect and connect all devices one by one in case you need to troubleshoot what is causing the overload.

Facilities & Connections BPC10

Power/Standby button and LED’s
- The Power button turns the unit on or off. When turned on the left LED will light up blue.
- The right LED lights up green if the BPC is in regular working status. Should the right LED light up red, please check if your input voltage is correct (between 100V and 130V or 210V and 250V depending on which country you are in).
Isolated 200VA Output Zones
Isolated 1550VA Output Zone
Power Reset Switch
Mains IEC socket

Power Reset Switch

When the BPC detects an overload, the built in safety mechanism will prevent any damage to the BPC or the connected devices and turn off the BPC. If needed and an overload should have occurred, press the reset switch. Disconnect and connect all devices one by one in case you need to troubleshoot what is causing the overload.

Facilities & Connections BPC5

Power/Standby button and LED’s
- The Power button turns the unit on or off. When turned on the left LED will light up blue.
- The right LED lights up green if the BPC is in regular working status. Should the right LED light up red, please check if your input voltage is correct (between 100V and 130V or 210V and 250V depending on which country you are in).
Isolated 200VA Output Zone
Isolated 800VA Output Zone
Power Reset Switch
Mains IEC socket

Power Reset Switch

When the BPC detects an overload, the built in safety mechanism will prevent any damage to the BPC or the connected devices and turn off the BPC. If needed and an overload should have occurred, press the reset switch. Disconnect and connect all devices one by one in case you need to troubleshoot what is causing the overload.

Facilities & Connections BPC3

Power/Standby button and LED’s
- The Power button turns the unit on or off. When turned on the left LED will light up blue.
- The right LED lights up green if the BPC is in regular working status. Should the right LED light up red, please check if your input voltage is correct (between 100V and 130V or 210V and 250V depending on which country you are in).
Isolated 300VA Output Zones
Power Reset Switch
Mains IEC socket

Power Reset Switch

When the BPC detects an overload, the built in safety mechanism will prevent any damage to the BPC or the connected devices and turn off the BPC. If needed and an overload should have occurred, press the reset switch. Disconnect and connect all devices one by one in case you need to troubleshoot what is causing the overload.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Probable Cause	Remedy
No power	Power plug is not inserted into socket correctly.	Plug in securely

into unit’s IE socket.
Power LED lights up red| **** Wrong input voltage.| Check your mains voltage and make sure you have the correct BPC for your country.
BPC does not turn on.| BPC went into overload protection mode.| Press Reset Button on back panel and make sure connected devices are not causing power overload on BPC. If necessary, disconnect all devices and reconnect them one by one.

Technical Specifications BPC16

Output Voltage RFI attenuation| 100-130V/210-250V

57dB @ 235kHz, > 40dB @ up 1MHz

---|---
Connections

Power Outlets Isolated Power Zones

Peak Combined Power Output

Maximum Rated Power Output

| ****

8 Outlets

2x 600VA zones, 1x 2000VA zone 5000VA / 20A

2000VA / 16A

Power requirement

Mains voltages

Max. power consumption

| 100-130V/210-250V. AC 50/60Hz

2000W

Weight

Unit only, unboxed

In shipping carton & inc. accessories

| 38,9 kg

ca. 44,5 kg

Unit dimensions

Wide

High, including feet

Deep (front to back) including terminals

| ****

440 mm

162 mm

400 mm

Technical Specifications BPC10

Output Voltage RFI attenuation| 100-130V/210-250V

57dB @ 235kHz, > 40dB @ up 1MHz

---|---
Connections

Power Outlets Isolated Power Zones

Peak Combined Power Output

Maximum Rated Power Output

| 6 Outlets

2x 200VA zones, 1x 1550VA zone 2400VA / 10A

1550VA / 10A

Power requirement

Mains voltages

Max. power consumption

| 100-130V/210-250V. AC 50/60Hz

1550W

Weight

Unit only, unboxed

In shipping carton & inc. accessories

| ****

33 kg

ca. 39,5 kg

---|---
Unit dimensions

Wide

High, including feet

Deep (front to back) including terminals

| ****

440 mm

162 mm

400 mm

Technical Specifications BPC5

Output Voltage RFI attenuation| 100-130V/210-250V

57dB @ 235kHz, > 40dB @ up 1MHz

---|---
Connections

Power Outlets Isolated Power Zones

Peak Combined Power Output

Maximum Rated Power Output

| ****

4 Outlets

1x 200VA zone, 1x 800VA zone 1200VA / 5A

800VA / 5A

Power requirement

Mains voltages

Max. power consumption

| ****

100-130V/210-250V. AC 50/60Hz

800W

Weight

Unit only, unboxed

In shipping carton & inc. accessories

| ****

20,6 kg

ca. 25 kg

Unit dimensions

Wide

High, including feet

Deep (front to back) including terminals

| 440 mm

125 mm

400 mm

Technical Specifications BPC3

Output Voltage RFI attenuation| 100-130V/210-250V

57dB @ 235kHz, > 40dB @ up 1MHz

---|---
Connections

Power Outlets Isolated Power Zones

Peak Combined Power Output

Maximum Rated Power Output

| ****

4 Outlets

2x 300VA zones 600VA / 3A

480VA / 3A

Power requirement

Mains voltages

Max. power consumption

| ****

100-130V/210-250V. AC 50/60Hz

480W

Weight

Unit only, unboxed

In shipping carton & inc. accessories

| ****

11,7 kg

ca. 15,5 kg

Unit dimensions

Wide

High, including feet

Deep (front to back) including terminals

| 440 mm

100 mm

400 mm

Musical Fidelity reserves the right to make improvements which may result in specification or feature changes without notice.

Statement of Conformity

Musical Fidelity Balanced Power Conditioners comply with the following regulations:

EN 55032:2015 + A1:2020 Measurement of Conducted Emission, Measurement of Radiated Field
EN IEC 61000-3-2:2019 + A1:2021 Measuring of Harmonic Current Emissions
EN 61000-3-3:2013+A1:2019+A2:2021 Measuring of Voltage Variation Reduction and Flickering Reduction in the Mains
EN 55035:2017 + A11:2020 EMC IMMUNITY
EN 61000-4-2:2009 Electrostatic Discharge
EN IEC 61000-4-3:2020 Radiated Electromagnetic Field
EN 61000-4-4:2012 Electrical Fast Transients/Burst Immunity
EN 61000-4-5:2014 +A1:2017 Surge Immunity
EN 61000-4-6:2014 Conducted Disturbances Induced by RF Fields
EN IEC 61000-4-11:2020 Short-time Breaks and Drop-outs of Supply Voltage
EN IEC 62368-1: 2020 + A11: 2020 Electrical Safety Test of Audio/Video, Information and Communication Technology Equipment

They are therefore in conformity with relevant union harmonisation legislation directives:

2014/35/EU
2014/30/EU

The entire BPC family was rigorously tested to ensure it complies with highest industry standards for electrical safety and electromagnetic interference mitigation. Tested by an accredited institute, adhering to strict international guidelines, no corners have been cut to guarantee performance and reliability.

Test Institute

Institute for Testing and Certification, a.s., Testing Laboratory No. 1004.3
Sokolovska 573
686 01 Uherske Hradiste
Czech Republic

Test Report No: 414105221AE1, 414105255AL1

The electrical safety protocols test the device’s insulation, grounding, and fault protection mechanisms. They ensure that Musical Fidelity Balanced Power Conditioners operate within safe parameters, reducing the risk of electrical hazards to an absolute minimum. Exhaustive electromagnetic interference tests gauge the effective shielding against unwanted interference from external sources, guaranteeing pristine audio quality without any disruptive artifacts. Musical Fidelity Balanced Power Conditioners successfully meet and surpass all criteria, providing you with the peace of mind that your valuable HiFi equipment is in the best possible hands.

As this is the first time that Musical Fidelity releases Power Conditioners to the market, we have been quite surprised by our market research and product analysis. There is a constant lack of documentation and safety documents when it comes to these types of products. With Musical Fidelity Balanced Power Conditioners, you can trust that your HiFi system is in the care of a device that has been extensively and independently validated by a reputable accredited test institute. This dedication to quality ensures that you’ll enjoy the highest standard of sound performance, free from the compromises often seen in lesser quality power solutions.

Item Disposal Information for Europe

DISPOSAL

The crossed out wheeled bin label that appears on the back panel of the product indicates that the product must not be disposed of as normal household waste. To prevent possible harm to the environment please separate the product from other waste to ensure that it can be recycled in an environmentally safe manner. Please contact your local government office or your retailer for available collection facilities.