Surge Protector.....Almost afraid to ask

[Ryan8886]

Alright...I've read myself cross-eyed all over the net on this issue and gone all the way to a professor in computer networking and can't get a straight answer.....other than surge protection is a necessity....duh!
I've narrowed my choices to two...APC H10 for $199.00 or Belkin PureAV PF-60 for $175.

Yes, I know these are more than just surge protectors. Yes, I know I may or may not need everything these may or may not provide, depending on who you talk to.

Which would you pick? (I'm leaning in one direction...just curious which way the tide's going)

 

[Nick250]

If you must get one of these, that's a really great price on the Belkin. Otherwise I would buy the one that would look better in my rack. I think that would be the Belkin for me.

Nick

 

[Briant73]

They are both nice units, if I was choosing I would prefer apc.

 

[GTF]

http://www.elect-spec.com/acprot2.htm#Laboratory

Look at this companies unit before you buy.
No blinkie lights though.
Also plain as a, a, a, a, as a surge suppressor should be.

GTF

 

[Ryan8886]

Thanks guys! I went with the APC H10 for $199.

 

[Briant73]

Thanks guys! I went with the APC H10 for $199.

Hope to see a mini-review of the unit by you since I almost got one of these myself before deciding I wanted battery backup also.

 

[skizzerflake]

Be sure to take advantage of the ultimate in surge protectors...when storms approach, pull the plug. I lost a TV, surround sound receiver, network card, cable modem, router, Carver power amplifier and several other components when a nearby lightning strike caused a surge that arc-ed right past all my expensive power protectors. The surge protectors were fine, the components were dead. There is no substitute for removing components entirely from the power source. That was my most unfavorite trip to the dump in recent history.

 

[Davemcc]

Be sure to take advantage of the ultimate in surge protectors...when storms approach, pull the plug. I lost a TV, surround sound receiver, network card, cable modem, router, Carver power amplifier and several other components when a nearby lightning strike caused a surge that arc-ed right past all my expensive power protectors. The surge protectors were fine, the components were dead. There is no substitute for removing components entirely from the power source. That was my most unfavorite trip to the dump in recent history.

That's gotta suck large. Any insurance? Don't some surge protectors offer a guarantee to replace equipment lost in this case if it goes through their equipment?

 

[Ryan8886]

Hope to see a mini-review of the unit by you since I almost got one of these myself before deciding I wanted battery backup also.

Geez...I'm hardly qualified to "review" anything, at least at the level I've seen some stuff reviewed on here.

I can tell you a couple things I like about it so far:
1) good,secure packaging
2) easy out of the box set up
3) looks cool with my other equipment (LED's can be turned off if you don't like the light show)
4) enjoy the improved cable management
5) sleeping better at night as spring storm season approaches!

I can't claim to hear any audio quality improvement or see any picture quality improvement, however that was not the reason for the purchase, nor was any expected. I got around to recalibrating the TV last night, using Avia, and only made minor adjustments.
However (and I'd really like for someone to explain this to me please) when I went to recalibrate the audio, also using Avia (made a subwoofer move recently), I had trim both mains and the center DOWN about 6-8 clicks to get back to the 85dB reference level at volume level -5. So it would "appear" that my H/K is outputting increased power since being hooked up to the H-10. (and yes, I dialed in from the same listening position I always use). So, that's kinda weird......can anyone offer a reason????

 

[Nick250]

If there was wagering on why you needed to alter your settings, I would put my money on:

"made a subwoofer move recently"

Nick

 

[Ryan8886]

If there was wagering on why you needed to alter your settings, I would put my money on:

"made a subwoofer move recently"

Nick

Really? How so? The measurements are all taken independent of the sub (i.e. each speaker, individually). How can the sub placement have anything to do with it when it's not even getting a signal? I'm not arguing....I genuinely want to understand this.

 

[Nick250]

Really? How so? The measurements are all taken independent of the sub (i.e. each speaker, individually). How can the sub placement have anything to do with it when it's not even getting a signal? I'm not arguing....I genuinely want to understand this.

You are absolutely correct. I had a brain misfire of some sort. If you moved your speakers, that would be different, but you did not. If there is nothing to cause the room acoustics to change, like drapes installed or furniture has been moved or added, carpet etc. then I am at a loss to as why you needed to change your volume settings.

Nick

 

[mtrycrafts]

However (and I'd really like for someone to explain this to me please) when I went to recalibrate the audio, also using Avia (made a subwoofer move recently), I had trim both mains and the center DOWN about 6-8 clicks to get back to the 85dB reference level at volume level -5. So it would "appear" that my H/K is outputting increased power since being hooked up to the H-10. (and yes, I dialed in from the same listening position I always use). So, that's kinda weird......can anyone offer a reason????

That is an impossibility. It cannot force more power into your setup, period, end of story.

You either don't remember what you did first time around, where the master volume control was, who knows. Your meter has an issue. Meter location, just too many variables.

But, what you can do now, perhaps, is to place the spl meter on a tripod, measure the sound output, turn it off without moving master volume or anything, plug it in without that device and remeasure spl. No reason why it would change, unless it is doing something drastic with the voltage but even then it would not be the amount you indicated. But then, I could be misreading your account of what happened, also a possibility.

 

[Ryan8886]

Agreed, there are a lot of variables, however I remember clearly that reference level on my H/K was set at master volume of -5 for 85dB. It's still at -5, however the trims are now way down (0-3-0 from 8-7-9) I don't have a tripod to mount with.....just use the "scoot down on couch real far" approach. Admittedly not a perfect scenario, however i'm as careful as possible to always maintain the same position.
I really don't know what caused the need for the change and have no desire to jump to conclusions. My SPL is new, purhased from R/S a couple months ago. I have noted the H-10 to briefly activate it's voltage regulation feature as I'm firing everything up, however it only boosts voltage for less than one second before everything evens out.
I don't want to add to the "snake oil" side of things when it comes to this type of equipment, so, next time I end up having to dig into the spaghetti back there, perhaps I'll try an A/B test as suggested.
Like I said at the start, I wasn't planning on seeing any difference due to this piece of equipment and added it for some very specific reasons. For now, I'll just continue enjoying!

 

[mtrycrafts]

Agreed, there are a lot of variables, however I remember clearly that reference level on my H/K was set at master volume of -5 for 85dB. It's still at -5, however the trims are now way down (0-3-0 from 8-7-9) I don't have a tripod to mount with.....just use the "scoot down on couch real far" approach. Admittedly not a perfect scenario, however i'm as careful as possible to always maintain the same position.
I really don't know what caused the need for the change and have no desire to jump to conclusions. My SPL is new, purhased from R/S a couple months ago. I have noted the H-10 to briefly activate it's voltage regulation feature as I'm firing everything up, however it only boosts voltage for less than one second before everything evens out.
I don't want to add to the "snake oil" side of things when it comes to this type of equipment, so, next time I end up having to dig into the spaghetti back there, perhaps I'll try an A/B test as suggested.
Like I said at the start, I wasn't planning on seeing any difference due to this piece of equipment and added it for some very specific reasons. For now, I'll just continue enjoying!

Yes, by all means continue to enjoy and perhaps not even worry.

If and when your curiosity is tweaked then you can experiment. A tripod can be had for not much at RS, or a music store perhaps. You can make a shaft with a screw without the head glued into it so a 1/4" sticks out to screw into the spl meter and will hold it stable and in one place.
Perhaps a sine test tone may work better from a test disc? And, you can do this at lower volume so you don't have to wear hearing protection. If that accessory causes something, it will also happen at lower volume, has to.
And, try to think how it could force more power into the receiver unless voltage increased a lot. That also can be checked with an inexpensive voltmeter, another toolbox item If the voltage is the same or lower, power out cannot increase no matter what, just impossible. Unless, there are supernatural forces at work

 

[stratman]

Be sure to take advantage of the ultimate in surge protectors...when storms approach, pull the plug. I lost a TV, surround sound receiver, network card, cable modem, router, Carver power amplifier and several other components when a nearby lightning strike caused a surge that arc-ed right past all my expensive power protectors. The surge protectors were fine, the components were dead. There is no substitute for removing components entirely from the power source. That was my most unfavorite trip to the dump in recent history.

That is the ultimate surge protector, nothing can touch it. I live in Hurricane and Lightning Central, surge protectors down here are a joke, I've known persons that have used some really expensive "protection" and during one of our wicked lightning barrages their whole system has been cooked, just like Skizz pointed out. I have surge protectors on all my electronics, but when lightning season comes arround, I don't take chances, I unplug as soon as the stuff starts to fly.

 

[cjschrot]

anyone have any thoughts on Monster AVS2000 volt regulator and Monster HTS 5100 surge protector? they seem way overpriced vs. others, but it's all new to me.

 

[skizzerflake]

That is the ultimate surge protector, nothing can touch it. I live in Hurricane and Lightning Central, surge protectors down here are a joke, I've known persons that have used some really expensive "protection" and during one of our wicked lightning barrages their whole system has been cooked, just like Skizz pointed out. I have surge protectors on all my electronics, but when lightning season comes arround, I don't take chances, I unplug as soon as the stuff starts to fly.

Exactly. Protection helps against a 300 volt surge, but 3 million volts is a gameover. My strike was close enough to get that simultaneous crackle-flash-boom thing that happens when you're about 100 feet away. Insurance covered everything rather generously, but given the hassle and trouble, I would rather have the components than the money.

 

[Nick250]

anyone have any thoughts on Monster AVS2000 volt regulator and Monster HTS 5100 surge protector? they seem way overpriced vs. others, but it's all new to me.

It depends what you are looking for. If it's good surge protection there are many to choose from in the $50 to $100 price range. This is one example and I just noticed it does power condition too.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-kvXwYo4EIcA/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=24000&I=299M8CEX&search=surge+protector

This is cool, comes with battery backup for $199.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-kvXwYo4EIcA/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=24000&I=599AP30800&search=surge+protector


Nick

 

[cjschrot]

thanks, i think i've determined monster stuff to be out. saw an apc unit that has surge protection, volt regulation, and battery backup (the J15).

thanks for the help.