Power Conditioner

[grizzlyman]

I'm looking at two power conditioners in the $200-$400 price range a APC type H and a Monster HTS 2600 MKII which one would you guys recommend. Also is there any other power conditioners comparable to these in this price range?

 

[TLS Guy]

I'm looking at two power conditioners in the $200-$400 price range a APC type H and a Monster HTS 2600 MKII which one would you guys recommend. Also is there any other power conditioners comparable to these in this price range?

APC all the way, they are the pros of power conditioners and UPS systems.

 

[m_vanmeter]

I second the APC recommendation. If you read the specifications very closely, APC units also handle power "sags" or low voltage conditions as well as surges. The mon$ter units only mention spikes.

In the power conditioning world, spikes are "easy" to handle, low voltage conditions require more work on the manufacturers part. APC is a long time "pro" in this field.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I'm looking at two power conditioners in the $200-$400 price range a APC type H and a Monster HTS 2600 MKII which one would you guys recommend. Also is there any other power conditioners comparable to these in this price range?

On general principles, I'd stay away from anything Monster.

 

[Alex2507]

On general principles, I'd stay away from anything Monster.

Especially if it's anywhere near $200 for a 2600. That's coming from a guy who owns a 3500 listed in my sig..

And what mtrycrafts said.

 

[bj274]

I have noise coming from speakers so I bought a hts 5100 but it didn't fix it. Any ideas what it could be

 

[TLS Guy]

I have noise coming from speakers so I bought a hts 5100 but it didn't fix it. Any ideas what it could be

What sort of noise? If it is hum you likely have a ground loop. If it is buzz it likely is RF interference from an SCR light dimmer control.

 

[bj274]

more of a hum. could it come from the receiver or maybe the amp in the front speakers

 

[TLS Guy]

more of a hum. could it come from the receiver or maybe the amp in the front speakers

In that case you almost certainly have a round loop. Ground loops are had for non technical people to understand and trouble shoot.

It happens because there is a potential (voltage) between grounds, and current flows in the grounds and induces hum.

Plug everything into the same circuit if you can. If the hum persists, disconnect all receiver inputs. Connect each device to the receiver one by one. If hum occurs unplug that unit and keep checking the rest. Identify which unit or units are causing hum to come from the speakers. The grounds from cable systems are very prone to cause ground loops. You have to then interrupt the ground from the offending units. The purist and safe way is to use isolating transformers. The down and dirty way that I will admit to using is ground breaks.

Really the receiver should be the ground and everything should ground to that.

 

[bj274]

What sort of noise? If it is hum you likely have a ground loop. If it is buzz it likely is RF interference from an SCR light dimmer control.

okay, I listened to it again and its definately a buzz. I try not to listen to it because it makes me ill. Its only in the left front speaker. I turned of the power switch on the speaker for the subs and it cuts the noise in half but it is still there.

 

[TLS Guy]

okay, I listened to it again and its definately a buzz. I try not to listen to it because it makes me ill. Its only in the left front speaker. I turned of the power switch on the speaker for the subs and it cuts the noise in half but it is still there.

OK then turn you attention to light dimmers. Turn off every one in the house and see if it goes away. Turn them back on one by one at about the midway point and listen after turning on each one. Let us know how that goes.

 

[mtrycrafts]

okay, I listened to it again and its definately a buzz. I try not to listen to it because it makes me ill. Its only in the left front speaker. I turned of the power switch on the speaker for the subs and it cuts the noise in half but it is still there.

An easy check:
Unplug the cable TV coming into the room where your stereo is located. If it is a cable box unplug everything, including any audio feeds to the TV or the audio. Then let us know.

 

[bj274]

Okay, I unplugged satellite box, it didn't help. It's still there with all the lights off too. What else can I try, or is the built in amp just crapie in the speaker.

 

[Alex2507]

Okay, I unplugged satellite box, it didn't help. It's still there with all the lights off too. What else can I try, or is the built in amp just crapie in the speaker.

Have you circuit breaker panel looked at to make sure all the connections are tight. Stuff loosens up. Keep in mind that if you do it yourself you might die. Good audio is nothing compared to life.

 

[TLS Guy]

Okay, I unplugged satellite box, it didn't help. It's still there with all the lights off too. What else can I try, or is the built in amp just crapie in the speaker.

STAY AWAY FROM YOUR PANEL!

Now I hear you have powered speakers. The perfect set up for ground loops!

Before we can go any further you need to accurately describe your system. We need to know exactly what you have, how it is connected, and which speakers have the noise and when. Details details please. We need the location of wall outlets the gear is plugged into and what type of AC plug on each device, three prong or two. I'm certain this is a ground loop, we now have to help you isolate it. This takes applied logic and patience.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Okay, I unplugged satellite box, it didn't help. It's still there with all the lights off too. What else can I try, or is the built in amp just crapie in the speaker.

Just so I am clear on this, you disconnected the coax video, audio, and unplugged the power so there is no sat TV connection of any kind to the audio setup?

 

[bj274]

Just so I am clear on this, you disconnected the coax video, audio, and unplugged the power so there is no sat TV connection of any kind to the audio setup?

I only disconneted the power.

 

[bj274]

STAY AWAY FROM YOUR PANEL!

Now I hear you have powered speakers. The perfect set up for ground loops!

Before we can go any further you need to accurately describe your system. We need to know exactly what you have, how it is connected, and which speakers have the noise and when. Details details please. We need the location of wall outlets the gear is plugged into and what type of AC plug on each device, three prong or two. I'm certain this is a ground loop, we now have to help you isolate it. This takes applied logic and patience.

I have Yamaha rx-v2600,Bose 701 front, 301 rear, Infinity center, Polk sub,
Direct tv hd-dvr.
Everything is plugged into monster hts-5100.
The noise is coming from the front left speaker, and when you cut the power switch off, the noise is cut in half.

 

[bj274]

I have Yamaha rx-v2600,Bose 701 front, 301 rear, Infinity center, Polk sub,
Direct tv hd-dvr.
Everything is plugged into monster hts-5100.
The noise is coming from the front left speaker, and when you cut the power switch off, the noise is cut in half.

Hello. Everybody left me hangin, I do something wrong.

 

[TLS Guy]

Hello. Everybody left me hangin, I do something wrong.

Not yet!

You still have not given the full information I requested. These are not powered speakers. The amps are in the receiver. Which power cord did you pull? If you pulled the receiver power cord then there can be no sound from any speaker.

Now leave the power cords in. You need to disconnect all units except speakers from your receiver. With the receiver on see if the speaker still has the objectionable noise with all inputs diconnected. It the noise is present, either your receiver is defective or it is picking up a source of RF interference somehow.

If the noise is absent, reconnect your peripherals to the receiver one by one, and note if the noise appears. First the DVD player, then the TV, then the HD DVR. If it is the HD DVR that is responsible, then remove the cable in from the cable company from the unit, and retest. If a unit makes the noise unplug it from the receiver. Removing the power plug will not help. I mean the audio connections. .

Now this noise is only on one channel, so there is a possibility of you having a bad audio cable. Use a new cable to connect back to the receiver any unit that brings back the buzz when reconnected.

Let us know the results of all this and we will take it from there.