Question about "power conditioners"......

[HDTVFREAK]

Hello guys, I just received a quote from Best Buy on components and installation just to see what they had in mind.

I will probably not use them at all, but they did include with their estimate a Panamax power conditioner/surge protector for 499.99.

Do I need this? I will have my electrician put in a surge protector to the sub panel and I already have a monster surge protector.

Do I need this?

I will have most likely either a yamaha or Onkyo 805 receiver and either Def Tech speaker system 7.1 or AV 123's 7.1.

Is there any other "component" accessories I will need to go with this as far as sound production and quality?

Thanks!

 

[Adam]

My opinion, based on my experience and some of what I've read, is that the only real purpose of those "power conditioners" is the surge protection that they provide. So, if you already have good surge protection, then I would say that you certainly don't need to spend another $500 on the Panamax.

Some people do claim to get audio and/or video improvements with the conditioners. If your power is bad enough, then I believe that is possible. I didn't notice any differences (nor did I expect to) when I replaced a Panamax surge protector with a Belkin power conditioner - I just bought it because I liked the looks of it better and I needed a few more outlets.

With Best Buy, you could always buy the Panamax, try your system with and without it, and return it if you don't see any differences. Just make sure that they aren't going to charge you a restocking fee.

 

[HDTVFREAK]

Thanks`

Great info.

I am building a dedicated HT room and the Panel will be only 5 ft away from my components, so I figure I will be getting all the "clean" power I need including my own surge protectors.

Great to hear.

 

[allargon]

Hello guys, I just received a quote from Best Buy on components and installation just to see what they had in mind.

I will probably not use them at all, but they did include with their estimate a Panamax power conditioner/surge protector for 499.99.

Do I need this? I will have my electrician put in a surge protector to the sub panel and I already have a monster surge protector.

Do I need this?

I will have most likely either a yamaha or Onkyo 805 receiver and either Def Tech speaker system 7.1 or AV 123's 7.1.

Is there any other "component" accessories I will need to go with this as far as sound production and quality?

Thanks!

Unless you have really dirty power, line conditioners are a complete waste of money. The same goes for UPS's unless you have a rear or front projector.

If you have a whole house surge protector, then you only need a power strip. In that case there's no need to waste money on even a cheap surge protector. If you don't have a whole house surge protector, then you only need a modest protector from a company like APC (Monster? Puh-lease...). Unfortunately, I won't recommend the sub $5 often on sale at Fry's for $0.99 each since they are one shot deals. One surge and they are done. At least get the type of protector that has a green light showing that protection is in place. I would also suggest you get a protector with an equipment warranty. You likely won't ever need it. BTW, pretty much nothing will protect you from a direct lighting strike. Thems the breaks on that.

IOW, you don't need the Panamax.

 

[fmw]

I've tried to find a single credible report of someone who had a problem with an audio system that was corrected with a "power conditioner." Not one. Anywhere. I can only arrive at the conclusion that, no, you don't need one. Yet they sell like hotcakes. It is a serious head scratcher for me.

I haven't read or heard a single credible report of a power surge destroying equipment either so I conclude you don't need one of those either. Power surges, by the way, come from the power grid not from lightning. Nothing will prevent equipment damage from a lightning strike.

 

[cvcgolf]

I have 2 of these. It helps give you clean power supposedly. It's like bottled water or tap water. Which do you prefer?

http://www.needledoctor.com/Audio-Power-Power-Pack-II

 

[MidnightSensi]

I've tried to find a single credible report of someone who had a problem with an audio system that was corrected with a "power conditioner." Not one. Anywhere. I can only arrive at the conclusion that, no, you don't need one. Yet they sell like hotcakes. It is a serious head scratcher for me.

I haven't read or heard a single credible report of a power surge destroying equipment either so I conclude you don't need one of those either. Power surges, by the way, come from the power grid not from lightning. Nothing will prevent equipment damage from a lightning strike.

When I think of a power "conditioner" ... I think of a voltage regulator. I'm not sure when this all the sudden this term got applied to units that don't even voltage regulate ... but I think the term itself is misleading.

I will say though, that I have gotten Monster to pay for an amplifier that fried because their surge protector didn't work. So, they did stand behind their insurance guarantee.

I also replaced my outlets with hosipital outlets, which are just a bit higher quality connectors. This probably was far from neccessary, but they look cool with their green lights haha.

 

[zumbo]

Nothing will prevent equipment damage from a lightning strike.

http://www.wildwestelectronics.net/adcom-ace615-power-conditioner.html

 

[Geno]

The advice about not wasting your money on power conditioners is correct. A good analogy would be getting a heart transplant if you read in a magazine that heart disease is prevalent in men. Unless you have an identifiable powerline noise or voltage stability problem, these devices are useless.

 

[zumbo]

The advice about not wasting your money on power conditioners is correct. A good analogy would be getting a heart transplant if you read in a magazine that heart disease is prevalent in men. Unless you have an identifiable powerline noise or voltage stability problem, these devices are useless.

You must have a very impressive wall outlet? Where do you connect all of your equipment? I count eight electrical connections in your sig.

 

[Geno]

You must have a very impressive wall outlet? Where do you connect all of your equipment? I count eight electrical connections in your sig.

I have two dedicated lines to my system, with most stuff plugged into a Tripp-Lite plugstrip. It does happen to have some sort of surge protection, but is there pretty much for the number of outlets. Hospital grade receptacles, mentioned earlier, are just good sturdy receptacles with better than average blade tension...they don't have any magical properties.

 

[zumbo]

The advice about not wasting your money on power conditioners is correct. A good analogy would be getting a heart transplant if you read in a magazine that heart disease is prevalent in men. Unless you have an identifiable powerline noise or voltage stability problem, these devices are useless.

You must have a very impressive wall outlet? Where do you connect all of your equipment? I count eight electrical connections in your sig.

Tripp-Lite plugstrip. It does happen to have some sort of surge protection

 

[Mike.A]

I bought a monster conditioner from BB myself. Personally it made a difference in my picture, by a lot honestly. But its up to you, many don't believe in them.

 

[fmw]

I have 2 of these. It helps give you clean power supposedly. It's like bottled water or tap water. Which do you prefer?

http://www.needledoctor.com/Audio-Power-Power-Pack-II

I think the operative word here is "supposedly."

 

[fmw]

http://www.wildwestelectronics.net/adcom-ace615-power-conditioner.html

I should have said direct lightning strike. It is possible for a nearby strike to induce a current in a phone line or an electrical circuit. Personally, I've seen it many times in phone lines. When I was in the computer business we used to sell a lot of modems after lightning storms. The modems burned up from that induced current and, in fact, they protected the computers from damage. Nothing would save the equipment from a direct strike. Personally, I've never encountered this induced current from lightning in the house wiring but I suppose it is possible.

I once had a (well grounded) ham radio antenna hit directly by lightning. It split the coax apart and even left some burn marks on the wall where the current entered the house. It took a fuse out on my transceiver but didn't damage it. A direct strike to the house wiring would have destroyed the radio.

The unit to which you referred is a surge protector designed not to be sacrificial like a computer modem on a phone line. It can't protect against a direct strike. Personally, I think buying this sort of equipment is akin to buying earthquake insurance in Florida or hurricane insurance in Minnesota.

 

[walter duque]

Hello guys, I just received a quote from Best Buy on components and installation just to see what they had in mind.

I will probably not use them at all, but they did include with their estimate a Panamax power conditioner/surge protector for 499.99.

Do I need this? I will have my electrician put in a surge protector to the sub panel and I already have a monster surge protector.

Do I need this?

I will have most likely either a yamaha or Onkyo 805 receiver and either Def Tech speaker system 7.1 or AV 123's 7.1.

Is there any other "component" accessories I will need to go with this as far as sound production and quality?

Thanks!

I think on highend equipment you can tell the difference in sound, I use a Cinepro 20 voltage regulator-line conditioner. On a receiver I realy can't tell the difference and as far as picture quality goes I can't see a difference either, but on sound it seems that it's cleaner, like it has a little more punch, or is it my imagination. My poweramp requires 2700 watts under nominal conditions at max power it requires 5550 watts. I have a 20 amps circuitbreaker, but I am still only getting 2200 watts trough my outlet and it seems like there is an improvent using the cinepro 20 , but the amp is still running only half of it's capability. I think I am going to change it to 220 volts, at least I can get 4400 watts and the amp will run cooler. I guess I got a little off track.

 

[fmw]

http://www.wildwestelectronics.net/adcom-ace615-power-conditioner.html

Like I said, nothing will prevent damage from a lightning strike. That thing won't either.

 

[Birdman84]

Hello guys, I just received a quote from Best Buy on components and installation just to see what they had in mind.

I will probably not use them at all, but they did include with their estimate a Panamas power conditioner/surge protector for 499.99.

Do I need this? I will have my electrician put in a surge protector to the sub panel and I already have a monster surge protector.

Do I need this?

I will have most likely either a yamaha or Onkyo 805 receiver and either Def Tech speaker system 7.1 or AV 123's 7.1.

Is there any other "component" accessories I will need to go with this as far as sound production and quality?

Thanks!

I think most people are buying on the word of the big box stores, You spend 400$ on a surge protector / Current cleaner . Most is hype<<< you do need surge protection but most power is very good MOST. the biggest killer of electrons is under/overpower coming into the house. I have spent many years working in sound studios and have seen what can happen with low power or high power that is under what a surge protector would see as they are really for major power surges. MY advice IMHO is by something like the APC NS/XS series of surge protectors not only are they way cheaper then Monster but the have Voltage control the keeps the power within a set of guide lines and you have the benefit of power back up which as with your computer will keep the system up when short voltage drop out hit. I have 2- 1.5 KVA, APC UPS units on my system. I got them off ebay for under 80$ IMO this is hate best buy for your money.You can also get replacement batteries for under 40$ if you need them. You don,t need to spend 4-500$ on a unit that only cleans your power and stops surges, get on that also keeps the power on, and keeps it even your equipment will last longer and play better.

 

[denonandkef]

A good place to start is the outlet. Even if you got an expensive power conditioner or surge protector, the performance is perhaps restricted due to the cheap wall receptacle the house came with.
I bought of these PS audio hospital grade outlet to replace the generic one and notice a nice improvement to my plasma picture. From there you can decide if you want to upgrade to a power conditioner like BPT and then to a good power chord like shunyata research.

www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=PSPP

 

[bandphan]

http://www.cepro.com/whitepapers/details/power_protection_and_management/

a read from the insiders prosepctive