Are $100+ Power Conditioners really necesary?

[Bluesmoke]

I'm using a $25 APC surge protector with 3400joule rating. I have my receiver, my PS3, my DVD player and my subwoofer connected to it. It has a yellow LED if there's overload - which I've never seen it light up.

Now, looking through the members gallery, everyone seems to have one of those Monster/PureAV power conditioners. Some have $1500+ Monster conditioners that are bigger than their receiver. Are they really worth it? What would I benefit from one of this over my APC surge protector?

 

[Johnd]

If you need more surge protection...you really ought to know it (unless you just moved into your area). Also, understand that a surge protector will not protect against lightning strikes...different thing.

If your area (or your electrical service) does not frequently experience surges and spikes, I'd say you could save your money. But then again, one good surge could fry all of your electronics...

 

[Adam]

I bought a Belkin PureAV console, but it was really just because I felt like getting something new that wouldn't break the bank. It was about $130, I thought that it would be cool to have it in my rack with the rest of the gear, and it has voltage and current readouts. I didn't believe that the power "conditioning" was going to do anything before I bought it, and I don't think that it does (at least I can't tell any difference). If I were to go back in time, I probably wouldn't buy it simply because I can't turn off the front display lighting and it is bright with all of the lights out at night. It is nice looking, but not much more convenient than a floor strip because it can be a little tough reaching around and plugging things into the back of it.

 

[mtrycrafts]

... I can't turn off the front display lighting and it is bright with all of the lights out at night. .

Have you thought of a filter over it, either permanent or something you can just add at night? Or that may be just too inconvenient?

 

[MDS]

If I were to go back in time, I probably wouldn't buy it simply because I can't turn off the front display lighting and it is bright with all of the lights out at night.

You could use the low budget solution I used for my cable box LED power light - brown packaging tape over it.

My house is pitch black at night and when you walk by the office with all of my computer equipment it looks like a spaceship with all the lights from the router, modem, and the stupid blue LED on the speakers.

I haven't bought a power conditioner yet, but intend to do so. Surge suppression is always a good thing and I think it will be more convenient to plug everything into it rather than have a regular surge supressor and a rat's nest of wires behind the stand as I currently have. The actual power conditioning probably won't be much of a benefit unless you have a power problem in the first place.

 

[Adam]

Have you thought of a filter over it, either permanent or something you can just add at night? Or that may be just too inconvenient?

Thanks for the suggestion. I have thought about doing something like that, but have just never gotten around to it. Clearly, it doesn't bother me all that much. My statement about not purchasing it if given another chance is just a combination of (a) it's not really more convenient than a power strip and (b) it has something undesirable about the design.

Thanks, again.

 

[Adam]

You could use the low budget solution I used for my cable box LED power light - brown packaging tape over it.

Thanks. Tape did occur to me, but I'm just way too anal to put an adhesive over a nice pretty display - too much risk of a permanent negative impact.

 

[no. 5]

The actual power conditioning probably won't be much of a benefit unless you have a power problem in the first place.

The one thing I think my ~$100 PureAV console may have helped improve was the picture from my satellite box, I cannot really say because I didn't do any kind of comparison, and I was obviously biased.

My hypothesis as to why it may (if at all) be true is that good audio and video components are designed to be good under a wide variety of conditions, whereas a cheep satellite box is made to be cheep. However, the surge protection has proved itself to be useful.

 

[jliedeka]

You should know if you need a power conditioner. Some components or household appliances can put noise on the line. If you hear audible distortion or see something on the screen when using your microwave or through some combination of components, a conditioner can help. If that isn't an issue, save your money and just get surge supressor.

I use a Monster power conditioner which is overkill for my needs but includes surge protection for my antenna which is an extra layer of protection.

Jim

 

[davidtwotrees]

I have a mid level Monster Power conditioner for two reasons.
1. It was nice to have ten outlets in a black box in my rack for cord mgmt.
2. It looks cooler than a surge protector.

 

[Hi Ho]

I have a Panamax surge supressor that I got at a steep discount through work. I am planning on buying an APV S15 UPS so I can have battery backup protection as well as power conditioning and surge protections. Plus I can get it at a huge discount.

 

[NeverSeen]

i have a mosnter HTS3500 (friend won it at monster product training and sold it to me for $100) and i have a HTS2600 that at got for 60% off while working at Ccity. i find my unit tripped from time to time when i come home for work, so i guess its doing its job . i also like the on/off button on it as no one can figure out how to turn my ish on when i use it heh. as for power conditioning, beats me. i just wanted good protection in a nice box, and i picked them up cheap.