Power Conditioners?

[Redbone]

Is there a power conditioner out there for around $500 that will actually make a difference in my audio and video?? I am hearing a lot about these new ones from Transparent, Chang Lighspeed and Furutech that don't limit current.

Most people think that popular consumer products from Monster, Panamax and Tripp Lite do little more than protect your equipment from voltage. To see noticable differences it is said that you have to move up to Richard Gray and PS Audio stuff?? I just don't know if the price is worth the performance, surely their must be something good for a reasonable price.

 

[jaxvon]

Well, I know from personal experience that stuff from Furman, Panamax, TrippLite, and Monster can make a noticable difference in audio if you have a noise issue with your electricity. APC is another good brand. These companies offer solid products at much more reasonable prices.

As for thier function, all of the power conditioners have filtering for EMI and RFI, so they don't just do voltage. In fact, most of them in the sub $500 range are high-quality surge supressors with filtering.

 

[sjdgpt]

Is there a power conditioner out there for around $500 that will actually make a difference in my audio and video?? I am hearing a lot about these new ones from Transparent, Chang Lighspeed and Furutech that don't limit current.

Most people think that popular consumer products from Monster, Panamax and Tripp Lite do little more than protect your equipment from voltage. To see noticable differences it is said that you have to move up to Richard Gray and PS Audio stuff?? I just don't know if the price is worth the performance, surely their must be something good for a reasonable price.

EMI and RFI is filtered even by that generic $30 line conditioner. Yes, as you move up in price the quality of the components improve, and the amount of noise suppression is greater. The $100 price range Panamax, Monster, Belkin et al are pretty serious line conditioners. Can you get a greater amount of noise suppression with a higher $ unit? Sure. Do you need it? Doubtful. I would try a less expensive unit and see if that solves your problems. My local hospital had a noise problem with one of their $400k laboratory machines (old wiring, lots of noise being generated by old lab equipment, new equipment being added every day), one of those $200 very high amperage generic line conditioners solved the problem.

 

[Malakei]

Is there a power conditioner out there for around $500 that will actually make a difference in my audio and video?? I am hearing a lot about these new ones from Transparent, Chang Lighspeed and Furutech that don't limit current.

Most people think that popular consumer products from Monster, Panamax and Tripp Lite do little more than protect your equipment from voltage. To see noticable differences it is said that you have to move up to Richard Gray and PS Audio stuff?? I just don't know if the price is worth the performance, surely their must be something good for a reasonable price.

Be careful what you buy. Many companies conditioners will not have an inidicator for when your surge protector was used, the better ones do. You will have to replace the piece inside the conditioner if the surge ever happens. If it doesnt have an indicator it's only good once, after that you mide as well be using a dollarama extension cord.

Or even if it doesnt have a surge indicator if maybe it has a protection so that the conditioner wont work after the switch is blown once. Since your budget is up to 500 youll easily find a good conditioner. But if you wanna save a buck. You can get a good conditioner for 200 and a seperate surge protector if you already have one.

 

[mitch57]

I own a couple of Richard Gray RGPC 400s. They are a bit over your budget but I am quite impressed with them. They only have 4 outlets which might not be enough for your needs. Check out the link below.

http://www.richardgrayspowercompany.com/products/index.html

 

[Redbone]

Thanks for all the feedback. I was told by a reputable source who sold many line conditioners that the best bang for the buck under $500 is the Furutech E-PT80, the power cord alone on the unit goes for $200 and it uses aircraft aluminum which is supposedly better than hospital grade outlets???

Well I am going to have to demo a few of these, thanks.

 

[jaxvon]

Furutech seems like a load of snake oil to me. At least they list specs for their cables, but they're still overpriced for what you're getting.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Thanks for all the feedback. I was told by a reputable source who sold many line conditioners that the best bang for the buck under $500 is the Furutech E-PT80, the power cord alone on the unit goes for $200 and it uses aircraft aluminum which is supposedly better than hospital grade outlets???

Well I am going to have to demo a few of these, thanks.

What are you trying to accomplish in a demo?
Audio components do have built in filters, why buy another filter. But, if you need a surge protector, buy one of those.
Don't be impressed with Aircraft aluminum unless you are trying to fly it
Power cord, $200? No power cord is worth that unless it has gold in it, lots of it

 

[jaxvon]

Don't tell him that Mtry, he might want to go buy Siltech crap now!

Seriously though. You DO need a surge protector. No doubt. A good brand name one usually comes with an ample guarantee and better let-through voltage. About the filtering.... Yes components DO have their own filtering. If you bought something like a Bryston, then you should be set. That said, some audio components need a lil help keeping the garbage from the electrical lines out of their circuitry. A relatively inexpensive Tripp-Lite, Furman, or APC bar-style surge protector with some filtering should be just fine (bout $100). Now, will you notice a big difference? Probably not. Will it give you piece of mind? Most definitely. Besides, since you only need to buy one protector, and you're going to have it for many years, a single $100 investment isn't too rediculous. At least I don't think so.

 

[bigskyguy]

I would start with a good surge protector that is not MOV based. Many of the cheaper and even the more expensive surge line conditioners are based on this. MOV based surge protectors degrade after every hit they take and can become useless after time. It is cheap insurance once you start figuring the cost of all you equipment to spend the money on a good surge protector . Good examples of non MOV based protectors are Brickwall or SurgeX. If you feel you need a line conditioner you can plug that into the surge protector. The need for a a line conditioner many times is based on how clean of a power supply you have in your area. Some places yes, others no. But I would not power up any of my equipment without a good surge protector.

 

[pocketchange]

BIGSKYGUY ... knows his stuff

But... I would like to add some food for thought.
New here.. not to audio.

UL 1449 Rating A-1-1 ... IS the standard in surge protection products.
All of the patents are held by Dr. Rudy Harford. (4,870,534 & 4,870,528 FYI).
The good Dr. owns Zero Surge which makes their own and Brick Wall and licenses Empower, Adco and SurgeX > which is the Audio Co, which has made a few technical advancements and if it is not "king of the mountain" in surge protection technology, someone correct me please. This is Series surge protection NOT MOV technology which will fail and leave you wondering why your gear is toasted. PLEASE CHECK THIS OUT AND UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SPENDING YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY ON. The www is full of info concerning surge protection.

Also: AC conditioning is an added benifit with this technology. There are several reviews concerning this issue. Check out some of the above websites
and save yourself the headaches involved with MOV technology and its design
short comings. Ask for ratings when you are buying surge protection and do not waste your money.

I have NO connection in ANY fashion with ANY of the above mentioned Co's.
I live on the Gulf Coast and am more than a bit concerned with the surge problems associated with LIGHTNING, and through ingorance have learned
the hard way, MOV technology is like compairing mechanical brakes to disc brakes.