Power Filtering, Power Conditioning, Power Regulation, & Power in General

[Jack Hammer]

There seems to be a lot of snake oil when it comes to power. What is actually neccessary, useful and/or a worthwhile addition to my system?

I've currently got an Acoustic Research 8 outlet filter/surge protector (basic $30-50 model, I forget). I'm thinking of adding A Monster 3500 MKII power device ($120 refurbed from AC4L). Will this improve or help to better protect my system?


Thanks

Jack

 

[zumbo]

I use an Adcom ACE-315. New Model is the 615.

http://www.adcom.com/prod/shopdispla...=3&prodid=1271

What I would get today:

http://www.tripplite.com/products/pr...productID=3119

http://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-HT3.../dp/B000F7R0O2

Or:

http://www.tripplite.com/products/pr...productID=2813

http://www.amazon.com/Tripp-THEATER-.../dp/B0002QPC28

 

[mtrycrafts]

There seems to be a lot of snake oil when it comes to power. What is actually neccessary, useful and/or a worthwhile addition to my system?

I've currently got an Acoustic Research 8 outlet filter/surge protector (basic $30-50 model, I forget). I'm thinking of adding A Monster 3500 MKII power device ($120 refurbed from AC4L). Will this improve or help to better protect my system?
Thanks
Jack

Anything but Monster, just on principles.

Do you have a problem where you live? Do you have a need for surge suppression? Lightning protection? Not sure about that AR but TripLite surge suppressor was rated highly on 2000 by CR.

 

[tbewick]

The only thing I've come across to do with power line contribution is this test of an old CD player, a Sony model. This test was done the the University of Washington.

''Note that there is signifigant contribution from the power line at about 60 Hz. This may change if batteries were used to power the cd player instead of the AC adapter. It is interesting to note, see Figures 2 and 3, that the 60 Hz hum from the power lines dominiates the dynamic range. Depending on how you interpret the EIA specification, you can make a 20dB difference in your dynamic range!'

- http://www.ee.washington.edu/conselec/CE/reports/Group.3/sonyd33/560_4_3.html

 

[mtrycrafts]

The only thing I've come across to do with power line contribution is this test of an old CD player, a Sony model. This test was done the the University of Washington.

''Note that there is signifigant contribution from the power line at about 60 Hz. This may change if batteries were used to power the cd player instead of the AC adapter. It is interesting to note, see Figures 2 and 3, that the 60 Hz hum from the power lines dominiates the dynamic range. Depending on how you interpret the EIA specification, you can make a 20dB difference in your dynamic range!'

- http://www.ee.washington.edu/conselec/CE/reports/Group.3/sonyd33/560_4_3.html

It looks like they measured the analog output? Test disc an old CBS test disc? Perhaps the CD player has issues?

 

[zumbo]

Just for the record, a line enhancer/power conditioner does nothing for a 60Hz hum.

 

[Jack Hammer]

Do you have a problem where you live? Do you have a need for surge suppression? Lightning protection? Not sure about that AR but TripLite surge suppressor was rated highly on 2000 by CR.

Over the past few years there have been enough power surges to make me concerned. Everyso often I'll come home and all the circuit breakers have tripped. More than a few times the breaker in my unit has tripped when I was home for no real reason. Also, I'll get brief brown outs (lights dim) everynow and then. This killed my old laptop and a few other items.

If this will act as an improvement to my system, I'm all for it. My current power strip offers/claims some sort of filtering. I can't tell any difference at all with audio or my tv - none. But I bought it for $30, and that was at a discount. I just don't remember how much protection or filtering and of what type it claimed.

I'm trying to figure out if this would be a worthwhile upgrade to what I have. I don't like wasting money just so I can say I have something. Especially if it wont really do anything more than what I currently have.

Jack

 

[mtrycrafts]

Over the past few years there have been enough power surges to make me concerned. Everyso often I'll come home and all the circuit breakers have tripped. More than a few times the breaker in my unit has tripped when I was home for no real reason. Also, I'll get brief brown outs (lights dim) everynow and then. This killed my old laptop and a few other items.

If this will act as an improvement to my system, I'm all for it. My current power strip offers/claims some sort of filtering. I can't tell any difference at all with audio or my tv - none. But I bought it for $30, and that was at a discount. I just don't remember how much protection or filtering and of what type it claimed.

I'm trying to figure out if this would be a worthwhile upgrade to what I have. I don't like wasting money just so I can say I have something. Especially if it wont really do anything more than what I currently have.

Jack

Probably not a real improvement.

 

[Haoleb]

Just for the record, a line enhancer/power conditioner does nothing for a 60Hz hum.

I was getting a ground loop through my cable, When I ran the cable feed through one of my monster units it did reduce it by quite a bit. Not eliminate but its helped enough that i dont feel the need to buy an isolator anymore.

Of course your results might not be that way but for my particular problem it helped.

 

[Jack Hammer]

I must have been confused/misled about what mine does. I can't find the exact model online, but the closest one I could find doesn't offer any type of filtering or conditioning or anything else special. Just 2000kj surge protection. I remember it was regularly ~$50, I got it on closeout at BB for half that. The guy there said it did some sort of filtering for the video signal. He was probably full of it. That would explain why I couldn't tell any difference.

What I'm really interested in is:
1. Extending life of equipment
2. Filtering of signal (if it exists)
3. Surge protection
4. Not wasting money on useless things that don't do anything.

My current powerstrip offers the third one. I need something that fits the needs of the others.

 

[HiJon89]

If you just want solid surge protection without any snake oil I'd agree with zumbo and get one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Tripp-THEATER-10OUTLET-SURGE-HT10DBS/dp/B0002QPC28/sr=1-1/qid=1170549767/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-2280602-1359848?ie=UTF8&s=electronics
It was good enough for use in the Audioholics $25K recommended system and I own and love one as well

 

[dave1490]

I must have been confused/misled about what mine does. I can't find the exact model online, but the closest one I could find doesn't offer any type of filtering or conditioning or anything else special. Just 2000kj surge protection. I remember it was regularly ~$50, I got it on closeout at BB for half that. The guy there said it did some sort of filtering for the video signal. He was probably full of it. That would explain why I couldn't tell any difference.

What I'm really interested in is:
1. Extending life of equipment
2. Filtering of signal (if it exists)
3. Surge protection
4. Not wasting money on useless things that don't do anything.

My current powerstrip offers the third one. I need something that fits the needs of the others.

im not impressed with the ar stuff.i started with 1 of those 10 outlet 1,s for $20 at close out, didnt know if it did anything until i got my monster hts 5100,and seen a differance in black level on the tv alone, im sure that it does good thing,s for the sterio also but i cant here the differnce.has 7000juls.it,s akin to upgrading cables.i still use ar 1 but not for audio.monsters warrenty i great my 3yr old 1 clicked of 1 day,so i sent it back and they gave me a bran new 1.you should also look into a voltage stabelizer.the 5100 isnt.

 

[Jack Hammer]

...you should also look into a voltage stabelizer.

This is where I start to not be sure what actually does something and what is a way to get my money for not much in return. If I buy something, what exactly should I be looking for it to do? What I liked about the Monster unit was it got a good review by the site, other members have also given it favorable reviews, it may help remove some of the 'noise' my tv picks up, and I can get it for around $130 delivered. Oh yeah, it doesn't hurt any that it looks cool, too (not a major consideration).

Do I need voltage regulation/stabilization?

Do I need power filtering/conditioning? If so, how much?

How much surge protection is adequate, both minimum and ideal?

Are there any other questions I should be asking?

 

[Nick250]

My PureAv helps with cable management, shows that power coming in is rock steady, shows me that even with everything cranked up it never draws more than ten amps and handles surge duties. It has not changed the audio or video, but I did not expect it to. It does have huge cool factor for me with blue and green LEDs and looks great in my rack. I went to BB to get a new surge protector, but due to a pricing snafu I was able to get the PureAv at more than half off. For the $150 I paid I am happy camper.

Nick

 

[tbewick]

It looks like they measured the analog output? Test disc an old CBS test disc? Perhaps the CD player has issues?

Yes, it's probably just to do with the quality of the CD player. Zumbo's right, a power conditioner won't make any improvement here, since the output will just be affected by the way the CD player's designed.