UPS Online vs Line Interactive for Home Theater

[Lamingtonator]

Hi Everyone

I have a Marantz SR6013 AV Receiver, and after about 5 years of blackouts and at least 1 brownout, it's started making some popping noises. These popping noises have been getting loader with each blackout, and it finally got out of hand last time, where it the pop was so load that the receiver switched itself off, and oddly enough hasn't really made any popping noises since.
Before I get it looked at/repaired I want to invest in a UPS stop this happening again.

I understand the differences of online and line interactive UPS's, but I was wondering as to whether the switching time of line interactive UPS's, of which I understand to be around 4ms, is enough to cause an issue in maintaining power of my Amp and other connected devices, or is it worth investing the extra money to get an online UPS?

The price difference is not insignificant, so I want to make sure that I don't invest in line interactive if its still going to give me problems.

Any help is much appreciated.

 

[TLS Guy]

Hi Everyone

I have a Marantz SR6013 AV Receiver, and after about 5 years of blackouts and at least 1 brownout, it's started making some popping noises. These popping noises have been getting loader with each blackout, and it finally got out of hand last time, where it the pop was so load that the receiver switched itself off, and oddly enough hasn't really made any popping noises since.
Before I get it looked at/repaired I want to invest in a UPS stop this happening again.

I understand the differences of online and line interactive UPS's, but I was wondering as to whether the switching time of line interactive UPS's, of which I understand to be around 4ms, is enough to cause an issue in maintaining power of my Amp and other connected devices, or is it worth investing the extra money to get an online UPS?

The price difference is not insignificant, so I want to make sure that I don't invest in line interactive if its still going to give me problems.

Any help is much appreciated.

Receivers contain power amps. It is not usually recommended to run power amps from UPS units, because of their fast changing current demands.

It is the delicate preamp and especially the delicate processing circuits that are vulnerable.

So for reliable design it is best to use an AVP and power amps. Protect everything except the power amps vis UPS, but not the power amps.

Also bring you home up to NEC. That means an OBD1 surge protector at the electrical service entry to your home, and an OBD2 at each electrical panel in the home and at the combiner if you have solar panels. That is National Electrical Code which must be done on all new construction or if you have any significant electrical work done in the home. Actually with climate change that is something that I strongly recommend to be done to all existing homes now. In my view all homeowners should be strongly advised to bring their homes up to current NEC in this regard.

 

[Lamingtonator]

Receivers contain power amps. It is not usually recommended to run power amps from UPS units, because of their fast changing current demands.

It is the delicate preamp and especially the delicate processing circuits that are vulnerable.

So for reliable design it is best to use an AVP and power amps. Protect everything except the power amps vis UPS, but not the power amps.

Also bring you home up to NEC. That means an OBD1 surge protector at the electrical service entry to your home, and an OBD2 at each electrical panel in the home and at the combiner if you have solar panels. That is National Electrical Code which must be done on all new construction or if you have any significant electrical work done in the home. Actually with climate change that is something that I strongly recommend to be done to all existing homes now. In my view all homeowners should be strongly advised to bring their homes up to current NEC in this regard.

I live in Australia, so standards would be different.
Despite that, I have two levels of surge protection in my house. First one is at the main distribution board for the house, and then the power board the AV receiver is connected to.
But my issue is not protection against spikes, it's blackouts.
But based on what you are saying a UPS with a high enough Wattage should be enough to cater for those changing demands. The Receiver has a 680W rating, and the UPS I was looking at was either 1350W or 1500W (for receiver and TV) rating depending on the type of UPS I go with. I'm typically not running my receiver at high volumes, so I don't expect to reach those limits.

 

[Speedskater]

a] It takes a much larger 'Online UPS' to power a big amplifier than the specs would indicate.
b] You are not going to do serious listening during a blackout. So a 'Line Interactive' unit would keep things going until power is restored (with luck).

 

[TLS Guy]

I live in Australia, so standards would be different.
Despite that, I have two levels of surge protection in my house. First one is at the main distribution board for the house, and then the power board the AV receiver is connected to.
But my issue is not protection against spikes, it's blackouts.
But based on what you are saying a UPS with a high enough Wattage should be enough to cater for those changing demands. The Receiver has a 680W rating, and the UPS I was looking at was either 1350W or 1500W (for receiver and TV) rating depending on the type of UPS I go with. I'm typically not running my receiver at high volumes, so I don't expect to reach those limits.

If it is blackout protection you are looking for, then the answer is an auto start generator and automatic transfer switch. Surge protectors are also important in this, as there is the back EMF spike as the power goes out. A UPS will no catch that fast enough. The transfer switch will get you off the mains network right away. Then set it to stay on line the time you want. I have mine set to 20 min. post power restoration. Here I use a 20 KVA air cooled Cummins. In my former home at the lake, I installed a 20 KVA unit will a lovely vintage Wisconsin V4 RMY engines. Now I have a V-Twin Cummins unit. The Wisconsin unit was powered from our propane tank (1000 gallon) mainly for home heating. The Cummins unit is powered from the natural gas supply to our house.

I do not recommend driving power amps from UPS units.

Cummins unit.

Vintage Wisconsin RMY unit.

 

[highfigh]

Receivers contain power amps. It is not usually recommended to run power amps from UPS units, because of their fast changing current demands.

It is the delicate preamp and especially the delicate processing circuits that are vulnerable.

So for reliable design it is best to use an AVP and power amps. Protect everything except the power amps vis UPS, but not the power amps.

Also bring you home up to NEC. That means an OBD1 surge protector at the electrical service entry to your home, and an OBD2 at each electrical panel in the home and at the combiner if you have solar panels. That is National Electrical Code which must be done on all new construction or if you have any significant electrical work done in the home. Actually with climate change that is something that I strongly recommend to be done to all existing homes now. In my view all homeowners should be strongly advised to bring their homes up to current NEC in this regard.

OBD I and OBD II are automotive- haven't found those acronyms in NEC.

The air filter on the generator looks like something from a '40s or earl;y '50s car. Is it that old?