Power Conditioners

[PJC]

Can any of you A/V savy users help me decide if I should get a Power Conditioner for my Home Theater system. I just bought a Samsung LN-S4051D LCD TV and was thinking of a surge protector (even though my extended CC contract covers surges). In my research, I read about power conditioners that actually help clean up the signals too. I was looking at two Belkin products:

http://catalog.belkin.com/pureav_det...duct_id=178339

http://catalog.belkin.com/pureav_det...duct_id=178914

They are $97 and $153 respectively at Amazon. I was hoping to spend around $50 and less than $100, so are these worth it? Or, would something like this work just fine:

http://www.amazon.com/Components-F9M...&s=electronics


I have TV,reciever,cable box,XBOX,DVD,VCR that would be connected to it.

Pete

[jwd12]

power conditioning

Recommend surge protection - Its just too cheap not to have it. No real consensus among audiophiles/videophiles re power conditioning. Need depends on the quality of electric service in your home and your sensitivity. My old ears no longer detect the subtle audio differences claimed by conditioner proponents. Video is a little easier to determine the need. Why not "test" a Monster brand conditioner from CC or BB. If you notice an improvement maybe you should investigate a further. Look for deeper colors and better depth. In my case there was no difference except when LOML was using the coffee grinder.

[MilDoc]

IMHO, unless you have very bad electrical service, which you might see on a TV (lines and other distortions), or unless your lights dim unexpectantly, power conditioners are not needed. But don't buy a cheap surge protector either. Really good ones for AV needs run $80 or more.

[PJC]

But don't buy a cheap surge protector either. Really good ones for AV needs run $80 or more.

Do you think this power conditioner would be a good option then?

http://catalog.belkin.com/pureav_det...duct_id=178339

It's $100 at Amazon.

[maxparot]

I've gone 1 step further than a power conditioner.
Because my entertainment center includes a home theater PC I also included a UPS (Uninteruptable Power Suppy) w/ AVR Automatic Voltage Regulation. Units of this type allow for a graceful automatic shutdown of the computer during a power failure. They boost the power back to normal voltage during brownouts and contain surge supression. Not all the recepticles on the unit are battery backup some are surge supression only. These units are available with different output capacities so selection must be made based on your system.

[MilDoc]

Do you think this power conditioner would be a good option then?

http://catalog.belkin.com/pureav_det...duct_id=178339

It's $100 at Amazon.

I really can't say. Despite searching I couldn't find enough specs on this unit to answer, like response time (should be less than 10 nanosecs.), and others.

Personally, I have a BrickWall protector, but those units are over $200 each. They don't use MOVs like most do, and thus can not burn out and fail.

Before this I always went with PowerMax because their units always received excellent ratings in the home theater and stereo mags I read. Not much more expensive than the belkin units, but better ratings overall (like a 1 nanosec response time among others). The PowerMax M8C-PRO would be my choice at $130.

http://www.powersystemsdirect.com/Pa...C-PRO_1410.php

PowerMax units like this one must be sold by an authorized dealer or there is no warranty. That's why Amazon no longer carries them.

[LCHIEN]

I really can't say. Despite searching I couldn't find enough specs on this unit to answer, like response time (should be less than 10 nanosecs.), and others.

Personally, I have a BrickWall protector, but those units are over $200 each. They don't use MOVs like most do, and thus can not burn out and fail.

Before this I always went with PowerMax because their units always received excellent ratings in the home theater and stereo mags I read. Not much more expensive than the belkin units, but better ratings overall (like a 1 nanosec response time among others). The PowerMax M8C-PRO would be my choice at $130.

http://www.powersystemsdirect.com/Pa...C-PRO_1410.php

PowerMax units like this one must be sold by an authorized dealer or there is no warranty. That's why Amazon no longer carries them.

I guess I should know better but at the moment I have no protection on my AC for my home theater.

I think probably surge protection should be a #1 concern however Mildoc make a great point about a UPS. My front projector has a $300+ bulb which the unit protects from severe thermal transients by ramping up the power and by running the fan for some minutes after the projector is shut off, to prlong the bulb life. I should really get one of those $35 UPS units to put on the projector just to save my bulb from stress should there be a power failure while watching a movie. Now the AV equipment is across the room so I'd have to consider whether to get a second UPS, run a power cable, or simply get surge protection. with a $35 UPS I could probably only run for about 10 minutes at the most, certainly couldn't see the rest of the movie.

Only if you have some line stability problems (lights flickering) and you can see the effect on your AV programs, would I bother with expensive line conditioners.

[PJC]

A co-worker recommend this UPS which would fall into my price range....

http://www.cdwg.com/shop/products/de...px?EDC=1070887

any thoughts on it.


Too bad money is an issue. My BIL can get me this one for $275 (used for 1 year)

http://www.amazon.com/Monster-Cable-...&s=electronics

[PJC]

How do joule's and amps come in to play? Amazon has this one which has a max 4720 joules/240,000 amps

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...81HKD&v=glance

as opposed to the higher priced conditioner that has 3245 joules/165,000 amps and the higher model that has 6490 joules/ 330,000 amps.

Or, there's the UPC link I put in the post above that is only 365 joules, but has the battery backup.


The Panamax sounds good, but I don't think the configuration will work for me (4 outlets on top, 4 on the side). This needs to fit in between components in an entertainment center and I think the plugs might get a bit "squished".

Let me also mention that my electric service is good (as far as I know). In the 3 years I've lived in this house(NJ), I need less than 1 hand to count the number of power outages/brown outs we've had. The only dip I get is in the summer when the window A/C's kick on.

Pete

[ewingda]

PJC,

I HIGHLY recommend a power conditioner. However, I do not recommend the little surge protector style ones. I recommend the Moster Power Reference Line. I have the Home Theatre Reference HTS 2600 MKII PowerCenter model.

My current system:

• Sony 50" SXRD projection Television
• Pioneer ELITE VSX-72TXV - THX Select 7.1 A/V receiver (130W x7)
• Sony 5 disk Prog scan DVD - cant rem model #
• Polk Audio speaker system - not a set - I pieced together speakers for sound I wanted.
• Time Warner HD DVR
• Monser Power HTS 2600 MKII PowerCenter

I recommend this prodcut due to its protection capability (5750 joule), inputs (10 outlets, 3 co-ax, 2 tele), its circuitry (really eliminates power fluctuation), protection ($500K), and especially for its front panel display - it displays the curent draw and current voltage supplied.

Granted this is not cheap at $300 (This is the low end of the line - I did not need any more options). However, I have invested alot of $$ into my AV equipment and I did not have a problem isuring it for $300. I have had a PC get lightning damage while connected to a big fat surge in the past - so I dont play around.

Monster is a name in the AV arena that is very well respected(cables, power, etc). Some say the products are not worth it. However, I want to protect AND enjoy top quality from my system. The Monster Power lets me do all of that. And they now have a nice UPS also. If you want to save some $$ you could drop to the Monster "bar" style units like the HTS 2000.

I hope that gives you some info.

Personally - I would NEVER buy anything from Belkin. They make a bunch of things...and not one of them is great at what it does. When you wanted a tablesaw you went to a tool company (Ryobi, Rigid, Jet, etc.) not to the hack-of-all-trades company that makes toasters and tablesaws (Black & Decker?? lol). The same holds true here. Spend on quality and you will not have problems in the future.

Good luck!
Dave

[KenBurris]

electric line only surge alternative.

If you have Duke energy - but possibly available in other areas

http://www.cinergy.com/EnergyStore/S...op/default.asp

[PJC]

PJC,

I HIGHLY recommend a power conditioner. However, I do not recommend the little surge protector style ones. I recommend the Moster Power Reference Line. I have the Home Theatre Reference HTS 2600 MKII PowerCenter model.
Dave

They have the 3500 MKII at Amazon for $138 (through Beach Audio)

[D_Epler]

I'm with you on this - I use an APC SmartUPS 1500 to supply power to my A/V rack and TV....I have a DVR cable box, Receiver, DVD/VCR, and home theater PC that I don't want any issues with -- and FLORIDA is the WORST state for lightning storms...

IT works so well that one nite we watched a movie for 20 minutes after power went out....he HAD to 'cuz it was at a really good part!! Made the neighbors wonder how we had surround-sound going when they had no power!!!

Dave

[devinjc]

Power Conditioner: Just say no, unless you have $2000 speaker cables, in which case, you really lack for things to buy, so why not have a power conditioner.

Monster: Just say no, most of the money you give them is for the name, not the product.

UPS/Surge Protector is all you need. And technically the UPS is slight overkill unless you have a projector for the bulb cooling. Personally, I just hate having all my electronics lose juice suddenly, I prefer to power them down myself after the power is lost.

[MilDoc]

I agree with decinjc. Monster has the name and all the 'stereophiles' love 'em, but no test in any reputable source has shown their high priced cables etc make enough truly noticeable difference to justify the price. Measurable difference yes, noticeable difference no. (Unless you have Superman's ears and eyes that is.) And a UPS is overkill in most instances, except for those mentioned.

But, if you got the bucks, go for all of it! Me, I prefer more tools!