Help picking out a surge suppressor

rengnath

Hey everyone,

I want to get a surge suppressor for my system, and I'm looking at the Monster Power Centers. Is it a bad idea to buy one of these used? I'm under the impression that either they work or they dont.

I ask because my budget would allow me to buy a brand new HTS-1600, but if I go used, I could get a HTS-3500 (Not to be confused with the new HTS-3500 MKII)from about 1999-2000. The older one sold for about $400 back in 2000, where the 1600 today is $200 directly from Monster, and cheaper other places. Any opinions?

Thanks for any insight

pitdogg2

rengnath wrote: »

I want to get a surge suppressor for my system, and I'm looking at the Monster Power Centers. Is it a bad idea to buy one of these used? I'm under the impression that either they work or they dont.

I wouldn't never know what they've been through.

gdb

I've heard the "MOVs" go bad with time and surges. (don't know if the ones mentioned use em)

fossy

Buying used is a great way to save $$$ ..... you do however incure a risk , as with buying anything used.... buying from reputiple ppl will eliminate alot of the "saving money gone bad" issues ... do your homework ...... might help to do a search here on the polk site for power conditioners

PSOVLSK

I've bought 2 used Monster HTS-2600 with no issues. Admittedly one of them had seen very little use from the original owner.

SDA1C

You can get a Belkin PF 60 for about $200 to your door.

unc2701

gdb wrote: »

I've heard the "MOVs" go bad with time and surges. (don't know if the ones mentioned use em)

Yes, they do and monster uses them. The only surge suppressors that are not MOV based that I know of are:
SurgeX
Zero Surge
Brickwall
Torus

Torus is high-end and adds balanced power and various filtration; all use identical series-mode surge suppression under the same licensing (can't remember which of those holds the original patent).

I've used SurgeX, Torus and one of the other two (it's too early in the morning for me to recall which)... Torus certainly added something, but was way too expensive for me to justify. The others seemed pretty interchangeable and I never had an reliability issues. ('course I don't know if I've had any surges...)

I also use Leviton hospital grade surge outlets- they have an alarm that goes off when they're failing and are nice since they replace your usual outlets, so no additional clutter to deal with.

rengnath

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, it looks like new is the way to go for the most part. Ill be researching the Monster and Belkin a little more and pull the trigger.

rengnath

Thanks Rick, I definetly will not. And in the past I have really liked APC products.

inspiredsports

Some of the suggestions above are mixing apples and oranges with both "surge suppressors" and "power conditioners" being mentioned.

Suppressors built with MOV's (Metal oxide varistors) do have a limited number of protection cycles and eventually wear out with normal use unless you get perfect clean power from the street (not likely).

Power conditioners cost a bit more (I love APC H10's or H15's) and provide the best entry-level solution if you are trying to protect expensive gear.

A used power conditioner is generally a good risk proposition, but an MOV based suppressor could be "all used up" the day you buy it.

SDA1C

Regulating voltage is definitely a plus.

Conradicles

Apc h15

EndersShadow

I got an H15 and love it personally. The Belkin P60 and P30 are on the list for my 2 channel rig

Drenis

Rick88 wrote: »

Those Panamax units are very nice too! If it didn't cost twice as much as the APC I may have ended up with one of those, I love those round meters... :loneranger:

I've been eyeing up Panamax lately too. Not cheap by no means. Especially if you want voltage regulation.

rengnath

I almost jumped on the Panamax that was for sale in the classified section, but I couldnt make the splurge. I like the amp draw display and the way they look.