Power Conditioner for Office Rig

thsmith

Looking at the Panamax M4300 and APC H10 for my office rig. Power from KCP&L is pretty clean and constant voltages with underground cable to the house but would like something better than power strip I am currently using.

ANything thing else in the $200 price range I should be looking at.

Thanks,

Glen B

The APCH10 is good. So is the Belkin PF60. I use the latter in my HT system. Panamax, APC, Belkin, Furman, all employ similar technology (LC filter networks consisting of common-mode-chokes and RF noise suppression caps), so in that regard there is no major difference among them. IMO, just buy whichever is the best deal.

Inside views (arrows point to chokes/caps):

Furman (includes power factor correction)


Panamax (includes voltage regulation)


APC


Belkin (programmable delay, each outlet bank)

F1nut

Man, those all have a ton of circuits in them.

Tracy, if you can find one the PS Audio UPC-200 is excellent and doesn't have all that stuff in it.

EndersShadow

thsmith wrote: »

Looking at the Panamax M4300 and APC H10 for my office rig. Power from KCP&L is pretty clean and constant voltages with underground cable to the house but would like something better than power strip I am currently using.

ANything thing else in the $200 price range I should be looking at.

Thanks,

Of those two keep in mind just as an FYI neither has Voltage Regulation. To be honest if you dont need tons of connections and the power is decent, look at the Belkin PF30. Less outlets but less cost too. I am debating one for my small office rig which has 3 or 4 small pieces in it max.

Otherwise I dont think there are any Furman units at that price point, but they are from what I read one step up quality wise from Panamax.

Speedskater

I saw the schematic for a $3000 power conditioner (none of the above). It was a very complex circuit with almost countless parts including micro-processors. But almost none of the sub-circuits had anything to do with power quality!

tonyb

I use a PS Audio Quintet, pretty happy with it. You can find them under 3 bones on the 'gon sometimes.

pdxfj

I use the Belkin PF60 in my living room and dedicated HT and I'm happy with the results. I've also used the PF30. It has worked well and was less than $100. I caught the PF60's on sale (buy.com) for about $125 each shipped.

EndersShadow

pdxfj wrote: »

I use the Belkin PF60 in my living room and dedicated HT and I'm happy with the results. I've also used the PF30. It has worked well and was less than $100. I caught the PF60's on sale (buy.com) for about $125 each shipped.

If getting the Belkin (either model) buy.com has the best price all the time.

Glen B

F1nut wrote: »

Man, those all have a ton of circuits in them.

Tracy, if you can find one the PS Audio UPC-200 is excellent and doesn't have all that stuff in it.

The PS Audio UPC-200 has the same necessary "stuff" inside (note the common-mode choke/balun), just less of it because its only serving one duplex outlet. The images I've posted have multiple pieces of the same item in UPC200 in order to provide filtration and isolation to several duplex outlets, and any equipment plugged into it.

The extra circuitry in the line conditioners are for each unit's unique features (voltage/current/wiring displays, extreme voltage shutdown, voltage regulation, triggering, on/off delay programming). If the OP needs "purist" noise filtration, the PS Audio product is fine. If more, real-world features are needed (e.g., ability to run an entire HT system), one of the other units might fit the bill.

PS Audio UPC200 below:


PS Audio Soloist:

thsmith

F1nut wrote: »

Man, those all have a ton of circuits in them.

Tracy, if you can find one the PS Audio UPC-200 is excellent and doesn't have all that stuff in it.

Thanks Jesse, no joy in my searching. I will keep my eye open but if you know of one not in service let me know please.

F1nut

The top two pictures are the UPC-200. Just pure simple surge protection and filtering (via the power cells), which also does not restrict current. Note it has two duplex outlets, which along with a Soloist in the wall serves my HT rig perfectly. I also use them in my big rig and office rig. They work so well, that PS Audio stopped selling them because folks weren't buying their more expensive units.

The middle picture is the Ultimate Outlet, a completely different animal.

The bottom picture looks a bit like a Soloist, but I own 3 of them and while they do have the choke/balun, the rest of the board is devoid of all those caps. In fact, the board in the picture is not the board in the actual units. Maybe that was a prototype?

headrott

I bought a soloist on Jesse's recommendation and it made a very positive difference (especially in dynamics).

thsmith

The UPC-200 would work since I need 4 outlets.

I suspect do not come up for sell often. The Dectet is the closest thing PS Audio sells now and is way more than I need for my office.

michael1947

I have 3 Belkin PF 60's, don't know how or why they work but no problems.:rolleyes:

thsmith

Anyone tried or have a Richard Gray's Power Company 400 ?

F1nut

I believe Treitz uses or has used Richard Gray products. Drop him a line.

thsmith

Thanks Jesse. THe guy with the 200s does not want to come off his price and seems to be playing games so I am looking at other options.

Some of the BPT suff looks pretty good to.

Looks like I need to raise my budget.

thsmith

Anyone using BPT (Balanced Power Technology) power devices?

Looking at their CPC.

Polkie2009

Would love to see someone do a shoot out on a bunch of these units. I always hear so much about SurgeX but don't know anyone who actually has had one in service for many years to see how they stand up.

F1nut

THe guy with the 200s does not want to come off his price and seems to be playing games so I am looking at other options.

I saw he relisted them since they didn't sell after 30 days. He's probably going to have them for another 30.

I always hear so much about SurgeX

If I was starting fresh, I'd go with SurgeX's sub-panel type offering. As it is, I'm set.