How critical is a power conditioner?

Danny mc
Danny mc Posts: 24
edited July 2013 in Electronics
I have all my speakers and a/v hooked up to just a power strip? Do I need power conditioner???
Post edited by Danny mc on
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited July 2013
    Depends. A power conditioner can provide protection for your gear. Others can really clean up the power and improve both the sound and the picture quality. Of course, if better sound and picture are your goal then good power cords are also necessary. This is just my two cents based on what I have heard and observed after adding a Shunyata Hydra AV conditioner, dedicated 20 amp line, Shunyata Ztron Python power cord to the AV, a Shunyata Venom to the Oppo, a Shunyata Ztron Cobra to both the pre and to the amp, a Shunyata 2 port Talos power conditioner for the TV, a Shunyata Venom HC power cord to the Talos, and a Shunyata Ztron Cobra to the TV. Needless to say, I am in the camp that these things make a positive difference.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • Jhayman
    Jhayman Posts: 1,548
    edited July 2013
    I swear Bluefox you must have a lot of Shunyata stock, lol
    To the OP I believe you should have one just for the protection of your gear..if for any other reason..
    ATC SCM40's,VTL TL 2.5 Preamp,PSB Stratus Goldi's,McCormack DNA 500,McCormack MAP-1 Preamp,Pro-Ject Xtension 10 TT,Ortofon Cadenza Red/Nordost RedDawn LS Speaker cables, Bryston BDP-2, Bryston BDA-2,PS Audio AC-3 power cables
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  • jeremymarcinko
    jeremymarcinko Posts: 3,785
    edited July 2013
    I wouldn't say you "need" one, a good power strip is all you need for protection. But a conditioner can improve audio and video quality in some cases. It certainly helped my plasma tv I didn't notice much improvement if any in sound quality but every case is different. Some would argue that they can make your sound worse by putting more junk in the way that the power has to pass thru. Thinking the gear is designed to be plugged right in the wall and any extra circuitry does more harm than good. I would say try one if its not worth the cost/improvement send it back. Thats how I approached it but ended up keeping it for the power protection and improved pq.
    Oh, Listen here mister. We got no way of understandin' this world. But we got as much sense of this bird flyin in the sky. Now there is a lot that bird don't know, but it don't change the fact that the world is happening to him all the same. What I am tryin to say is, is that the course of your life, well its changing, and you don't even see it- Forest Bondurant
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  • Glen B
    Glen B Posts: 269
    edited July 2013
    Danny mc wrote: »
    I have all my speakers and a/v hooked up to just a power strip? Do I need power conditioner???
    Check out Brickwall surge protectors. They can take absorb repeated surges without failure, unlike a cheap power strip, and clean up AC line borne noise like a lot of the popular line conditioners do.

    http://www.brickwall.com/collections/surge-protectors-home-theater-hdtv
    Main System: Denon DP-59L | Audio-Technica AT33EV | Marantz SA-11S2 | Classe DR-10 | Classe CA-300 | Classe RC-1 | PSB Stratus Gold i's | DIY Balanced AC Power Conditioner | Acoustic Zen and NeoTech cables | Oyaide and Furutech power connectors | Dedicated 20A isolated ground line.

    Home Theater: Toshiba D-VR5SU | Laptop #1 |Outlaw Audio OAW3 wireless audio system | Marantz SR-19 | Phase Linear 400 Series 2, modified | AudioSource 10.1 EQ (for subs) | Axiom M3 v3’s | Axiom VP150 | Optimus PRO-X55AVs | Dayton 12” powered subs (x2) | Belkin PureAV PF-60 line conditioner.

    Party System: Laptop #2 | Audioquest Dragonfly USB DAC | Technics SU-A6 | Acurus A-250 | Radio Shack 15-band EQ | Pioneer SR-9 reverb | Cerwin Vega DX9's | Dayton 100° x 60° horns with titanium HF/MF compression drivers.
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited July 2013
    Jhayman wrote: »
    I swear Bluefox you must have a lot of Shunyata stock

    They are a private company. I just have been very impressed with their products. Other than 5 MIT Shotgun S1.3 ICs between the pre and the amp in my HT, every other cable in both my two channel and HT are Shunyata. Other than maybe an upgrade here and there, and that is unlikely, I can't imagine any more cable purchases in the future.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • Speedskater
    Speedskater Posts: 495
    edited July 2013
    Remember that 'power conditioner' is an undefined term. It could mean almost any combination of the following.

    a] Noise filter - a low-pass EMI/RFI filter.
    b] Surge protector - although it's better to have surge protection at the home's service entrance.
    c] UPS - note that many UPS's are not really UPS's!
    d] Line voltage adjustor.
    e] Balanced power transformer.
    f] Isolated power transformer.
    g] DC blockers.
    h] I forget? But I think that there are more.
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  • RamZet
    RamZet Posts: 792
    edited July 2013
    Yes, you should have one.

    http://www.amazon.com/Panamax-M4300-PM-Outlet-Clean-Power/dp/B000SXWGDI/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1373056943&sr=1-2&keywords=panamax+4300

    Panamax 4300 ^

    Keeps the power consistant and helps when your AC units or other large utility units kick on. Will also help make your amps whisper quiet.
    B&W CM9Classé Sigma
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  • cvc
    cvc Posts: 65
    edited July 2013
    I use 2 of these Power Pack II's.. They were highly recommended by the great Corey Greenberg back in the day..
    Contact them for a dealer near you..

    http://www.audiopower.com/newsite/pp2.html
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  • jumpindick
    jumpindick Posts: 428
    edited July 2013
    I agree with the feedback here. The power conditioner will help to certain extent in protecting the gears as well. I did not have one in my HT system. When I hooked up the amp, speakers and the avr together with cable box in the loop as well, there was a bad humming noise I saw coming out. This was due to having the cable box. I then routed the cable box via belkin PF60 and the humming was gone. Also at the same time, I connected all my gears to the belkin PF60 unit. It does great job.

    Now, I noticed the hum due to a powerful amp in line. without the amp in connection, I did not see the humming noise (so that is called amplification right!!). I am quite satisfied with the performance of belkin PF60. I would recommend one for anyone who spends fair amount of money in getting such equipment.
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  • Danny mc
    Danny mc Posts: 24
    edited July 2013
    Thanks!!!!
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  • laotzu61
    laotzu61 Posts: 327
    edited July 2013
    anyone have experience or input on the monster hts-1000 as a line conditioner? thanks.
    "The symbol is not the reality"
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