surge protection

krabby5
krabby5 Posts: 923
in Electronics
I know this is a taboo subject for a lot of people, but I'm just wondering what you all plug all your home theater stuff into?

I currently have a BrickWall 8-outlet surge protector. I've had it for 8-10 years and have had zero incidents. Problem is I need more than 8 outlets now. I could just get a cheap APC 11 outlet surge protector for $35..or I could spend 200-500 for a Panamax unit that shows numbers with pretty colors.

Does it really make a difference?

For those of you that have those nice Panamax units (or similar brand), do you get them because they look nice and also offer an easy unit to plug 10-11 devices into?
Pioneer Elite VSX-53, Polk RT800i fronts, Polk CS400i center, FX500i surround, Velodyne sub
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Comments

  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,562
    You have to figure out what it is that you want to accomplish and also realize that good protection is not cheap.

    There are a multitude of options. A few examples....

    Basic surge protection.
    Surge protection/voltage regulation.
    Surge protection/voltage regulation/battery back up.
    Whole house surge protection.
    Power regeneration includes surge protection/voltage regulation.
    Etc.

    Most surge protectors use MOV's, which are usually a one shot deal. Most devices will not protect squat if you get a direct hit. A lot of devices restrict current.

    One of the better products out there are the devices from SurgeX.

    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • gudnoyez
    gudnoyez Posts: 8,124
    My Panamax has got me through some storms everything in my home theater is plugged into it except the amp which is plugged in direct. I do unplug everything in the HT when not in use for long periods of time.
    Home Theater
    Parasound Halo A 31 OnkyoTX-NR838 Sony XBR55X850B 55" 4K RtiA9 Fronts CsiA6 Center RtiA3 Rears FxiA6 Side Surrounds Dual Psw 111's Oppo 105D Signal Ultra Speaker Cables & IC's Signal Magic Power Cable Technics SL Q300 Panamax MR4300 Audioquest Chocolate HDMI Cables Audioquest Forest USB Cable

    2 Channel
    Adcom 555II Vincent SA-T1 Marantz SA 15S2 Denon DR-M11 Clearaudio Bluemotion SDA 2.3tl's (Z) edition MIT Terminator II Speaker Cables & IC's Adcom 545II Adcom Gtp-450 Marantz CD5004 Technics M245X SDA 2B's, SDA CRS+

    Stuff for the Head
    JD LABS C5 Headphone Amplifier, Sennheiser HD 598, Polk Audio Buckle, Polk Audio Hinge, Velodyne vPulse, Bose IE2, Sennheiser CX 200 Street II, Sennheiser MX 365

    Shower & Off the beaten path Rigs
    Polk Audio Boom Swimmer, Polk Audio Urchin B)
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  • Polkie2009
    Polkie2009 Posts: 3,834
    F1's right on about SurgeX. ;) There used to be an old boy here on the forum who used to write about them, not sure he was an employee at SurgeX or sold them , but he always seemed to catch a bunch of flack from some folks here. I've thought seriously about trying out some of their products(possibly a whole house protection).
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,194
    Don't talk to me about the value in surge protection.
    I have seen many systems be protected from awful storms with good surge protection and I've also seen people who don't invest in protection and lose their system completely.

    Surge X doesn't use MOV's , they take a hit and keep on working as they take the charge and use that energy in the chassis. They use massive coils to dissipate the energy until it's controlled. These are very good quality surge protectors. Down side to them is they don't offer a lot of outlets on the back of their products. You would need to use either 2 of them or one and a strip. The strip could be for low voltage things like Cable Boxes, DVD players , Network switches , basically everything but the TV and amps.
    In my system I don't use Surge X I prefer APC. I have many surge Protectors and use a S15 which is a battery back up unit and I will also use my H15 which is a Non battery back up.
    I have a 20 amp circuit but my system doesn't require that much power. I put it there so if and when I decide to go back to separates I will put a S20 there which is a 20 amp Battery backup Surge protector Voltage stabilizer.
    In all the years I have been doing this professionally and personally, never ever do I ever skimp on surge protection. In the north east , we have a lot of electrical storms , brown outs and outages. Our power gid is older and dirty. I prefer to use high quality surge protectors to get the most out of my system with clean protected power.
    You can do whatever you feel is right with yours.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • mikeyb128
    mikeyb128 Posts: 2,885
    I use a Panamax m5400pm. And to tell you the truth, I like its pretty blue lights, it matches my marantz, and has a nice amount of plugs in the back of it. Im not sure what it's good for other than that. Whole house seems the way to go. But I don't know much in this area, the old guys of the forum know best. I do swear I noticed a slightly sharper picture with the Panamax. This is my second one. My first one lived on for years and did shut things down in an under voltage condition.
    2 channel:
    Bryston 4B3, Bryston BDA3, Cary SLP05, Shanling CDT1000SE with parts conneXion level 2 mods, Nottingham analogue ace space 294, soundsmith Carmen MKii, Zu DL103 MKii, Ortofon MC 20 MKii, Dynavector XX2 MKii, Rogue Audio Ares, Core power technologies balanced power conditioner, Akiko Corelli power conditioner with Akiko Audio HQ power cable, Nordost heimdall 2, Frey 2, interconnects, speaker and power cables, Focal Electra 1028 BE 2, Auralic Aries Femto, Black diamond racing cones, ingress audio level 1 roller blocks, JL Audio E110 with Auralic subdude, Primacoustics room treatments.
    Theater:
    Focal Aria 926,905,CC900, SVS PB ultra x2. Pioneer Elite SC85, Oppo BDP93, Panamax M5400PM, Minix neox6, Nordost Blue heaven LS power cables.

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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,194
    The 5400 is a voltage regulator stabilizer and it's a good quality surge protector. It's really the only one in their line I like or think is really worth the investment.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 10,716
    no love for the furman offering?
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  • voltz
    voltz Posts: 5,384
    I use a Voodoo Powermatic 6 and in one of the outlets I use a Shunyata Defender. plug into a PS audio power port outlet.

    (The Powermatic 6 is the quintessential ‘Anti-Power Conditioner’ with no active or passive filtration, no current regulating PC boards, and no rectifiers or switching relays to limit or interfere with the optimal flow of AC to your components)

    rv5x3s8qamaz.jpg

    1z6x2vas9gas.jpg
    2 ch- Polk CRS+ * Vincent SA-31MK Preamp * Vincent Sp-331 Amp * Marantz SA8005 SACD * Project Xperience Classic TT * Sumiko Blue Point #2 MC cartridge

    HT - Polk 703's * NAD T-758 * Adcom 5503 * Oppo 103 * Samsung 60" series 8 LCD
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,966
    F1nut wrote: »
    You have to figure out what it is that you want to accomplish and also realize that good protection is not cheap.

    There are a multitude of options. A few examples....

    Basic surge protection.
    Surge protection/voltage regulation.
    Surge protection/voltage regulation/battery back up.
    Whole house surge protection.
    Power regeneration includes surge protection/voltage regulation.
    Etc.

    Most surge protectors use MOV's, which are usually a one shot deal. Most devices will not protect squat if you get a direct hit. A lot of devices restrict current.

    One of the better products out there are the devices from SurgeX.

    Very important 2 sentences here. The PC'ers that use MOV's, one close shot and they are done. They might protect everything, they might not, crap shoot really. Mostly good for surges and brown outs.

    The other important aspect is some restrict current, which is why we usually recommend never plugging a receiver or amp into them. Doesn't mean you can't though if that makes you feel better, but it isn't doing your sound any favors if it's restricting current.

    Better power conditioners cost more obviously, but they are worth the investment....and they will do your sound some favors.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • mikeyb128
    mikeyb128 Posts: 2,885
    voltz wrote: »
    I use a Voodoo Powermatic 6 and in one of the outlets I use a Shunyata Defender. plug into a PS audio power port outlet.

    (The Powermatic 6 is the quintessential ‘Anti-Power Conditioner’ with no active or passive filtration, no current regulating PC boards, and no rectifiers or switching relays to limit or interfere with the optimal flow of AC to your components)

    rv5x3s8qamaz.jpg

    1z6x2vas9gas.jpg

    Me likey...
    2 channel:
    Bryston 4B3, Bryston BDA3, Cary SLP05, Shanling CDT1000SE with parts conneXion level 2 mods, Nottingham analogue ace space 294, soundsmith Carmen MKii, Zu DL103 MKii, Ortofon MC 20 MKii, Dynavector XX2 MKii, Rogue Audio Ares, Core power technologies balanced power conditioner, Akiko Corelli power conditioner with Akiko Audio HQ power cable, Nordost heimdall 2, Frey 2, interconnects, speaker and power cables, Focal Electra 1028 BE 2, Auralic Aries Femto, Black diamond racing cones, ingress audio level 1 roller blocks, JL Audio E110 with Auralic subdude, Primacoustics room treatments.
    Theater:
    Focal Aria 926,905,CC900, SVS PB ultra x2. Pioneer Elite SC85, Oppo BDP93, Panamax M5400PM, Minix neox6, Nordost Blue heaven LS power cables.

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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 10,716
    he likes it, hey mikey!
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  • RamZet
    RamZet Posts: 792
    I like Panamax. I have installed hundreds of them and I have three in my house.


    I am taking a second look at surgeX.
    My co-workers came back from cedia and i guess they were drinking the surgeX coolaid.
    They said surgex is one of the only units that wont effect the sound quality.
    B&W CM9Classé Sigma
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  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,287
    The Furman Elites engineer is also an audiophile hobbiest. I've have a couple of Elite 20amp conditioners and have been happy.
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
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  • leftwinger57
    leftwinger57 Posts: 2,917
    I use a Samson PS-15 9 outlet surge protector. More than a power strip it is rack mountable and has 8 outlets in the rear 1 up front, reset switch and a big lit rocker on/off switch. It has I think 1200 joule protection which is nowhere the protection of Monster Cable, APC, Panamax and other top brands. While I use it and do have believe it or not old aluminum cable not modern Romex and do see the lights dim on occasion it has never failed. Like F-1 said nothing will protect against a direct hit on your house. Being a former fire/burglar alarm installer I have seen what a direct hit can do and it was awful. Everything from garage door openers, anything and everything plugged in including alarm contacts were fried. The fire dept used thermal cameras to see if any Romex was burning or heating in the walls. I do unplug it when I know a storm is coming, it's just not worth the risk.
    2chl- Adcom GFA- 555-Onkyo P-3150v pre/amp- JVC-QL-A200 tt- Denon 1940 ci cdp- Adcom GFS-6 -Modded '87 SDA 2Bs - Dynamat Ext.- BH-5- X-Overs VR-3, RDO-194 tweeters, Larry's Rings, Speakon/Neutrik I/C- Cherry stain tops Advent Maestros,Ohm model E

    H/T- Toshiba au40" flat- Yamaha RX- V665 avr- YSD-11 Dock- I-Pod- Klipsch #400HD Speaker set-

    Bdrm- Nikko 6065 receiver- JBL -G-200s--Pioneer 305 headphones--Sony CE375-5 disc
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,194
    RamZet wrote: »
    I like Panamax. I have installed hundreds of them and I have three in my house.


    I am taking a second look at surgeX.
    My co-workers came back from cedia and i guess they were drinking the surgeX coolaid.
    They said surge is one of the only units that wont effect the sound quality.

    We carry Surge X and I have not dug into them like I usually do with something new and exciting. Something about them I'm not sure what yet but I don't have the most confidence in there products yet.
    Now Again everything I have read and have been told about Surge X is all positive. What they do is pretty awesome.
    I don't however feel any attraction to any of their models yet. I'm sure I'll grace my system with one down the road IF one attracts me to it. Time will tell.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,194
    txcoastal1 wrote: »
    The Furman Elites engineer is also an audiophile hobbiest. I've have a couple of Elite 20amp conditioners and have been happy.
    I actually been kicking around the idea of trying one out. I have a 20 amp circuit at my gear and thought a few times the Elite 20 would make a great addition to the family( I have so many Surge Protectors I should sell some of them). I also like the fact it has 12 outlets on the back. It's one thing that turns me off about Surge X.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    F1nut wrote: »
    You have to figure out what it is that you want to accomplish and also realize that good protection is not cheap.

    There are a multitude of options. A few examples....

    Basic surge protection.
    Surge protection/voltage regulation.
    Surge protection/voltage regulation/battery back up.
    Whole house surge protection.
    Power regeneration includes surge protection/voltage regulation.
    Etc.

    Most surge protectors use MOV's, which are usually a one shot deal. Most devices will not protect squat if you get a direct hit. A lot of devices restrict current.

    One of the better products out there are the devices from SurgeX.

    Which ones do you recommend specifically from them Jesse? @F1nut
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • Mikey081057
    Mikey081057 Posts: 7,127
    My power company here in Florida offers whole house stage 1 surge protection that they install at the meter. They then recommend stage 2 to protect your devices. We get some serious lightning here and am thinking it might be a good idea. It's $185 installed.

    Thoughts?
    My New Year's resolution is 3840 × 2160

    Family Room| Marantz AV7704| Usher Dancer Mini - 2 DMD Mains |Usher Dancer Mini-x DMD's Surrounds | Usher BE-616 DMD Center | SVS Ultra Rear Surrounds | Parasound Halo A21 | Parsound Halo A52+ | MIT Shotgun S3's | Dual SVS SB 4000 Ultras | Oppo UDP 203 | Directv Genie HD DVR | Samsung 75" Q8 QLED | PSAudio Stellar GCD | Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ | Lumin U1 Mini | HP Elite Slice PC | ROON'd for life |

    ManCave: HT:Polk LSiM 706VR3 LSiM 703's LSiM 702's|| Marantz AV7002 AV PrePro Sunfire TGA-7401| Sony PS4 Pro| Sony PS4 Pro|SVS PB13 Ultra| Oppo UDP 203 | Music Hall MMF 5.3se TT w/ Soundsmith Carmen | Samsung 55" SUHD TV | Sony PS4

    Patio | Polk Atrium 8's | Yamaha R-N303BL |

    Office BlueSound Node| KEF LS50 | Peactree Nova 125SE |

    Bedroom | Focal 905's | Chromecast Audio |

    Garage | Polk Monitor 5B's

    Closet Yamaha M80 | 2 Polk MP3K subs| Yaqin MC100B with Shuguang Treasures KT 88's & CV181Z's | Tesla E83CC's | Marantz 2252B | Marantz 2385 |Polk SDA SRS 2.3 | LSiM 705's |
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 10,716
    Do it.
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  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,287
    rednedtugent wrote: »
    Do it.

    but don't rely on it

    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 10,716
    Lightning capital of the world :s
    Well, I'm not a EE. I understand there is a monthly fee as well.
    How about a TVSS instead of a Stage 1?
    One time charge :#
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  • Mikey081057
    Mikey081057 Posts: 7,127
    mine is a 1 time charge you can choose to lease if for $6/mo or buy it for 185.
    My New Year's resolution is 3840 × 2160

    Family Room| Marantz AV7704| Usher Dancer Mini - 2 DMD Mains |Usher Dancer Mini-x DMD's Surrounds | Usher BE-616 DMD Center | SVS Ultra Rear Surrounds | Parasound Halo A21 | Parsound Halo A52+ | MIT Shotgun S3's | Dual SVS SB 4000 Ultras | Oppo UDP 203 | Directv Genie HD DVR | Samsung 75" Q8 QLED | PSAudio Stellar GCD | Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ | Lumin U1 Mini | HP Elite Slice PC | ROON'd for life |

    ManCave: HT:Polk LSiM 706VR3 LSiM 703's LSiM 702's|| Marantz AV7002 AV PrePro Sunfire TGA-7401| Sony PS4 Pro| Sony PS4 Pro|SVS PB13 Ultra| Oppo UDP 203 | Music Hall MMF 5.3se TT w/ Soundsmith Carmen | Samsung 55" SUHD TV | Sony PS4

    Patio | Polk Atrium 8's | Yamaha R-N303BL |

    Office BlueSound Node| KEF LS50 | Peactree Nova 125SE |

    Bedroom | Focal 905's | Chromecast Audio |

    Garage | Polk Monitor 5B's

    Closet Yamaha M80 | 2 Polk MP3K subs| Yaqin MC100B with Shuguang Treasures KT 88's & CV181Z's | Tesla E83CC's | Marantz 2252B | Marantz 2385 |Polk SDA SRS 2.3 | LSiM 705's |
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  • Polkie2009
    Polkie2009 Posts: 3,834
    A number of companies make a whole house unit. I think SurgeX makes a few of them , from house to commercial units with huge panels. I might want to go the whole house route too , and add a separate unit on the HT.
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  • GlennDog
    GlennDog Posts: 3,120
    @krabby,
    I've moved-up the food chain and would like to move my Furman PF15 pfi
    It has served me well and is highly regarded.
    Very clean, like new unit. If inna-rested, PM me
    AC Regenerator PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 10
    Source Lumin U1 Mini into Lampizator Baltic 4 DAC
    Pre Cary SLP-05
    Power Rogue M180 Dark monos
    Mains Salk HT2-TL
    Rythmik F12
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  • Nightfall
    Nightfall Posts: 10,086
    I always unplug everything if there is a good chance of a storm before I leave for work. Free and guaranteed to work.
    afterburnt wrote: »
    They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.

    Village Idiot of Club Polk
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  • Mikey081057
    Mikey081057 Posts: 7,127
    Nightfall wrote: »
    I always unplug everything if there is a good chance of a storm before I leave for work. Free and guaranteed to work.

    Even the cable/sat box
    My New Year's resolution is 3840 × 2160

    Family Room| Marantz AV7704| Usher Dancer Mini - 2 DMD Mains |Usher Dancer Mini-x DMD's Surrounds | Usher BE-616 DMD Center | SVS Ultra Rear Surrounds | Parasound Halo A21 | Parsound Halo A52+ | MIT Shotgun S3's | Dual SVS SB 4000 Ultras | Oppo UDP 203 | Directv Genie HD DVR | Samsung 75" Q8 QLED | PSAudio Stellar GCD | Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ | Lumin U1 Mini | HP Elite Slice PC | ROON'd for life |

    ManCave: HT:Polk LSiM 706VR3 LSiM 703's LSiM 702's|| Marantz AV7002 AV PrePro Sunfire TGA-7401| Sony PS4 Pro| Sony PS4 Pro|SVS PB13 Ultra| Oppo UDP 203 | Music Hall MMF 5.3se TT w/ Soundsmith Carmen | Samsung 55" SUHD TV | Sony PS4

    Patio | Polk Atrium 8's | Yamaha R-N303BL |

    Office BlueSound Node| KEF LS50 | Peactree Nova 125SE |

    Bedroom | Focal 905's | Chromecast Audio |

    Garage | Polk Monitor 5B's

    Closet Yamaha M80 | 2 Polk MP3K subs| Yaqin MC100B with Shuguang Treasures KT 88's & CV181Z's | Tesla E83CC's | Marantz 2252B | Marantz 2385 |Polk SDA SRS 2.3 | LSiM 705's |
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