Used Power Conditioners

Paradoxex
Paradoxex Posts: 189
in Electronics
I was talking to someone recently about purchasing a used Panamax 5400-EX for around $150. Seems like an ok amount, but I wanted to gauge the hesitation forum members would have purchasing older model conditioners from Craigslist (not from the forum, for instance).

Any experiences? Things to consider before taking the plunge?
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Comments

  • JPete
    JPete Posts: 295
    If it works and the price is right, no hesitation here. I've picked up all of my power management gear off ebay or craigslist for cheap. Just depends on what you're looking for, what you're going to use it for and how much you want to spend.

    I don't think the 5400 is really a "conditioner" though, is it? Just a good looking surge protector with a few isolation banks or whatever. Looks nicer than my Tributaries junker.
    Lexicon RT-10, Parasound P5, McCormack DNA 0.5, Polk SDA CRS+, SVS Sub
    Schiit Modi, Luminous Audio Axiom II, McCormack DNA-1, Digital Phase AP 2
    Marantz AV7701, Emotiva XPA-5, Paradigm 11se Mkii, DCM Time Windows, NHT 2C, SVS Sub

    Spares - Kenwood C1 Pre, NAD 2200PE, Polk Monitor 10B, Polk Model 11, other odds and ends
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,965
    Paradoxex wrote: »
    I was talking to someone recently about purchasing a used Panamax 5400-EX for around $150. Seems like an ok amount, but I wanted to gauge the hesitation forum members would have purchasing older model conditioners from Craigslist (not from the forum, for instance).

    Any experiences? Things to consider before taking the plunge?

    Seems like a nice pick up for the price. I would question the seller as to it's history though. Usually these types of devices, the more they are taking in surges and brown outs the weaker they get over time.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

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    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
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    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

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  • Thorton
    Thorton Posts: 1,324
    I have the 5300-PM I bought used for a little more than your price. I have every piece of gear plugged into it. It works excellent....low noise and removed the slight hum I had from the satellite cable. If it's in good shape I'd go for it.
    _____________________________________________________________________________________________
    Ethernet Filter: GigaFOILv4 with Keces P3 LPS
    Source: Roon via ethernet to DAC interface
    DAC: Bricasti M1SE
    Pre/Pro: Marantz AV8805
    Tube Preamp Buffer: Tortuga TPB.V1
    Amp1: Nord One NC1200DM Signature, Amp2: W4S MC-5, AMP3: W4S MMC-7
    Front: Salk SoundScape 8's, Center: Salk SoundScape C7
    Surround: Polk FXIA6, Surround Back: Polk RTIA9, Atmos: Polk 70-RT
    Subs: 2 - Rythmik F25's
    IC & Speaker Cables: Acoustic Zen, Wireworld, Signal Cable
    Power Cables: Acoustic Zen, Wireworld, PS Audio
    Room Treatments: GIK Acoustics
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,194
    If your nervous about buying from a stranger , Even though I could be classified as such, I have a few excellent condition Power centers I'm not using.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,561
    You're not a stranger Dan, just strange. >:)
    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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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,194
    F1nut wrote: »
    You're not a stranger Dan, just strange. >:)
    Yeah Yeah Yeah, this hobby can do that to a man.

    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,446
    edited July 2016
    mantis wrote: »
    F1nut wrote: »
    You're not a stranger Dan, just strange. >:)
    Yeah Yeah Yeah, this hobby can do that to a man.

    Has that been proven yet? o:)

    Seriously though, I'm hesitant to buy something like that from a stranger (Dan excluded) they have nothing to lose by jacking you. Some of those just use MOV's that after a good hit they just pass on the load and fail to clamp the next surge.
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,965
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    mantis wrote: »
    F1nut wrote: »
    You're not a stranger Dan, just strange. >:)
    Yeah Yeah Yeah, this hobby can do that to a man.

    Has that been proven yet? o:)

    Seriously though, I'm hesitant to buy something like that from a stranger (Dan excluded) they have nothing to lose by jacking you. Some of those just use MOV's that after a good hit they just pass on the load and fail to clamp the next surge.

    That was my point, which is why I'd question how long it has been in use and the area it was used in. Some area's are more prone to brown outs that others. Given though that these retailed for over 7 bones if I'm not mistaken, 150 clams doesn't seem too risky to me.
    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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  • gudnoyez
    gudnoyez Posts: 8,124
    I would rather buy one off the forum like from Dan for an example. I guess that $150 is worth checking into, if your somewhere in the Midwest how many storms pass through your area? I unplug everything when it won't be in use if severe weather is in the forcast.
    Home Theater
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    Shower & Off the beaten path Rigs
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,965
    Not me....I plug everything I got in during storms. Light me up baby, I have insurance....and a deck that needs replacing soon.
    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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  • Paradoxex
    Paradoxex Posts: 189
    To follow up, the seller and my schedule only worked out to pick this up on Saturday past. So I trekked up to Baltimore and picked it up. The unit seems to be in decent condition - scratches on the top from being moved, the important parts and the face plate all in excellent to good condition.

    So we'll see...the guy said it's not been stressed, and he seemed alright. He was nice despite me being 40 minutes late due to the toll gates after the McHenry bridge being less than half-staffed...and he had a child in the car, so he had every right to be upset.

    Thank you mantis for the offer, and everyone else for the perspective. If I need another conditioner in the future, I am likely to reach out, mantis. I'd like to know what else you have, after all!
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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,552
    tonyb wrote: »
    Not me....I plug everything I got in during storms. Light me up baby, I have insurance....and a deck that needs replacing soon.

    Hahaha
    Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R
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  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,287
    tonyb wrote: »
    Not me....I plug everything I got in during storms. Light me up baby, I have insurance....and a deck that needs replacing soon.

    Just the opposite for me, I send my 24yr old son who refuses to move out, out to the back yard to hold 10' ground rod during thunderstorms
    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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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,788
    txcoastal1 wrote: »
    tonyb wrote: »
    Not me....I plug everything I got in during storms. Light me up baby, I have insurance....and a deck that needs replacing soon.

    Just the opposite for me, I send my 24yr old son who refuses to move out, out to the back yard to hold 10' ground rod during thunderstorms

    I can bring my bucket truck over and send him up in that. Increase the odds somewhat.
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  • RamZet
    RamZet Posts: 792
    I have installed well over 100 of these, awesome unit used or new.
    B&W CM9Classé Sigma
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