Ye Elders of Power Conditioning

zombie boy 2000

Talk to me about the differences, merits, benefits, flavor, charms, motifs, etc
of the PS Audio Ultimate Outlet (high current) vs the PS Audio UPC-200....

differences in aesthetics aside, what is the difference in function?

Thanks

Emlyn

Exactly the same design except the UPC-200 has two modules inside the box and four sockets. The earlier designed Ultimate Outlet only had one module and two sockets.

zombie boy 2000

So basically... the UPC-200 is two Ultimate Outlets in a single chassis?

Emlyn

Yes. The UPC-200 has a switch on the bottom that can be used to combine the two modules into one high current module for use with very high current amplifiers.

zombie boy 2000

So if I read that correctly... then the UPC-200 is two Ultimate Outlets (standard) i.e. not High Current -- in one chassis? But both can be combined to create a single High Current module?

univera

Emlyn wrote:

Exactly the same design except the UPC-200 has two modules inside the box and four sockets. The earlier designed Ultimate Outlet only had one module and two sockets.

This is how it was explained to me as well yesterday by the seller of my soon to be Anthem pre. This guy is an audio freak and he suggested this piece as well since it was a great deal. I believe he told me it has two high current and two source outlets. He said his buddy has a $2500 conditioner (can't recall the name. Equi-something, I believe) and that his friend felt the PS Audio piece was just as good.

What I want to know is, does this piece protect your equipment from things like lighting, etc ala Panamax or is it more of just a conditioner. Or, does one buy this and connect it to a better surge protective piece. I like the idea that Panamax guarantees their protection. I need to make my move today on these pieces of gear and I have been frozen trying to figure this stuff out.

zombie boy 2000

It's my understanding that there are two Ultimate Outlets -- one being high current (for amps), the other being standard (for CDPs, TVs, etc.). Are the two modules in the UPC-200 chassis standard or high current? I understand that when combined, they are high current... but are they already classified as such individually only to become doubly so when combined?

tryrrthg

My understanding with the UPC-200 (I'm thinking of getting one too) is that both outlets are full/high current even with the dual zone switch on. But if you've got a SERIOUS man amp that eats up electricity then you would run the UPC-200 in high current mode and only have your amp plugged into it.

Am I right here?

Emlyn

Yes.

zombie boy 2000

.... and that's the million dollar question.

Thanks Troy

and thanks Emelyn:)

tryrrthg

univera wrote:

What I want to know is, does this piece protect your equipment from things like lighting, etc ala Panamax or is it more of just a conditioner. Or, does one buy this and connect it to a better surge protective piece. I like the idea that Panamax guarantees their protection. I need to make my move today on these pieces of gear and I have been frozen trying to figure this stuff out.

Nothing will protect your equipment from a lightening strike - that is homeowners insurance territory. ALWAYS unplug your gear during storms no matter what is "protecting" it - better safe than sorry.

tryrrthg

zombie boy 2000 wrote:

.... and that's the million dollar question.

Thanks Troy

No problem, I just hoped I wasn't talking out of my ****.

It should be noted that the "high current" is only as good as your circuit. if your breaker is 15 amps the UPC-200 is only good for 15 amps of current, in other words it's limited by the amount of current your breaker will allow (including all the other electrical devices plugged into that circuit). I hope that makes sense. I'll just shut my **** up now...

zombie boy 2000

Keep rolling cochese....

this is good stuff:)

univera

tryrrthg wrote:

Nothing will protect your equipment from a lightening strike - that is homeowners insurance territory. ALWAYS unplug your gear during storms no matter what is "protecting" it - better safe than sorry.

Yes, but Panamax will insure it themselves. I'm just trying to figure out if this piece offers heavy surge protection or is just a conditioner.

zombie boy 2000

Something tells me Skynut's spidey-sense is tingling... and that he'll be chiming in soon.

Skynut

univera wrote:

Yes, but Panamax will insure it themselves. I'm just trying to figure out if this piece offers heavy surge protection or is just a conditioner.

Panamax insurance is only good if EVERYTHING you have is plugged into it.
Cable, sat, dvd, sub, amps, rcvr, tv, and any other component you have must be plugged in through the panamax unit for the insurance to cover anything.

When I talked to them they told me I would have to add another Panamax because I do not have enough outlets on the single unit for all my stuph.

I decided they would try to void the warrenty no matter how well I was isolated. (my opnion)

In my case I now use the Panamax for my Dvd, sat, tv, rcvr, and XM while I use the UPC-200 for all my high power consumption i.e. amps.

Skynut

zombie boy 2000 wrote:

Something tells me Skynut's spidey-sense is tingling... and that he'll be chiming in soon.

Okay thats funny.

zombie boy 2000

After all Prof.... this is your area of expertise.

Sky...
are you running only one amp into each UPC-200 and nothing else?

F1nut

Everything you need to know about UPC-200's is on PS Audio's site.

http://www.psaudio.com/products/upc200_overview.asp

And yes, they cover your gear if damaged using the UPC-200.

zombie boy 2000

Thanks F1:)

Skynut

zombie boy 2000 wrote:

After all Prof.... this is your area of expertise.

Sky...
are you running only one amp into each UPC-200 and nothing else?

I have two upc-200's plugged into two different outlets.
My Sherbourn has two power cords and one plugs into each ucp-200.
Then my front speakers all have amps in them so they all get plugged into the upc-200's as well as my SVS sub.
All 8 of my upc-200 outlets are being used for amps.

jm1

univera wrote:

This is how it was explained to me as well yesterday by the seller of my soon to be Anthem pre. This guy is an audio freak and he suggested this piece as well since it was a great deal. I believe he told me it has two high current and two source outlets. He said his buddy has a $2500 conditioner (can't recall the name. Equi-something, I believe) and that his friend felt the PS Audio piece was just as good.

What I want to know is, does this piece protect your equipment from things like lighting, etc ala Panamax or is it more of just a conditioner. Or, does one buy this and connect it to a better surge protective piece. I like the idea that Panamax guarantees their protection. I need to make my move today on these pieces of gear and I have been frozen trying to figure this stuff out.

The product the person tried was Equitech.

For what its worth, I have tried the Ultimate Outlet, P300 and balanced power. I choose balanced power for the entire system. I found it to have the most benefits BUT the price of admission is much higher.

tryrrthg

univera wrote:

Yes, but Panamax will insure it themselves.

reminds me of a good scene from Tommy Boy

Tommy: Let's think about this for a sec, Ted, why would somebody put a guarantee on a box? Hmmm, very interesting.

Ted Nelson, Customer: Go on, I'm listening.

Tommy: Here's the way I see it, Ted. guy puts a fancy guarantee on a box 'cause he wants you to fell all warm and toasty inside.

Ted Nelson, Customer: Yeah, makes a man feel good.

Tommy: 'Course it does. Why shouldn't it? Ya figure you put that little box under your pillow at night, the Guarantee Fairy might come by and leave a quarter, am I right, Ted?

Ted Nelson, Customer: What's your point?

Tommy: The point is, how do you know the fairy isn't a crazy glue sniffer? "Building model airplanes" says the little fairy, well, we're not buying it. He sneaks into your house once, that's all it takes. The next thing you know, there's money missing off the dresser and your daughter's knocked up, I seen it a hundred times.

Ted Nelson, Customer: But why do they put a guarantee on the box?

Tommy: Because they know all they solda ya was a guaranteed piece of ****. That's all it is, isn't it? Hey, if you want me to take a dump in a box and mark it guaranteed, I will. I got spare time. But for now, for your customer's sake, for your daughter's sake, ya might wanna think about buying a quality product from me.

Ted Nelson, Customer: [pause] Okay, I'll buy from you.

Tommy: Well, that's... What?

Not to say that Panamax is a guaranteed piece of ****, just saying that warranties like that are often VERY limited...

zombie boy 2000

Pretty freakin' funny:D

Early B.

My UPC-200 just arrived on my doorstep!!

Let me test it out and I'll get back to you.

zombie boy 2000

Early B. wrote:

My UPC-200 just arrived on my doorstep!!

Let me test it out and I'll get back to you.

I love these moments of serendipity...

Congrats Early.... don't delay:)

Early B.

OK, I hooked the UPC-200 up to my CDP and int. tube amp and popped in one of my reference CDs to get an initial impression. My first reaction was very positive. There was an immediate difference in sound. I heard some stunning detail I had never heard before. Phenomenal! The sound is also cleaner than it was before.

OK, here's the other side of the equation. The verdict is still out on the bass. At first listen, it appears as though the bass has diminished slightly. Also, music sounds a bit blander than before. The best way to describe it is like when new tubes are introduced in your system and they sometimes sound bland, at first, with weak bass. The manual says allow for 24 hours of break-in. I'm guessing once the unit runs for a while, the bass and fullness will return.

I also ordered a PS Audio power cord to replace the stick 14 ga. cord on the unit. I'm also using PS Audio power cords on my equipment.

The UPC-200 replaces a $40 Tripp Lite Isobar.

I'll report back in a week or so.

zombie boy 2000

Thanks Early... give her some more playtime and the bass will probably settle in.

Look forward to hearing more...

univera

tryrrthg wrote:

reminds me of a good scene from Tommy Boy

Not to say that Panamax is a guaranteed piece of ****, just saying that warranties like that are often VERY limited...

Agreed. I'm not trying to have wood for Panamax, I have been looking for feedback for quite some time and hadn't really gotten what I was looking for. Essentially, is Panamax like Monster in that it is in the big box stores therefore is well known but not necessarily the shite. The idea of non-current limiting makes sense to me, and I have yet to determine if Panamax falls into that category. In my scenario, I will be running two or three heavy duty amps, and I want them to be fully available.

Early B.

Oh, I forgot to mention -- I tried my UPC-200 in dual zone and in high current mode and couldn't tell the difference. I'll try again in a few days. According to the manual, I should use the dual zone feature.

Skynut

I like the build quality of my Panamax but it did fault out on me once and freaked me out. I was playing a test tone cd I burned off the internet and the panamax shut down the bank the cd player was plugged into.
I had to un plug the Panamax for a while for it to reset.
This is when I called them to find out why it happened. They had no idea but were quick to tell me the warrenty was no good because my SVS was plugged into the wall and not their conditioner.

I opted to buy the upc-200's instead of another Panamax because I figure they will find a way out of paying a claim anyway. (just my opnion).

I did a quick shootout here if anyone is interested.