Need advise in buying a power conditioner

jolax73

I am looking to buy a power conditioner. Can anyone recommend what is a good brand and does not cost arms and legs? I heard APC is a good buy, or is there any other brand? Any specific model I should buy? Please advise.

kawizx9r

Panamax in my experience proved to be very reliable, although I just sold it to a fellow polkie on here. Let me dig up a thread of mine to help you better make your choice.

-Freddy

concealer404

I have an APC H15, and i see no reason to upgrade. It DID make a sonic difference, and looks pretty nifty down there. The peace of mind is kindof nice, too.

The H10 can often be found for about $100, and is a great buy, in my opinion.

Unfortunately, i have no experience with any other units, so i can't help there, sorry.

kawizx9r

This helped someone else out less than a month ago, whether or not it'll help you I'm not sure but here. - http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=85831

Pauly

Im using a Belking PF30 and has done a decent job thus far. There is one cheap over in the FS section


http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=89593


Pauly

sTiLlLeArNiNg

Having owned/used both a power "conditioner" and a "regenerator" both of which are Monster product's, i can honestly say the money is better spent on a regenerator Has something to do with a regenerator taking dirty voltage from the wall, converting it and making it a clean + steady 120v

I noticed the hts5100 robbed me of my mid's/high's

Serendipity

I'm using an APC and very happy with the results.

I tried a Monster and wasn't satisifed though.

jolax73

appadv wrote: »

I'm using an APC and very happy with the results.

I tried a Monster and wasn't satisifed though.

Why were you not satisified?

jolax73

concealer404 wrote: »

I have an APC H15, and i see no reason to upgrade. It DID make a sonic difference, and looks pretty nifty down there. The peace of mind is kindof nice, too.

The H10 can often be found for about $100, and is a great buy, in my opinion.

Unfortunately, i have no experience with any other units, so i can't help there, sorry.

What is the difference between H10 and H15? Will the H10 be sufficient for my HT setup?

concealer404

jolax73 wrote: »

What is the difference between H10 and H15? Will the H10 be sufficient for my HT setup?

I believe it's just the total amount of "power" or "current" or whatever it can "condition."

The number 750,000 is sticking in my head for the H15, and 500,000 for the H10. What the unit is? I'm not sure.

I can look it up later for you, though, if someone else can't chime in better than I. I'm not real great with the technical aspects of all this.

But yes, the H10 should be fine for your HT setup.

anhchungdoan

Go to Vann's web-site. There is enough spec to help you with your decision making. If your voltage fluctuates quite a bit, either the H10 or H15 would be more than sufficient. I like the way they have 3 modes +/- voltage protection.

The "silver" H10 has been discontinued and was selling @ $99.00 for sometimes which was a steal. There are some on E-bay but they want more than $99.00.

I have received 2 APC C5 silver form Vann's for $39.00 a piece. I use the C5 for my DVD and BR players. Some protection is better than none.

I have been using the Monster HTS1000 MK III which is very sufficient but too sensitive with the T-storm and lighting in my area this time of the year. It did its job by shut the whole system down twice last month and I am glad it did so.

Serendipity

jolax73 wrote: »

Why were you not satisified?

The Monster did not filter the power as well as the APC.

jolax73

I wonder if I can plug all my 1500watt amp, 50" plasma TV, an AVR and DVD player into one power conditioner such as Belkin PF30 or APC H10? Will it be able to handle it if there is really a power surge? What specs should I be looking at in order to make sure it serves my needs. Thanks!

lakesailor

For the money the APC H10 and H15 simply cannot be beat. I run a Chang Litespeed and tried an APC in a second system and really it is all you need at 1/2 the price of everything else.

anhchungdoan

jolax73 wrote: »

I wonder if I can plug all my 1500watt amp, 50" plasma TV, an AVR and DVD player into one power conditioner such as Belkin PF30 or APC H10? Will it be able to handle it if there is really a power surge? What specs should I be looking at in order to make sure it serves my needs. Thanks!

As far as surge protection , the APC H10, Monster, Panamax would do the job just fine. Do not go too much in debate that we lead you to more confusion. Don't worry abt MOV's exploded on you. I have never had one caught on fire or exploded on me for the last 30 some years.

Read the Manufactures recommendation of the total ampere usage and do not overload the power surge unit. I would not plug the TV in the same unit with the rest of my system but it is just me.

Most power surge will have some kind of filtering build in as side benefit. Even the co called none- MOVs " Brickwall". Some can hear the difference, some cannot depending on how "dirty" your current is.

The most praised power conditioner is the Shunyata but I would not touch it with the H/T application. Too expensive for some Kaboom and explosion scennes. For critical 2 channel analog listening, I would.

Get the H10 and go to sleep with a peace of mind. I have no affiliate with Vann's but with my past experience with them, I highly recommend them.

jolax73

So you are saying, the TV should not be plugged in together with the amp and avr to the same power conditioner?

mufsoman

Ok, I'm kinda embarrassed to ask this, but.......how does a Monster PowerBar 1100 compare to a APC H10/H15. Do I need to consider an upgrade? Will I hear any difference? thanks

anhchungdoan

jolax73 wrote: »

So you are saying, the TV should not be plugged in together with the amp and avr to the same power conditioner?[/Q

No, I never said that. I prefer to hook up my Tv to another powersurge . As long as , you do not overload the surge protection, you are fine.

TouchOfEvil

eventually i might get a surge protector...for now it's gonna have to wait.:eek:

heiney9

sTiLlLeArNiNg wrote: »

Having owned/used both a power "conditioner" and a "regenerator" both of which are Monster product's, i can honestly say the money is better spent on a regenerator Has something to do with a regenerator taking dirty voltage from the wall, converting it and making it a clean + steady 120v

I noticed the hts5100 robbed me of my mid's/high's

Because M* products suck. To the OP stay away from M* products......you gear will thank you.

H9

sTiLlLeArNiNg

heiney9 wrote: »

Because M* products suck. To the OP stay away from M* products......you gear will thank you.

H9

I wouldn't say they suck, just have thing's in the wrong place If i knew a lil' more about electronic's i'd try to mod the 5100 but i don't so i can only imagine modifying it lol TBH I think the ferrite core's on the inside of the receptacle's are what kill's the audio but hey what do i know? I'm only a beer drinkin', street hockey playin' Canadian hoser! Back to my IGLOO i go

PS The avs2000 work's mint!

skipf

I'm using a Belkin PF60 and really like it. If you buy it from an authorized dealer, it comes with a lifetime warranty too.

SolidSqual

Any of the PS Audio products will help you significantly depending on your price range.

inspiredsports

1 APC Brand H10 on the hi-fi gear, and 8 assorted APC Battery Backups on Computers, Cable Boxes and Plasma sets with absolutely no complaints. The H10 was a nice sonic improvement when installed.

digitalvideo

Best power conditioners on the market are the Balanced Power Technology line (BPT)

www.b-p-t.com

www.6moons.com/audioreviews/bpt4/plus.html

anhchungdoan

heiney9 wrote: »

Because M* products suck. To the OP stay away from M* products......you gear will thank you.

H9

Sorry to hear that you disaprove the Monster. I believe they will do what they supposed to do by design as a power surge protection just the pricing is little high.

I use Monster products on my H/T system that I bought over E-bay at 1/2 MSRP and I am not ashamed using them. On my 2 channel analog, I go to a diifferent route with 20A dedicated lines and Furman products.

If you want HI-END, go to Shunyata and Bryston web-site and get the one of the best and forget about all the low-end/mid-end hypes. Money can buy happiness in this case.

inspiredsports

digitalvideo wrote: »

Best power conditioners on the market are the Balanced Power Technology line (BPT)

www.b-p-t.com

www.6moons.com/audioreviews/bpt4/plus.html

Dang, those things give me power supply envy . . .

inspiredsports

jolax73 wrote: »

What is the difference between H10 and H15? Will the H10 be sufficient for my HT setup?

Purchased from a CP member a month ago . . .

My first impressions are 100% favorable (and I'm going to be more relaxed as I leave my solid state gear powered up 24/7 and used to worry during electrical storms when I was away or sleeping).

Before I firmed up the buy from criverajr, I went directly to apc.com and downloaded the specs into an Excel spreadsheet to make side-by-side comparisons.

In the specs, there were only 5 differences, and 2 were in FAVOR OF THE H10 and one was the weight which is a moot point.

--- The H10 comes WITH a 10' power cord whereas the H15 has no cord provided.
--- The H10 operates from 5-113 degrees F and the H15 from a narrower range of 32-104 degrees F.
--- H10 wieghs 16.1 lbs and H15 weighs 16.7 lbs.
--- H10 is $50,000 equipment protection warranty and H15 is $75,000 (USD)
--- H10 is 49498 Joules (140kAmps) and H15 is 5270 Joules (160kAmps)

Unless you require the extra 272 Joules, the H10 is a screaming bargain.

heiney9

anhchungdoan wrote: »

Sorry to hear that you disaprove the Monster. I believe they will do what they supposed to do by design as a power surge protection just the pricing is little high.

I use Monster products on my H/T system that I bought over E-bay at 1/2 MSRP and I am not ashamed using them. On my 2 channel analog, I go to a diifferent route with 20A dedicated lines and Furman products.

If you want HI-END, go to Shunyata and Bryston web-site and get the one of the best and forget about all the low-end/mid-end hypes. Money can buy happiness in this case.

No money doesn't have to be the only way to happiness. Staying away from M* products is the way to sure happiness. Yes, we all know they are over priced, but even if they were free they still come up short.

H9

heiney9

inspiredsports wrote: »

Purchased from a CP member a month ago . . .

My first impressions are 100% favorable (and I'm going to be more relaxed as I leave my solid state gear powered up 24/7 and used to worry during electrical storms when I was away or sleeping).

Before I firmed up the buy from criverajr, I went directly to apc.com and downloaded the specs into an Excel spreadsheet to make side-by-side comparisons.

In the specs, there were only 5 differences, and 2 were in FAVOR OF THE H10 and one was the weight which is a moot point.

--- The H10 comes WITH a 10' power cord whereas the H15 has no cord provided.
--- The H10 operates from 5-113 degrees F and the H15 from a narrower range of 32-104 degrees F.
--- H10 wieghs 16.1 lbs and H15 weighs 16.7 lbs.
--- H10 is $50,000 equipment protection warranty and H15 is $75,000 (USD)
--- H10 is 49498 Joules (140kAmps) and H15 is 5270 Joules (160kAmps)

Unless you require the extra 272 Joules, the H10 is a screaming bargain.

H15 has a digital display as well. You can;t beat them with a stick if you buy one for less than retail. Great product at a great at a great price! Not the be all and end all of power conditioning/regulating but they perform beyond their price point

H9

anhchungdoan

Here you go. Good job. It's $179.00 Vs $249.00 in black. For those who like to tweak around with Power Cords, H15 is a way to go if you have extra money to experiment different Power Cords. Maximum current input 12A Vs 15A , detachable power cord Vs attachable power cord. If you still can get the Silver H10 for $99.00 NIB ( discontinued) and can live with the Silver Color,the H10 for $99.00 NIB is a steal.