Anyone using a power conditioner?

[dwell]

I've noticed sparkles and grain in my HD content so I did some research and decided to invest in a power conditioner.

http://catalog.belkin.com/pure...cess?product_id=178914

I am wondering if anyone has experience with one and if I can expect any sort of tangible difference in image quality when using one. I notice my audio is crystal clear so I'm wondering if my power is not the problem as much as just poor service from my cable provider.

Was only $150 shipped so even if there's no signal benefit it can't hurt to have I suppose.

 

[Tiamat]

I bought a Monster HTS 1000 MK2 and it didnt change anything. I got it on sale for 70$ though, so i just kept it as a surge suppressor.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: Tiamat
I bought a Monster HTS 1000 MK2 and it didnt change anything. I got it on sale for 70$ though, so i just kept it as a surge suppressor.

Same here. I live in the sticks and we get surges and drops. No sense in tempting fate with $1000s of dollars worth of equipment.

 

[DBL]

It's snake oil.

 

[Shawn]

Any old UPS will work as a power conditioner.

 

[MrPabulum]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: Tiamat
I bought a Monster HTS 1000 MK2 and it didnt change anything. I got it on sale for 70$ though, so i just kept it as a surge suppressor.

Same here. I live in the sticks and we get surges and drops. No sense in tempting fate with $1000s of dollars worth of equipment.

After watching a surge blow the motherboard on my computer, I wasn't taking any chances on expensive HT equipment. My Panamax does the job well.

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: Shawn
Any old UPS will work as a power conditioner.

and actually do something other than degrade an MOV.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: Shawn
Any old UPS will work as a power conditioner.

UPS' are not recommended for AV gear - they are designed (unless the manufacturer specifically states otherwise) for computer loads.

Large amplifiers - particularly digital switching power supply models - have peak power demands that will damage a PC UPS or cause a serious malfunction with the amp, UPS or both. :Q

Purchase a power conditioner designed for AV use. Furman makes a good one. No rack should be without one.

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: Rubycon

Originally posted by: Shawn
Any old UPS will work as a power conditioner.

UPS' are not recommended for AV gear - they are designed (unless the manufacturer specifically states otherwise) for computer loads.

Large amplifiers - particularly digital switching power supply models - have peak power demands that will damage a PC UPS or cause a serious malfunction with the amp, UPS or both. :Q

Purchase a power conditioner designed for AV use. Furman makes a good one. No rack should be without one.

While I never had any problems with the Journey Keyboard rack we had on the UPS, I did overrate the thing by a significant factor. It only worked once, but man, was it cool to have a fully functioning keyboard system whilst everything else was silent.
I never put a receiver or amp on a UPS, but anything that has crucial settings stored or an internal hard drive gets the UPS treatment.
Besides, if it has a switching power supply and the UPS is rated above the UL plate rating , it will work. Been There, done that.

Voltage regulator?, yes
Power Conditioner?, No. I've had an MOV fail in their products and destroy the entire conditioner by melting insulation on the internal wiring.

Nothing more than an overgrown power strip, most of the Furman "conditioners".....

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: AlienCraft

While I never had any problems with the Journey Keyboard rack we had on the UPS, I did overrate the thing by a significant factor. It only worked once, but man, was it cool to have a fully functioning keyboard system whilst everything else was silent.
I never put a receiver or amp on a UPS, but anything that has crucial settings stored or an internal hard drive gets the UPS treatment.
Besides, if it has a switching power supply and the UPS is rated above the UL plate rating , it will work. Been There, done that.

Voltage regulator?, yes
Power Conditioner?, No. I've had an MOV fail in their products and destroy the entire conditioner by melting insulation on the internal wiring.

Nothing more than an overgrown power strip, most of the Furman "conditioners".....

You have to be careful with amp nameplate ratings! Most rate at 1/8 avg power. This is a LOT lower than the max output! Hence an amp with a 8A at 120V rating can easily draw 40A (or more) from the wall (providing its available). Many SWPS' will either shut the amp down under sags or cry wolf real early with the clip lights. I've seen guys trade up amps because of this only to have it happen even sooner. :Q

The Furman's (the higher rated ones) definitely are a step up from a strip with MOV's. My Karaoke rack was picking up annoying pops and glitches from neighboring offenders and I ordered one to see if it would make a difference. Other "filters" did not but at least this had the ammeter and voltmeter I wanted. I was pleasantly surprised when all the noise was totally gone!

The 20A CB does seem to be sensitive to tripping - I have a pair of QSC PLX3062's plugged in (one is at 2O, the other at 4O) and they pretty much sip power but I can get it to trip playing synth bass notes through the bass amp (2O) very quickly!

 

[silverdj]

They only way you would really benefit from having a power conditioner is if your system is top of the line with lots of power and clarity. But for most people it is just a waste of money. I learned that from the monster rep when he came to my store. Glad that that wasn't a waste of time afterall.

 

[LeiZaK]

Originally posted by: Rubycon

Originally posted by: Shawn
Any old UPS will work as a power conditioner.

UPS' are not recommended for AV gear - they are designed (unless the manufacturer specifically states otherwise) for computer loads.

Large amplifiers - particularly digital switching power supply models - have peak power demands that will damage a PC UPS or cause a serious malfunction with the amp, UPS or both. :Q

Purchase a power conditioner designed for AV use. Furman makes a good one. No rack should be without one.

I picked up that PureAV UPS designed for HT. I've had 2 or 3 brownouts and the tv/dvr/etc. never misses a beat, and won't suffer from a sudden power outage.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: LeiZaK

I picked up that PureAV UPS designed for HT. I've had 2 or 3 brownouts and the tv/dvr/etc. never misses a beat, and won't suffer from a sudden power outage.

For average HT gear the lower ratings of small UPS' are usually fine. Larger amps and particularly larger pro amps bridged or driving 2 ohm loads OTOH won't run correctly on a UPS unless it is very large.

 

[LegendKiller]

I picked up the Belkin PureAV 160 from eCost a while back. My system is below.

Receiver: Pio VSX-82TXS
DVD: Toshiba HD-A2
TV: Toshiba 52HM84 52" DLP
Cable: ADW-3800 IPTV STB
Speakers: Fronts are 3xInfinity Overture1 8" 150w powered sub in each. Rears are Infinity RS-6. HSU 10" powered sub

I have all of the components and the 3 overture 1s, and the HSU hooked into the Belkin. Before and after is that my brightness and color seems a bit better. I had to adjust the color settings again to the VE-HD disc since some of the colors were off. The power in my building is pretty clean since it is a newer building in manhattan. However, it is a taller building and it has been hit by lightning twice in 3 months, so I was a bit worried.

My building hasn't been hit since, but I take some comfort in the build quality and testimonials from owners. If anything this provides a large centralized outlet for pretty much everything I own that goes into the entertainment center.

I don't trust simple power strips or cheap surge protectors. When you go and have sex you don't buy a vending machine condom (at least I don't), you spend a little extra money and make sure you're protected.

 

[themisfit610]

Power conditioners aren't going to do anything for your video image quality. It's a good idea to protect your stuff, especially if you have high end gear, and it can improve audio a bit if you have interference, but that's pretty uncommon.

~MiSfit