Power Conditioning / Surge Protection - Page 3

I have a Tice Solo a/v same as mskeen. Maybe I have really clean juice where I live, as I can't hear any difference without it. Of course I can hit the substation I'm on, with a rock, from my front door I'm so close. And if you read this mskeen, The Solo has two rivets that have to be drilled out to remove the cover. Don't bother doing it, you will be disappointed. A few inductors, a handefull of caps and a couple MOV's.

Yeah,

I've been looking at some of the equipment that PS Audio sells (found the link at Audio Asylum). I'm wondering if the Ultimate Outlet will provide me any benefit (their other products costs considerably more..$1200+). One thing I've noticed is that my monitor (22" Mitsubishi) has quite a bit of distortion (wierd waves flickering across the screen). This is also the case with my 19" viewsonice. If this is, indeed, a fault of my power supply it must be making an negative impact on my audio equipment as well.

I have to get some sort of surge surpression anyway so I ordered a Brick Wall. The little dinky surge protector I currently have in front of my audio equpment isn't the most reassuring and certainly doesn't provide isolation.

Jude, where is your discussion about balanced power on Audio Asylum? I would like to follow it but I can't seem to find it.

- pearle

*slaps head*

Didn't notice the Tweakers Asylum

Thanks Jude

Tripp-lite IBR-12.

Noise Suppression; BASIC (6 outlets): @20KHz - 20db, @1MHz - 40db. ENHANCED (4 outlets): @20KHz - 40db, @1MHz - 75db.

Can't complain, it was free.

Thanks Budgie

I went to take my Tice apart, found those rivets and just decided to leave them in. Kinda makes you wonder why they put them there? I think you just explained it with your description of the inside.

I will say this though. Where I am when my neighbor's air conditioning kicks on it makes my lights dim for a second but I can't hear it through my stereo. So I think the Tice helps somewhat but I haven't tried it without it either.

I would like to pick up a PS Audio P300 to see if that changes anything. There are a couple drawbacks to the buying the P300 for me though. 1) I don't have dealer nearby to buy and take it back if it doesn't help (and ordering direct costs me too much shipping if I decide to return it), 2) The cost is way to high for me, and 3) Used might be cheaper but what about warranty service if I need it. Has anyone gone over to Audiogon.com and looked at how many used P300's there are for sale in the classifed section of the Power catagory? That too makes me question buying one.

Have you looked into PS Audio's Ultimate Outlet?

- pearle

sorry for dragging up a very old thread but i didn't really wanted to create a new one.

I been looking at surge protections/filters when I came across APC voltage regulator.

I understand most UPS are considered bad in its ability to construct sine waves but how about a computer voltage regulator? has anyone have any experience or comment on why this may not be a good surge/filter for audio.

btw i live in australia so many of the other power product discussed can not be used.

Harmonic discord had a great discussion of it.
http://www.harmonicdiscord.com/forum...ic=606&forum=5

I have been using a Brickwall Surge suppressor for years. They are wonderful units. I don't care what the price is, MOV based units cannot match the series mode suppressors, and I don't care what their brand is or how much they cost.

Many "power conditioners" condition your wallet to make it thinner, without any real value except the false confidence a high price and pretty box provide.

I did notice an improvement in sound immediately when I installed my Brickwall. I did not expect anything like that, but perhaps it was my imagination.

NO noise comes into my system through the Brickwall. Used to have various noises, but now, none.

Everyone who has any good set of electronics should use Brickwall. It also gives outstanding EMI filtering, because the main component is a big inductor/choke. Every house creates spikes that can damage electronics. A/C, fridge, anything with a motor especially. If you are in an apartment, you are also getting everyone elses spikes from their stuff.

A $250 unit may be pricy for someone with just a small headphone setup. But think of the value of it if you get one failure due to a spike. This is also just about a lifetime investment. Not much in the BW to fail.

One weakness of BW filters: hot line protection only. Neutral is not protected.

Worthwhile device.

Jon Risch Power Conditioner

This is possibly a cheaper alternative:

http://www.geocities.com/jonrisch/surge.htm

Which Brick Wall are you guys using? The model 8r15 seems to be the way to go, but it is only US$190.

- Jeff

I don't think regular computer power backups are suitable for audio. They are just boxes to supply power for a computer in case of power failure (or have over or under voltage protection)
with a touch of surge suppression. They are not too hot on surge protection or "conditioning". Also, the output waveform is not great stuff for audio power transformers. And most power backup units cannot supply real power for big amps. I won't put one on my system.

For your audio gear you want current and PROTECTION. The Brickwall absolutely stomps most computer power units in surge suppression and filtering.

But anything you put between your audio gear and the wall power socket will limit power. To get a decent regulator it will have to be huge, heavy, and very very expensive. And this does not necessarily provide EMI filtering and surge suppression.

I have a "network" of power to my living room systems. Everything goes through one Brickwall unit. Then to a very high capacity 1500 joule big MOV type surge suppressor unit. Then it splits to two more surge suppressors, one for audio, one for video. I have no problems with power or sound, but my power amp is about 150 watts RMS per channel.

I think using computer power backup units for audio, well, is a no no.

If you are unable to get a Brickwall unit (Brickwall resells the units under their name, I forget the parent companies name) in your country check around for "series mode surge suppressors".

If you have a lot of brownouts or power problems, and can't get a good conditioner or even a regulator or battery backup, you could buy or make a little box with a relay and a reset button that would disconnect power from your system if the voltage cuts out for a brief period or a serious brownout. If the power is going to fluctuate for a few seconds or minutes, best to let it stay off anyway.

There are also non battery type of ac voltage regulators. I remember a long time ago a "Sola" brand that was like that. It was reasonably priced, and went up to high capacities.

i agree with UPS being unsuitable but the APC Voltage Regulator is not a power backup but a voltage regulator/conditioner.
power wouldnt be a major deterent as its main purpose is to power and protect the cd player and the headphone amp, more importantly to provide clean power without noises.

I think you are right in your assessment in that it would not be very effective or cost worthy for audio gear. i'd probably end up purchasing a power board(zapcatcher) with filtering and protection instead.