UPS for Home Theatre sysem - good or bad idea?

[JeffS]

I've got a UPS sitting upstairs unused right now that just needs some new
batteries. It's an APC Back Ups Pro 1000. I've been thinking abou putting
this on my TV and Stereo to help avoid problems with the local power
company that keeps sending too much and too little down the line. My lights
flicker at least once a day usually more. (Yes I paid the bill, and no I'm not haunted).

I've read on here in the past about square waves being bad for audio, and
that the ups I'm planning to use of course puts out a square or stepped wave
pattern in the power line. How will the negatively impact my setup.

In all fairness, it's not really a nice setup... Bookshelf system with suround,
being fed by the TV, SAT, DVD, etc. I'm mainly hoping to not make things
worse. If it will get better, that's terrific.

Any thoughts or recomendations?

thanks
-Jeff

 

[Nospam]

Try it out and let us know what you think.

 

[grawk]

I'd say a GOOD ups is an ok idea, but most of em (with the square wave) would sound pretty awful

 

[greyhorse]

For gentle sags and over-voltage conditions, those APC UPSs only go into Boost or Trim mode, and simply act as a step up/down transformer. With the additional passive filtering that's built into them, I've heard some people mentioning positive results from using a UPS to run their audio equipment.

The problem would be if the voltage changes suddenly (surges, spikes), or if it wanders fairly often. A sudden change in the line voltage causes them to momentarily go into battery mode, then either return to on-line (pass-thru) or trim/boost operation. The older UPSs also used to go into battery mode every time they changed from on-line to trim/boost from what I recall, so each time you'd get the unwanted stepped-wave output. The newer Smart UPS line no longer seems to do this, but I'm not sure about the Back UPS line.

Sorry I couldn't be more sure of what I'm writing; It's been a while since I used one of them.

 

[bg4533]

I have a BackUPS Pro 1100 that powers my computer and headphone gear. I hear no difference whether the headphone stuff is plugged into the wall or the UPS.

Make sure any UPS you use can supply adequate power. A large television, powerful stereo and other components can draw a lot of power.

 

[JeffS]

Thanks for the info
I'm glad somebody on here has used a UPS from the same family.

It's only a 27" Sony TV, and a cheap Aiwa shelf system. I'll check the
actual power requirements for all combined things though prior to the
final setup.

But if you're not noticing any real difference, then I think buying the new
batts for it will be worth it over a brand new UPS.

-Jeff

 

[Nightfall]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffS Thanks for the info I'm glad somebody on here has used a UPS from the same family. It's only a 27" Sony TV, and a cheap Aiwa shelf system. I'll check the actual power requirements for all combined things though prior to the final setup. But if you're not noticing any real difference, then I think buying the new batts for it will be worth it over a brand new UPS. -Jeff

JeffS


I use an APC UPS for the "digital/expensive" components of my home theater, but if I attach it to even a 32 inch television it literally starts screeching. Now you may be okay, but I suspect it simply cant handle a tv load. This also happened with another brand I tried, so be careful.


JC

 

[bg4533]

Nightfall,
What model and size is your UPS?