Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Power Conditioners for Audio Equipment?

This is topic Power Conditioners for Audio Equipment? in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://ft-forum.com/ft/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=008683

Posted by Joshua Waaland (Member # 287) on 05-01-2007, 11:17 PM:

I have been considering buying a few Furman power conditioners for my audio equipment. I went into a professional audio store today and they suggested a Monster brand power conditioner over the Furman. He told me that there is a definite weight difference in the Monster when you pick it up. It is heavier since it has bigger transformers inside. It has 12 plugs instead of 8 and also switches certain outlets on with a time delay to prevent the amplifier thud that comes during power up.

Monster PRO 3500

I have long been a critic (like Joe Redifer) of Monster products. You know that anything that Best Buy pushes that is completely overpriced must be a gimmick.

What are your thoughts on best power conditioner brands out there? What do you think of this one?

I have also read that some amplifier manufacturers do not recommend you plugging the amp into a power conditioner because it limits the power. Is this true? I have QSC 1400 amps. Do you think it would be okay to plug these into a conditioner or better just to leave it on a regular AC line?

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 05-02-2007, 08:13 AM:

Of course I hate anything to do with Monster products, look for past threads on Monster.

Weight alone doesn't tell you anything unless you are comparing apples to apples. Both companies make comparable transformer based conditioners. Its also possible that one company uses a toroid and one may be using an E-I core tranny. A toroid based unit will weigh less than its E-I counter part but will be far more efficient!

If you run your amps off a conditioner that has a built in tranny then its going to have to be quite a bit larger than your total load with all your 1400's running at full power into 4 ohms, in other words the conditioner is going to have to be able to supply about 30% more cutrrent than the total load you may be applying so that it doesn't either burn up or blow its fuse.

You won't find any Monster stuff in any pro systems, its home stuff. Pro's pretty much stick with Furman. That should tell you something.....

Mark

Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 05-02-2007, 12:48 PM:

I've have hundreds of racks with Surgex protection on the processor, monitor, crossover, digital adapters. Available for 110 & 220VAC situations. Tripplite ISOBAR boxes are not bad for quick and easy projects. [Smile]

Monster

Posted by Samuel Hynds (Member # 2610) on 05-04-2007, 12:46 PM:

Use the Power Conditioner for all of your gear but the amplifier.
Most amplifiers have a beefy power supply - that can handle most power issues; as well as noise on the line.

Plus a power conditioner could limit the amount of current that a power amplifier may need to drive its load.

Sam Hynds
Cinema Specialist - Cinema
QSC Audio Products, Inc.