How To Best Deal With Voltage Surges?


OK, let's lay out the background:
- In July of last year, I was transferred by my company to Caracas Venezuela. Naturally, I brough my stereo which at the time comprised two Aronov 9100 monoblocks with auto bias circuits.
- Although my system sounded fine in my new digs, the audiophilia nervosa bug compelled me to upgrade my amps to a pair of CJ Premier 8 XS monoblocks - which do NOT have autobiasing. These were a MAJOR improvement over the Aronoxvs...for a about 2 days. On day three, I fried 5 EL34's and one plate fuse upon turn on. One week later, new tubes and fuses ($ 8 each at McMaster Carr!!) arrive, and amps are GREAT...for about one day.On the second day, fry another 5 tubes and plate fuse on same amp, plus two more tubes on other amps.

So..begin to check everything out and find out that the voltage can surge to as high as 140 volts. The CJ's do not like that very much,since a Voltagr surge leads to a big bias current surge on the output tubes. I'm sure the rest of my gear aint happy either, but is unable to complaint as eloquently as the CJ's.

So...I'm in the market for the best voltage regulation I can find. Power conditioning per se is handled quite well in my system by a Marigo Reference unit and Bybee filters for premap and source components, and by Ultimate Outlets for the subs and amps. What I need is a unit that will keep the voltage pretty much at 120 volts. Given the size of the amps, Power PLants arent really an option (too much money, too big). Seems like the Monster AVS2000 or the Exact Power EP15A will do what I want. Would appreciate comments on these or alternative solutions. Thanks!
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Showing 2 responses by alexc

Thanks guys. Yers, the fuses are expensive anyhwere..and not easy to find either. I bought a box of ten just in case. I've done a number of searches on the forums here and at Audioasylum, an do plan to call CJ tomorrow. In XS configuration, the power drops to ~ 130 watts (vs. the 245 watts of the standard version) I basically need a solution that will atleast accomodate hte amps, ideally also my REL subwoofers (a pair of Stratas at 100 watts each), and most idealy the rest of the system (Tact 2.2x, Muse CDP, Pass Xono, and Linn Lingo power supply). The front end components don't draw that much (maybe 100 watts altogether). As for the Tripplite, I've been on their website briefly and could not quite figure out if the woul really keep the output voltsge at 120 plus minus 1 or 2 % like the Monster and ExactPower units claim to do. Wold appreciate more info on this...
All-thanks very much for your input. In the end, I decided to go for an EaxctPower unit. Picked up the original, 2000 watt model on Audiogon this morning. After talking to CJ, this should be enough to hanlde basically my entire system. I hope this takes care of the problem and ha tis is not something else!!