Power conditioners around $500


Does anyone have any thoughts on power conditioners in the $500 range (new or used)? For years I've been using an old Panamax 1000 and I think it's time to take a step up.

A few months ago I borrowed a PS Audio Quintet and I didn't like it at all. It etched the instruments razor tight, which seemed to deaden the air around the instruments and also seemed to exaggerate the separation between instruments. It seemed to suck the life out of the music. The Quintet had been on consignment at the local shop, so I am just assuming that it had been properly run in, but that might not be true.

I read a review of the Shunyata Guardian on Positive Feedback, and the reviewer mentions the same etching effect. PS Audio Power Center 3000 looks nice on paper. So does Furman. Does anyone have experience comparing these machines? I'm not running power-hungry equipment, just an integrated amp, DAC, and CDP.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
rfprice

Showing 3 responses by rfprice

Blue Circle, eh? Never heard of it. I wonder if I will regret the lack of surge protection.
Hi guys, I've been away for a while. Thanks for all the recommendations. I got a great deal on a Dectet, so I went with it. I can't find anything to dislike about it yet, and frankly I haven't had much time to really do a critical evaluation. (I bought a new PWD DAC II at the same time that I bought the Dectet. Ironically, as usual, I haven't had much time to really enjoy either.)

Pauly, I doff my hat to those brave few who build their own electronics.