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Power Conditioning on the Cheap

This is my first post here after a bit of lurking, so please be gentle.  I realize this subject must come up a fair amount and I've read erik_squires blog posts on the subject, but I was hoping to get the community's opinion on the relative merits of a few relatively basic power conditioners.  I've narrowed my list down to a few options at a range of (fairly modest) price points.  From low to high they are:

Furman PST-8D

ifi Power Station

Furman Elite-15 PF I

Shunyata PS10 w/ Venom Defender

Audioquest Niagara 1200

In a perfect world where I didn't have a limited budget I would probably buy something higher up the line from Shunyata, but since we live in a decidedly imperfect world, these are my options, although I would welcome other suggestions that fit within this price range.

I should also probably mention that while I value subjective reports on the sound quality of various products, generally speaking I give more weight to objective measurements or at least arguments based in sound science.  More embarrassingly, I also place a certain amount of value on aesthetics.  Aesthetic taste being inherently subjective, (a debatable point, but for the sake of argument lets just assume that it's true) lets just say that when I lust after completely unobtainable equipment it tends to be from companies like Soulution or Pilium rather than Dan D'Agostino or darTZeel.

incorporeus

Showing 3 responses by erik_squires

erik_squires
16,644 posts
 

Furman makes a lot of units at different price points. The key features that step them up from just a couple of MOV’s in a box:

  • LiFT
  • SMP

If they don't have this you are right, they are really basic.

erik_squires
16,644 posts
 

Forgot two details about the Furman Elite 15i:

  • Detachable IEC power cable
  • Hospital grade outlets

 

erik_squires
16,644 posts
 

Let me talk about what I’m most familiar with. The difference between the Furman PST-8D and Elite 15i (which I own) is mostly in convenience features.

Both offer active noise removal (LiFT) and top end surge protection and noise filtering (SMP). The Elite adds:

  • Power factor correction, which can help improve current/power delivery
  • 12V trigger switched outlets
  • 4 independently filtered banks

Both are actually tested as surge protectors. I live in South Carolina, and we get serious thunderstorms here. The idea that I am going to let my precious gear connect directly to the incoming power without surge protection is absurd, never going to happen. I’ve already lost an unprotected laptop last year. Sometimes these storms sneak up on you too, so the counter argument that I should always unplug gear during a storm isn’t that worthwhile. I could be asleep or miles and miles away.

The other idea I see floated around is that somehow having a dedicated line (a good idea) makes you immune from noise and power problems. No, it only reduces how susceptible you are to noise in your house, somewhat, and with a heavy enough gauge may help minimize voltage sag.  That is, what sag you have control over. The idea that the transformer outside on a pad or up a pole is "ideal" is one I will never ever comprehend.

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