Power conditioners


I just came across a new product made by Belkin as a power conditioner called pure A/V and want to know if anyone has any experience with the power conditioner? I heard of Monster conditioners but also heard they were not that good in sound by robbing the dynamics. JIM
jimman
HI Razaroff,
Nice to hear about the improvements of the unit, Have you any experience with other units? I do like the looks of the PF60, Can you adjust the filters? and it has a high current plug for AMPS, do you use this option?
This is the first real power conditioner I have had in my system, as previously I used only surge protectors.
The filters in the PF60 are not directly adjustable, and I don't think thay should be; the circuits are already optimized to reduce line noise and various sorts of interference.
The PF60 has 2 high current plugs (on a single filter bank) for amps, which I am using for the BASH 850W monoblock subwoofer amps in my Infinity 4.1t's. Since these amps only cut in below maybe 45 Hz, I can't honestly say I can tell any difference, I don't think my ear is well trained enough to know what to look for, and the bass was already pretty darn tight...
I keep my primary monoblock amps (Goldmund Job 150's) plugged straight into the wall using PS Audio Xstream power cables, which is what both the mfg and all others who are 'in the know' I have consulted agree upon.
What I have learned so far though, through talking to folks who understand the electronics, is that the low amperage and digital front end components get the major benefit from power conditioning. Big transformers in power amps tend to eliminate low levels of line noise by their inherent operation. (I hope some other sympathetic goner can expand on this for me as well...)
I tried the PS Audio and Panamax with my Naim CDX...both killed the sound, the PS Audio robbing all the detail and darkening the sound, the Panamax destroying the soundstage. On a whim, I bought a Belkin AV Master...wow...fully restored detail and dynamics...sounds like a statement product and makes the CDX shine. You can buy one of these at Home Depot for $75...I now own two,and each time I purchased one, it was the last one in inventory in Monroe, NY...apparently, the word is getting out. It is an amazing product!
I'm a brand new convert to the camp of power conditioning enthusiasts. In my previous home, the power must've been very good because I never heard any difference at all when adding power conditioning to the mix. However, my new home is pathetic in terms of power quality. I just purchased a Monster AVS 2000 and wow, what a difference! It's been connected for just a few days and the constant flow of stable power seems to be improving things every time I listen. Such things are very dependent upon the state of the individual listening environment but this appears to be just the ticket for my system.
I've got a Monster 5100 Signature Series, and have been quite pleased with it in terms of reduced noise floor and improved dynamics.

Pretty much everyone and their dog has gotten into the power conditioning business, and there's way more to choose from than even three years ago.

I suspect that some people who've had negative experiences with power conditioners choking off their sound quality didn't add up how many watts their system draws, versus how much the power conditioner is capable of sustaining. It's worth doing the math, for sure.