Power Conditioning on the Cheap

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.

@erik_squires +1 No need to spend a ton of money and dedicated lines are great (I have 4) but you are right, only keeps you off the household grid.

@pesky_wabbit 

despite claims of elaborate filtration all they contained was a varistor and a capacitor

Not surprised, a lot of products consist of normal stuff in a fancy box.  After you install your dedicated lines, if you want to spend just a little money for protection and filtration, check out the Jon Risch ac filter described here and here.  I made two of them years ago and they continue to work great.  Take Five Audio in Canada used to offer a kit for this.  Unfortunately, I could no longer find the original links but you might ask around on audio asylum.

Underwood HIFi has a line of lower cost power conditioners and offers a trial period.

I am personally a fan of the Garth Powell units (Furman and Audioquest) that have storage in the unit for more power than the line can deliver for transients.
While I use the Niagara 7000 in home system to great effect, I needed to put together another much cheaper system and found a very old Furman reference 15 for sale. It’s pretty much the same as the current reference 15i units sold now except for cosmetics.

I just noticed a Furman reference 20 on flea bay for 800 obo.  I would imagine it would blow away even an Niagara 1200.  

Brick Wall offers a couple of power conditioners/protection. I can’t say about the improvement in sound, because I am just using one for my computer.

To my liking are the old BPT power isolation transformers, which were rated high over the need for current in many systems. The one that I bought many years ago had 6 secondary windings electrostatic shields for each winding, and also produced balanced power in the output. Each secondary is rated at 10 amps, but the primary is also rated for 10 amps, so that must be taken into consideration.

Got to admit to using Richard Gray products in the past but think that more than one needs to be considered.

A close second in my experience is an old PS Audio P300. I have one coming in Wednesday that has been thoroughly rebuilt by a good friend of mine who used to consult for Sudgen in Europe. I consider the extra money spent on the rebuild rather worth it. I have owned these units (the P300 in particular) like what they do given their limitations. Almost always used for source equipment.