It's not a money thing. Get a whole house surge protector and be done with it. <$500 installed. Just keep in mind NOTHING will stop a lightning strike except physically unplugging your equipment.
Surge protectors--how many $ make sense?
My power went out during the LA fires. A power spike blew my preamp's fuse even though it was plugged into an ancient Monster transformer surge protector. So, I need to buy something to plug my gear into. The prices, however, range from a few hundred dollars to many thousands of dollars. Surge protectors have never been at the top of my list of equipment to buy, but I think it's time.
I have a fairly expensive system, about $75K, consisting of VPI Prime Signature turntable, ARC PH-7 phono preamp, McCormack CD (universal disc), Pass XP 30 preamp, Moon streamer, and Hovland Radia amp. New equipment mixed in with old, but all very good stuff. I've never compared surge protectors. So, how little can I spend on a surge protector without disrespecting my previous investment?
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This Belkin surge protector is the one to get. About $43 from Amazon.
4320 Joules of protection. A sensible and easy choice to make. |
Some years ago, a lightning strike got in via my dog's "invisible fence". No protection anywhere. Blew fence's transformer off wall and just past my head. Distroyed my PC's motherboard and something in my Bryston amp. Sent still under 20 yr warranty amp to Bryston but forgot to tell them what happened. The tech called, and asked. I mentioned the ligthning strike and he said "we don't usually warrant lightning strikes" . . . pause . . . "but this time we'll fix it". Been a Bryston fan boy ever since...and have whole house and point of use protection stuff everywhere. |
I have been using a Panamax MR5100 Protector and 10 yrs of service have seen it few times shut off and reboot with our electric shut down and reboot.. Never had a lighting strike but close few times....But something is better than nothing I am sure...I have it on dark and when something happens it lights up and shows the voltage....I think at times of replacing but never had a hard hit on it.. |
I thought I'd try a power conditioner with surge protection this time. I keep reading and hearing from audiophiles how much good power condtioners make a difference in the sound. Mine arrives mid next week. I'll report back. My dealer (grain of salt) tells me there will be no question how much better the Sonus Faber Olympica Nova 5s he sold me will sound. It will not be a sublte thing, he says. We shall see. |
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