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Should I skip my power conditioner?

I have a Monster Powerbar 1100 power conditioner/surge protector. The main reason I bought it is to protect my equipment from any lightning strikes/electrical spikes and for convenience for all of my plugs (I have it mounted to the underside of my stand). I'm no Monster fan or hater but for about $125 shipped, it seemed like a lot of useful features plus surge protection. I've been doing some reading that it may actually be better soundwise to not use one though, especially with the amp (Arcam AVR300 in my case). I'm looking for any opinions on the subject of if I should continue to use it, or use it for everything but the receiver. If I don't use it, will just a good surge protector yield any negative results? The details of my system is in my system link.

Thanks for any input,

Scott
asahitoro
robm321
932 posts
 
I also plug my amp into the wall and everything else into surge protector for the same reason Steuspeed mentioned.

Rob
distortion
571 posts
 
I'm with Steu and Rob.
bigtee
803 posts
 
Kal, I just pass them along like I get them. I'm not making a profit. You'll have to talk to Jim White or Charles Hansen on the drawbacks and virtues! Both are in total agreemnet not to use anything and plug their equipment straight in the wall. I think Hansen quoted something in an interview to the effect, he hasn't had an Ayre back for lightning damage. Maybe the protection is built in. Again, I would suggest talking to those gentlemen.
I do know that there have been some discussions(negative) on MOV based power strips. I believe Richard Hardesty commented in his APJ on these and I've read a few other things (I just can't remember off the top of my head where.)
I'm not an electronics guru. I depend on manufacturers and others for information. So don't shoot the messenger!
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,693 posts
 
I do not disagree about plugging power amps directly into the wall outlet unless you need surge protection because of your location and/or house wiring. In fact, I didn't use any protection (AC, that is) until I had a lightning hit that took out a pump. Consequently, it seemed prudent to take action but not to limit current and I added a whole-house protection device at my breaker box.

As for MOVs, they can be implemented correctly or poorly, as with most things and cheap power strips are easy targets. Unfortunately, it is too easy to be doctrinaire about these issues.

Also, the fact that Charles Hanson hasn't had an amp back for lightning damage is not statistically interpretable since there are other factors, such as insurance coverage, involved. Bryston, too, recommends a direct wall plug in. No built-in surge protector nor, in fact, any power strip, MOV or not, will protect against a proximate lightning strike. That's insurance territory.

Kal
hpims
129 posts
 
Tripplite has an audio surge & noise surpressor that works GREAT. I got it at PartsExpress.com for 75. bucks a few years back.

Of course, I turn my stuff off when not using it, which is the ultimate surge protection.

Had a friend that lost an amp that was directly plugged into the wall while he was at work and a storm came through.

It only takes once, as they say....
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