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In Reply to: Surge protection and power conditioners QUESTIONS???? posted by Time_Stands_Still on February 23, 2007 at 02:43:00:
I have been testing a number of power conditioners lately. I was not fond of the APC h-15, compared to my references, but I use it to power the video side of things. I have been VERY impressed with the latest Furman products both from a surge perspective and a filtering perspective.The Digital Power Station Series is well priced, and provides better filtering than most any 'audiophile' products. The Elite series with power factor correction are better than any other conditioners I have tried, and they are a fraction of the cost of my 'audiophile' references.
Follow Ups:
What does the referenced unit cost at retail?The orange duplex outlets look like trouble. Do you think they might be interested in making an audiophile unit with Oyaide Ultimo outlets? Lotus Group is just down the road from them.
Well, I guess what you get with a Furman is a bunch of engineers that have spent ten plus years figuring out how to improve power for pro applications using a bunch of professional measuring kit, so I have a bit of faith in their products. Plus they seem to have ears, because they are the only non-high-end compnay that clearly states that their products take 200 hours to burn-in and sound their best.The prices for the non-balanced conditioners are really good compared to high-end pricing. Retail for the Elite 15PF is $579, The Elite 20PF is $995. The power stations are $150 to $250.
Greetings,
u hv great system. i went the Kondo route and love my sound too. but got voltage fluctuation. 113 to 119 in an evening. can we exchange some experience?
See u hv a Sound Application unit. Did you ever try his Reference line?
Or the Accuphase, which hideously expensive? Really like to know what others compared Furman to....... This takes so long to compare everything..., doesn't it?I have a line on a used Accuphase for cheap, but not bite if i can get the voltage stabilized with a Furman.
can u give me some advice from ur experience? appreciate it. Mike
I relly like the Sound Applications. I have a Reference Line Stage, and it is indeed my reference. I am trying the Furman IT Reference 20, and it's the best conditioner I have tried, betting the Sound Applications. However, I don't care for the balanced power outlets. It has four outlets that bypass the balanced power transformer and that perform basically as the IT Reference 20 PF, so I think I will get the Furman Elite 20PF.I also have an Equitech 2Q which is a balanced conditioner, and I don't like the sound of it's balanced power either. Balanced power sounds rounded off and a bit too soft for my tastes. You lose some dynamics on balanced in my experience.
But the power factor correction really juices my system, and the bass is MUCH tigher and more tuneful, dynamics been turned up. It sounds like a very good subwoofer has been added.
I have tried a couple of voltage stabilizers including the new PS Audio Power Plant Premier. There is a signature that happens to the sound I don't like. If you turn off the Premier you can hear it's passive conditioning without the AC regeneration. In my system the regeneration sounded worse than the passive. But I don't have a lot of voltage fluctuation. I did live in a place with a nightly brown-out, and at that location the sound of the brown-out (usually around 105 volts) was worse than the signature of voltage regulation of the early Exact Power I had. When I moved to my new place that does not have voltage swings, the ExactPower sounded mechanical and grainy.
I have no experience with the Accuphase. I know some Kondo people who have used it and like it for power in New York (you probably know them too!).
It takes a long time to compare this stuff especially because power conditioners take a long time to burn-in (usually well over 200 hours). Everybodies power is different.
Hello,I am reading this thread with great interest given that you have first hand experience with many of the conditioners I have used or are considering. It is reassuring to read that what I think I hear is similiar to someone else. I've had the Exact Power and found it stiff and mechanical in my system (I have Horning Alkibiades too -- driven by SE amplification). I need voltage correction. My wall puts out a steady 127V reading. One of my amps (Loth X JI 300b) auto shut offs above 125V. I currently use an Audiophile APS unit for voltage correction. It's OK. But I'm drawn to the experience of Furman in engineering power products for the professional market.
This may be a stupid question, but does power factor correction mean that the Furman unit corrects the voltage to a stable 120V? I know that Furman makes voltage regulators. I'm just not sure if their Reference power conditioners are correcting the voltage. If it does, and you find the Furman units to be better than a Sound Application Reference Line Stage (which I own as well) in your system (which is similiar to mine), then the Furman unit may be just the right thing?
why getting furman if have sound application and like it! what will the furman do additionally that not getting?jim wiel tells me forget the voltage swing of 113 to 119 . doesnt affect the sound.....
but i think u are saying it does....and the furman increased dynamics.could u clarify??????thx!
I agree with Jim, I haven't heard much change in that range. The range in my old place was much bigger. My power is typically 116 in my new place.If your power suplies are well designed, I don't think the range you state would make much sonic difference. It's the other nasties in the line that make much more difference.
I do like the Reference Linestage, and it is my current reference. I'm still evaluating the Furman, but it is doing a great job so far.
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