Power conditioning for 2 channel setup

Posted by: RedSIinPA

Power conditioning for 2 channel setup - 07/21/09 08:46 PM

Can anyone recommend a cost-efficient power conditioner that only needs to protect the equipment listed under my 2ch stuff?
I'm mainly concerned with the lights dimming with the cycling of air conditioning, and the pop I get out of my sub when a window A/C unit in my listening room gets turned on/off. I was wondering if you thought the conditioner would stop that from happening as well. I would think it woudl be using caps to help prevent surges or dips but I could be dead wrong.

I was thinking Belkin PureAV line, but wanted to make sure I wasn't going overkill since I'm not protecting a "home theater" - just the NAD, the Pioneer, and my sub (for now laugh )
Posted by: ndskurfer

Re: Power conditioning for 2 channel setup - 07/21/09 09:02 PM

No recommendation or solution, but thought I would add my experience from my panamax filter/powerstrip (m10-ht-pro) on my 2 channel set up:

I thought I would no longer get the thump in the sub when I turn my ceiling fan on/off in the living room, the strip did not stop this.
Posted by: gunslinger

Re: Power conditioning for 2 channel setup - 07/22/09 12:25 AM

I currently have a panamax power conditioner thinking it would also stop the thumping noise every time a flourecent light turned on and off, but it did not work. Once I upgraded to a shorter outlaw sub cable from a diomondback audioquest cable that was about 10 feet to long, and I also ugraded from a 1050 to a 970. I am pretty sure it is the new shorter cable that fixed the problem.
Posted by: gunslinger

Re: Power conditioning for 2 channel setup - 07/22/09 12:29 AM

By the way how do you like those B&W 685's I have a pair for my mains and love them. I upgraded from the B&W 601 S3's, which are now my mains.
Posted by: XenonMan

Re: Power conditioning for 2 channel setup - 07/22/09 02:02 AM

APC H-15 does the job nicely but I get a thump too. The tump comes from the 990 not from powering it on a off. The H-15 will sense a problem and turn everything off for a few minutes until it senses stable voltage. It won't turn the equipment back on just supply power back to it for you to start it up again. I can count at least 4 times it has saved my setup. After one storm I had the only HT left between me and my two closest neighbors. I got 2 from Audioholics a while back for < $100 each. It protects my stuff from the lightning storms we get down here. I can't imagine not having them.
Posted by: gonk

Re: Power conditioning for 2 channel setup - 07/22/09 03:05 AM

I've used both Panamax and Belkin, but you could even look at a TrippLite surge protector.

Hard for me to say about the pop when the window unit kicks on. There's a pretty substantial inrush current for compressors that could be causing a dip in current to the sub, in which case I suspect you'd need something like a UPS to really eliminate it.
Posted by: RedSIinPA

Re: Power conditioning for 2 channel setup - 07/22/09 01:14 PM

Thanks for your feedback everyone.

I note that I get the pop both when the window A/C unit is turned on and many times when it's turned off. I wonder what a UPS has in its internals that a good power conditioner doesn't? I also value a good power conditioner. My Panamax in my home theater deserves substantial credit. About one year ago I was having a new septic system put in and my excavator clipped my underground power lines causing a massive surge throughout my whole house. It killed several outlets, killed the compressor on my fridge, and killed an APC surge protector (which saved my JL sub) and no-name surge protector that saved my home PC. The Panamax though, lives on, along with all the equipment that was protected by it smile But the experience definitely made the point with me.

Gunslinger, I couldn't be happier with the 685's. I'm sure I'll get the bug to upgrade to the 7's or 8's at some point. Having heard the 805's a couple times, I know what I'm missing, but the price difference is substantial to say the least. I'd like to pick up a power conditioner, some better speaker stands, improved interconnects, and maybe a nicer rack for my equipment. But the setup sounds great. I have managed to get the 685's at a pretty good position.

They're a little tall right now - about 31" - a limitation of the only stands I own. And those stands are a little on the cheap side - (telescoping, probably in the sub $100 range, a little flimsy). They also don't hide the speaker wire and that gets at my a-retentive side of my brain. But in terms of position, I was able to get the speakers positioned in such a way that I have formed almost a perfect equilateral triangle to my listening position, about 8.5 feet all sides. All in all, quite happy!
Posted by: gonk

Re: Power conditioning for 2 channel setup - 07/22/09 01:39 PM

A UPS has a battery - provides power even when the power is removed or dips severely. If the problem is a big dip in current caused by the compressor, a power conditioner can't do much about it.
Posted by: RedSIinPA

Re: Power conditioning for 2 channel setup - 07/22/09 02:11 PM

Thanks Gonk - didn't realize the battery comes into play for that scenario. Only thought it came into play when the power was lost completely.
Posted by: sluggo

Re: Power conditioning for 2 channel setup - 07/22/09 09:55 PM

Are you making your HT share a circuit with your A/C unit? Sounds like your rig is simply trying to tell you to feed it better juice wink
Posted by: RedSIinPA

Re: Power conditioning for 2 channel setup - 07/22/09 11:35 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by sluggo:
Are you making your HT share a circuit with your A/C unit? Sounds like your rig is simply trying to tell you to feed it better juice wink
My 2 ch setup is in a small room that is all on one circuit unfortunately, so yep, you're correct. Nothing I can really do minus calling an electrician. That would be a hard sell to the wife laugh
Posted by: sluggo

Re: Power conditioning for 2 channel setup - 07/23/09 02:54 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by RedSIinPA:
My 2 ch setup is in a small room that is all on one circuit unfortunately, so yep, you're correct. Nothing I can really do minus calling an electrician. That would be a hard sell to the wife laugh
Well, considering she let you buy the rig you have, I'd say she's done pretty well by you so far. A UPS sounds like your best bet cost wise - I have installed a few of them like this one and this one , and feedback was good (though only the belkin provides battery to more than 2 outlets).
Posted by: XenonMan

Re: Power conditioning for 2 channel setup - 07/23/09 04:47 PM

Get an electrician and put your system on a dedicated well grounded circuit
Posted by: Ritz2

Re: Power conditioning for 2 channel setup - 07/23/09 06:18 PM

Any quality UPS with more than a few hundred VA of backup power should be able to handle the transient voltage sags being discussed by the original poster. I'd stick with APC, personally. You can pick up a 1500VA unit for under $200 if you shop around. I was using a APC Matrix 5Kva unit for my theater system in my old house. That way, my components never saw anything but a clean 120v sine wave. Due to older home/wiring, the voltage was otherwise all over the place whenever the AC would come on, the fridge compressor cycled on, microwave turned on, hair dryer, etc.

Best,
Posted by: RedSIinPA

Re: Power conditioning for 2 channel setup - 07/24/09 12:55 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by sluggo:
Quote:
Originally posted by RedSIinPA:
[b] My 2 ch setup is in a small room that is all on one circuit unfortunately, so yep, you're correct. Nothing I can really do minus calling an electrician. That would be a hard sell to the wife laugh
Well, considering she let you buy the rig you have, I'd say she's done pretty well by you so far. A UPS sounds like your best bet cost wise - I have installed a few of them like this one and this one , and feedback was good (though only the belkin provides battery to more than 2 outlets). [/b]
Wow those are pretty pricey. I paid about $200 for my M5300. (No battery of course.) Did want to comment on one thing - she has been very gracious, you are correct. smile Very understanding and generous.
Posted by: RedSIinPA

Re: Power conditioning for 2 channel setup - 07/24/09 12:57 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by RedSIinPA:
Quote:
Originally posted by sluggo:
[b]
Quote:
Originally posted by RedSIinPA:
[b] My 2 ch setup is in a small room that is all on one circuit unfortunately, so yep, you're correct. Nothing I can really do minus calling an electrician. That would be a hard sell to the wife laugh
Well, considering she let you buy the rig you have, I'd say she's done pretty well by you so far. A UPS sounds like your best bet cost wise - I have installed a few of them like this one and this one , and feedback was good (though only the belkin provides battery to more than 2 outlets). [/b]
Wow those are pretty pricey. I paid about $200 for my M5300. (No battery of course.) But given what a good electrician charges in my area, it might just even out. Did want to comment on one thing - she has been very gracious, you are correct. smile [/b]
Posted by: XenonMan

Re: Power conditioning for 2 channel setup - 07/24/09 02:27 PM

Power one or the other from an extension cord from another circuit to see if the problem stops. If not ,then an electrician will have to be used because the AC unit is dragging down your whole power supply to the house. The problem could be in your AC unit with a relay that is sticking or has bad contact.