line conditioner / surge protector ?

[ryan4blu]

was wondering any thoughts or opinions on these line conditioners below. was going to pick one up and not really sure which one would be best any help would be appreciated

http://www.circuitcity.com/applicati...408&CatId=1324

or

http://www.amazon.com/Panamax-M5300-...4755708&sr=8-1

i know the panamax is $50 more, but is it worth it?

[FreddieFerric]

I've had the panamax m4300 in my audio rack for about 7 months now and am very pleased with it. The price that you see on amazon is pretty good for the model you're considering.

Apparently Circuit City refuses to die. If you buy from them let us know about your experience.

[ryan4blu]

Originally Posted by BluRayFred

I've had the panamax m4300 in my audio rack for about 7 months now and am very pleased with it. The price that you see on amazon is pretty good for the model you're considering.

Apparently Circuit City refuses to die. If you buy from them let us know about your experience.

thanks for your info. i know circuit city's website was taken over from tiger direct company. so i think it runs out of them.

so you would consider the panamax over the apc? i know the model on amazon is last years model cause i believe it is now the m5400.

[ArieS]

Bad timing my friend, the panamax was 50 bucks less 2 days ago on Amazon.

[ryan4blu]

Originally Posted by ArieS

Bad timing my friend, the panamax was 50 bucks less 2 days ago on Amazon.

sorry, didnt know that. still looking around, no worries.

[ryan4blu]

was really looking for opinions on the units, not how much they are. if anyone has any good input on these units let me know, thanks

[Al Bundy]

Originally Posted by ArieS

Bad timing my friend, the panamax was 50 bucks less 2 days ago on Amazon.

Do they go on sale often?

[kingofgrills]

I would recommend going with the Panamax. From what I've heard, they have excellent video and audio filtration.

That's a good price.

[vicdog]

The APC has AVR, voltage regulation, the Panamax doesn't. You need to step up to the 5400 for that.

[FreddieFerric]

Originally Posted by ryan4blu

thanks for your info. i know circuit city's website was taken over from tiger direct company. so i think it runs out of them.

so you would consider the panamax over the apc? i know the model on amazon is last years model cause i believe it is now the m5400.

I've only had experience with an APC UPS a few years ago and was not happy with how quickly the batteries failed. Other than that I couldn't say about the model you refer to. Don't just stick to amazon or circuit city. You should look at onecall.com; crutchfield.com; abt.com; beachaudio.com; j&r music world, etc. those places are always offering deals so you might luck into something really good.

[ryan4blu]

Originally Posted by vicdog

The APC has AVR, voltage regulation, the Panamax doesn't. You need to step up to the 5400 for that.

do you really need that? i thought this panamax was a solid unit? so are you saying the apc 1500 is a better unit?

[ryan4blu]

i think i made my choice after some research and i think for the money the apc 1500 model is plenty of what i need. it has the voltage regulation and much more. i found a few online for around $185 shipped. cant go wrong with that now.

[fronk777]

Originally Posted by ryan4blu

was wondering any thoughts or opinions on these line conditioners below. was going to pick one up and not really sure which one would be best any help would be appreciated

http://www.circuitcity.com/applicati...408&CatId=1324

or

http://www.amazon.com/Panamax-M5300-...4755708&sr=8-1

i know the panamax is $50 more, but is it worth it?

I picker up that panamax a couple of days ago it was a gold box lightning deal for $199 during the Hi-Def week. Seems like a very solid power conditioner. I would say both are very comparable in the praise I have read.

[repete66211]

I've seen that APC on Tiger Direct for $99 a couple of times. I'm still kicking myself for not buying it the last time it dropped in price. But I shall wait patiently until it does again.

That's not to say the APC is the better unit, but at that price it's hard to go with anything else.

[ryan4blu]

Originally Posted by repete66211

I've seen that APC on Tiger Direct for $99 a couple of times. I'm still kicking myself for not buying it the last time it dropped in price. But I shall wait patiently until it does again.

That's not to say the APC is the better unit, but at that price it's hard to go with anything else.

i hear ya but the apc pretty much has everything in it as the panamax 5400 model does for way less money.

wow $99, i have never seen this model apc that low. i will have to keep a look out, thanks

by the way i ordered the apc 1500 last night off ebay for $185 shipped. brand new in the box, not a b stock or refurb either. so i think i will be very happy.

[westom]

Originally Posted by ryan4blu

was really looking for opinions on the units, not how much they are. if anyone has any good input on these units let me know, thanks

Why are you spending money on something that should already be designed inside the electronics? What are you trying to solve?

[ryan4blu]

Originally Posted by westom

Why are you spending money on something that should already be designed inside the electronics? What are you trying to solve?

sorry to ask, but do you know what a power line conditioner / surge protector is? i think you should read some of the threads in this forum and you will find out what they are for. basically it protects all you electronics and cleans the power coming in, also acts as a very good surge protector and some also regulate the volage going to your equipment. its a sure thing to have if you value what you spent on your equipment.

[westom]

Originally Posted by ryan4blu

its a sure thing to have if you value what you spent on your equipment.

What you have posted is true only if you add numerous other limiting conditions. What a power line conditioner does is what the power supply is also supposed to do.

However, if you know it does more, then which type of surges? What numbers? How far will it adjust voltages to protect hardware? What are voltages that electronics are designed to withstand without damage?

It sounds like you need this only because others have told you harmful things exist. Does it protect from harmonics, noise, impulses or open neutrals? Does it work on metallic or longitudinal transients? Which is the problem you are trying to solve?

[ryan4blu]

Originally Posted by westom

What you have posted is true only if you add numerous other limiting conditions. What a power line conditioner does is what the power supply is also supposed to do.

However, if you know it does more, then which type of surges? What numbers? How far will it adjust voltages to protect hardware? What are voltages that electronics are designed to withstand without damage?

It sounds like you need this only because others have told you harmful things exist. Does it protect from harmonics, noise, impulses or open neutrals? Does it work on metallic or longitudinal transients? Which is the problem you are trying to solve?

not trying to solve any problems. i have a niles line conditioner already, just looking for another one for my main room theater. my niles will go in the kids room for their system to protect it. i dont have any problems with my system, just looking for a more up to date power conditioner for my main system.

[westom]

Originally Posted by ryan4blu

not trying to solve any problems.

Observed often. People fixing problems that do not exist. Problems promoted only by hearsay and myths. Problems made completely irrelevant by what is already inside all electronics.

Various power problems can exist including blackouts, noise, surges, harmonics, and brownouts. To make it even more complex, each can exist in various forms.

The only 'box' that solves all is a complete UPS system installed at the service entrance. That line conditioner does not even begin to accomplish a solution. Worse, it costs hundreds of dollars to so less than any standard $50 or $100 power supply must already accomplish.

View the conditioners spec numbers. For example, that Panamax from amazon.com does what? Well it claims to cut off power if voltage drops to 90 VAC. Did they forget to mention that if voltage drops that low, then voltage completely drops out anyway? Otherwise motorized equipment (ie central air conditioning) would be damaged.

Did they forget to mention that low voltage never damages electronics? In fact, low voltage is so acceptable that many electronics intentionally create low line voltage during startup. And operation during power off is also a brownout. Neither is destructive. But popular myths say otherwise.

How about filtering? Did they forget to mention that filtering is already inside (and required in) every AV device? If you need better filtering, then you need something substantially larger such as products from Brickwall, Surgex, etc.

From your tone, you probably do not want to hear any of this. You have already decided no matter what the technical specs say. Explains why you are asking others for subjective advice.

IOW this post is about many who *know* it is a line conditioner. Yes, it does some conditioning. So minimal as to be near zero. The point: these products are recommended to solve problems that exist mostly in myths - rarely exist in reality. If these problems were so harmful, you would be weekly replacing things that are not so robust - electronics more easily damaged - such as dimmer switches. Are you replacing dimmer switches weekly?

Electrical events that can overwhelm protection in electronics are rare - maybe once every seven years. That line conditioner does not claim to protect from those events. Useful solutions are for rare events that can overwhelm protection routine inside all electronics. Those many cited line conditioners do not claim such protection.

And so the question - what is the problem to be solved? The daily anomalies routinely promoted in myths? Or the rare electrical anomalies that can overwhelm protection already inside electronics?