Blue Circle Audio Peed Al Sea Thingee (Power Line Conditioner)/Yalo Bulala (surge pr) - Blu-ray Forum

Johk · 12-22-2009, 09:53 PM

Hi,

I recently installed a separate dedicated 20A line for my amps (XPA-2, XPA-3 and the subwoofers' amps) in order to have enough juice for them and to connect my other equipment (display, pre and sources) on the separate 15 A line.

So now I was looking for a non-current limiting power line conditioner and surge protector and preferably a 20A one since the amps are stated to need something like 10A each (well I'm sure I will never draw that much since my speakers are an easy load, but I prefer to have more than barely enough).

So after a couple of days looking at products on the net (PS Audio, Shunyata, Richard Gray, Furman, Panamax, APC, Tripplite, Belkin, etc.), I stumbled upon the Blue Circle Audio Peed Al Sea Thingee a.k.a. PLC Thingee which is a power line conditioner (as in PLC, I don't know much about the weird names but anyway) scaled down from their BC6000 recording reference standard ac powerline filter and conditioner. The PLC Thingee is housed in a silicone filled 4" PVC pipe and looks not that good (the WAF is not big on this one) but the good thing about it, is the price which is IMO really good. Reading the reviews from Affordable Audio (August 09 issue, p.8) and Goodsound!, I was willing to give it a try.

Now the other side, the PLC Thingee has no surge protection and it is not a 20A unit. Regarding surge protection, plugging a Yalo Bulala (yeah I think I spelled it correctly) in the PLC Thingee (or on the same circuit) deals with spikes and surges with TVS avalanche diodes (for the spikes) and MOV (sacrificial for the surges). The Yalo B. looks worse than the PLC Thingee but the price is right. So that got the surge protection covered. As for having a 20A unit, I emailed Blue Circle Audio and they say they can make a 20A version of the unit.

So I guess I'm all covered... Now I'm waiting for the price for the 20A version but I'm seriously thinking about taking the plunge with this.

If anybody has experience with these, I would be grateful for your comments. If not, I will most probably order it and report back with my impressions. I'm not expected day and night difference but I'm hoping to get protection for my gear and ensure that they are not limited by the conditioner.

I currently have an APC H10 conditioner that I'm using for the PS3, display, receiver and cable box and I have a APC C5 which I currently use for the amps (but it only has two sockets for High current applications).

(p.s. I do not work for any of the companies referred... So I'm not doing publicity, I just want to share my experience and I think some people will be interested in reading about it).

Johk · 12-23-2009, 05:39 PM

Well, I guess nobody heard of those!

Anyway, I'm waiting for the final price of the unit which I should get tomorrow. My supplies for the 20A powercord that will be used for the unit are on the way so I hope I can get it soon to complete my rewiring.

Johk · 01-08-2010, 04:17 PM

Well, I just checked out the Blue Circle Audio site and they now have a picture of the 20A PLC Thingee up on their website... Wonder if it's the one they made for me...

I know that it doesn't look nice but that's the philosophy behind these unit: offer technology from high end units at more affordable price.

WilliaBe · 02-26-2010, 04:27 PM

Johk,

I am a big fan of Blue Circle Audio. I used to use a Belkin PF60 but got a PLC Thingee FX2 from Blue Circle Audio. FX2 is another version of the Thingee. It stands for filtering times 2 (X2)

It is here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/1784331...7613292770765/

For comparable prices, Monster/Belkin/Trip Lite power filters/bars cant hold a candle to Blue Cicle's PLC Thingee's. If you are nervous about "outlets in a silicone pipe" just try a single Blue Circle Noisehound in your system. Then you'll be hooked and your TV/System will never sound better....

Johk · 02-26-2010, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WilliaBe

Johk,

I am a big fan of Blue Circle Audio. I used to use a Belkin PF60 but got a PLC Thingee FX2 from Blue Circle Audio.

Nice to see a Blue Circle Audio fan!

I have the 20A PLC Thingee for more than a month now and I'm really happy about it! But I still haven't taken the time to do A/B testing of the thing.

My XPA-2, XPA-3, 20-39PC-Plus and PC12-Plus are all hooked up to the Thingee.

WilliaBe · 02-26-2010, 04:42 PM

You got some nice components listed there. I wish I known about BC Audio before I bought the Belkin. I would never have made that mistake. Its good to spread the word for our fellow Blu Ray'ers...

I have Pioneer SC05 reciever, Oppo 83 Blu ray, Samsung HLT6189S 61". using B&W 685's, B&W HTM61 with B&W M1's for rear. All interconnects are QED. I will add some pictures soon.

blurayuser09 · 02-26-2010, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johk

Well, I just checked out the Blue Circle Audio site and they now have a picture of the 20A PLC Thingee up on their website... Wonder if it's the one they made for me...

I know that it doesn't look nice but that's the philosophy behind these unit: offer technology from high end units at more affordable price.

That thing looks like a homemade pipe bomb. It looks horrible. Why would you want to own that?

I know that it doesn't look nice but that's the philosophy behind these unit: offer technology from high end units at more affordable price.

That's a false dichotomy: You can have technology from high end units at more affordable prices AND also have good industrial design.

WilliaBe · 02-26-2010, 07:28 PM

You are right, it looks different.

My Belkin PF60 was a great looking unit, and often referred to as a "high end" HT power conditioner in reviews and by retailers. I fell for the led backlight and voltage readout. But, by ignorance we mistake, and by mistakes we learn. The Thingee easily outclasses the PF60, by a large margin.

Ultimately this "power filter" device has the money invested in the outlets, filter capacitors and non-current limiting design (Instead of LED lights and voltage readouts). It is designed to sit behind gear or on the floor.

Aesthetics do have their place in HT and 2 channel systems. But i'll take performance over looks when it comes to a power filter.....

Thingee review:

http://www.goodsound.com/equipment/b...eed_al_sea.htm

12-22-2009, 09:53 PM	#1
Johk Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Jul 2007 Blu-ray collection:645 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:2	Blue Circle Audio Peed Al Sea Thingee (Power Line Conditioner)/Yalo Bulala (surge pr) Hi, I recently installed a separate dedicated 20A line for my amps (XPA-2, XPA-3 and the subwoofers' amps) in order to have enough juice for them and to connect my other equipment (display, pre and sources) on the separate 15 A line. So now I was looking for a non-current limiting power line conditioner and surge protector and preferably a 20A one since the amps are stated to need something like 10A each (well I'm sure I will never draw that much since my speakers are an easy load, but I prefer to have more than barely enough). So after a couple of days looking at products on the net (PS Audio, Shunyata, Richard Gray, Furman, Panamax, APC, Tripplite, Belkin, etc.), I stumbled upon the Blue Circle Audio Peed Al Sea Thingee a.k.a. PLC Thingee which is a power line conditioner (as in PLC, I don't know much about the weird names but anyway) scaled down from their BC6000 recording reference standard ac powerline filter and conditioner. The PLC Thingee is housed in a silicone filled 4" PVC pipe and looks not that good (the WAF is not big on this one) but the good thing about it, is the price which is IMO really good. Reading the reviews from Affordable Audio (August 09 issue, p.8) and Goodsound!, I was willing to give it a try. Now the other side, the PLC Thingee has no surge protection and it is not a 20A unit. Regarding surge protection, plugging a Yalo Bulala (yeah I think I spelled it correctly) in the PLC Thingee (or on the same circuit) deals with spikes and surges with TVS avalanche diodes (for the spikes) and MOV (sacrificial for the surges). The Yalo B. looks worse than the PLC Thingee but the price is right. So that got the surge protection covered. As for having a 20A unit, I emailed Blue Circle Audio and they say they can make a 20A version of the unit. So I guess I'm all covered... Now I'm waiting for the price for the 20A version but I'm seriously thinking about taking the plunge with this. If anybody has experience with these, I would be grateful for your comments. If not, I will most probably order it and report back with my impressions. I'm not expected day and night difference but I'm hoping to get protection for my gear and ensure that they are not limited by the conditioner. I currently have an APC H10 conditioner that I'm using for the PS3, display, receiver and cable box and I have a APC C5 which I currently use for the amps (but it only has two sockets for High current applications). (p.s. I do not work for any of the companies referred... So I'm not doing publicity, I just want to share my experience and I think some people will be interested in reading about it). Last edited by Johk; 12-22-2009 at 11:19 PM.

02-26-2010, 04:27 PM	#4
WilliaBe Member Member since:Feb 2010 Blu-ray collection:233 DVD collection:19	Big Fan of Blue Circle Audio Johk, I am a big fan of Blue Circle Audio. I used to use a Belkin PF60 but got a PLC Thingee FX2 from Blue Circle Audio. FX2 is another version of the Thingee. It stands for filtering times 2 (X2) It is here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/1784331...7613292770765/ For comparable prices, Monster/Belkin/Trip Lite power filters/bars cant hold a candle to Blue Cicle's PLC Thingee's. If you are nervous about "outlets in a silicone pipe" just try a single Blue Circle Noisehound in your system. Then you'll be hooked and your TV/System will never sound better.... Last edited by WilliaBe; 02-26-2010 at 04:30 PM.

02-26-2010, 07:28 PM	#8
WilliaBe Member Member since:Feb 2010 Blu-ray collection:233 DVD collection:19	You are right, it looks different. My Belkin PF60 was a great looking unit, and often referred to as a "high end" HT power conditioner in reviews and by retailers. I fell for the led backlight and voltage readout. But, by ignorance we mistake, and by mistakes we learn. The Thingee easily outclasses the PF60, by a large margin. Ultimately this "power filter" device has the money invested in the outlets, filter capacitors and non-current limiting design (Instead of LED lights and voltage readouts). It is designed to sit behind gear or on the floor. Aesthetics do have their place in HT and 2 channel systems. But i'll take performance over looks when it comes to a power filter..... Thingee review: http://www.goodsound.com/equipment/b...eed_al_sea.htm Last edited by WilliaBe; 02-26-2010 at 07:54 PM.

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12-23-2009, 05:39 PM	#2
Johk Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Jul 2007 Blu-ray collection:645 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:2	Well, I guess nobody heard of those! Anyway, I'm waiting for the final price of the unit which I should get tomorrow. My supplies for the 20A powercord that will be used for the unit are on the way so I hope I can get it soon to complete my rewiring.

01-08-2010, 04:17 PM	#3
Johk Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Jul 2007 Blu-ray collection:645 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:2	Well, I just checked out the Blue Circle Audio site and they now have a picture of the 20A PLC Thingee up on their website... Wonder if it's the one they made for me... I know that it doesn't look nice but that's the philosophy behind these unit: offer technology from high end units at more affordable price.

02-26-2010, 04:42 PM	#6
WilliaBe Member Member since:Feb 2010 Blu-ray collection:233 DVD collection:19	You got some nice components listed there. I wish I known about BC Audio before I bought the Belkin. I would never have made that mistake. Its good to spread the word for our fellow Blu Ray'ers... I have Pioneer SC05 reciever, Oppo 83 Blu ray, Samsung HLT6189S 61". using B&W 685's, B&W HTM61 with B&W M1's for rear. All interconnects are QED. I will add some pictures soon.

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