Power Centers

[sleeper_red]

Just want to ask what power center do you guys use with your Rotel gears? Thanks.

[soundhound]

Monster Power's name has been used a fair amount around here, but recently someone threw up a red flag about them. I don't recall what it was about but you may want to do a "monster" search in a couple of the forums here and you may turn up some good results for the various brands. Or try "power conditioners".

[phuz]

I'm a big fan of panamax. They've been doing power gear for a long, long time and their connected equipment guarantee and customer service can't be beat.

[Andrew Pratt]

I don't bother with any...just a decent power bar plugged into a dedicated 20 amp line

[htsteve]

Vansevers

sleeper_red,

I use a Vansevers model 85, model 11 video and model 12 digital. I've been
happy with them.

[Mitchell]

I use a monster. It actually helped get rid of a hum when I tried hooking up my cable box to the preamp.Running it through the monster solved it immediately.

[sleeper_red]

right now, I'm using a Monster bar that costs like $129.00. Do you think it's worth getting something like the Monster HTS2500 or HTS2600? I'm just wondering if it will make any difference. Thanks again guys.

[DelRay]

I'm using the HTS3500 for my gear. First off I wanted something that would delay the amps during startup and shutdown. The 12 volt trigger delay does this for me. IMHO I believe the powercenters offer better filtering than the powerbars.(questionable) And I also wanted something componet style.

[Spookyslow]

I don't have one yet, but I've heard and read great things about Panamax and Richard Gray AC/line conditioners. I'd definitely check them out if you're considering a new power center.

[mmpeak]

I've tried a Monster

I wondered about this myself, if it really even makes a difference.
A friend of mine has a huge monster that cost him about $2500.00
and it looks nice, I like the red and blue lights on it.

I asked him to let me try it for a couple of weeks while he went on
vacation and used it with my Rotel RB-1090 and I heard absolutely
no difference at all, not even a $2,000.00 power card made any
difference so I'm just using the stock cord with my Rotel now and
a good serge protector that only cost $25.00 and it's sounds just
great, so it didn't do a thing for me but I live in a new home that
has all new wires, if that even makes a difference?

[sbhand]

PS Audio

I'm using a PS Audio PowerDirector 3.5. It is a bit pricey but makes a difference for me (on the quality of video even more so then audio). My experience is the benefit of these products seems to vary based on the region you live.

[JetFlyGuy]

I am using a Panamax 5410. I did not percieve a difference in audio quality, but there was a noticable improvement in black levels on the video side. It was a $750.00 investment, but worth it, considering the cost of the connected gear!

[aud19]

APC Line R :T

[EAmin]

I wondered about this myself, if it really even makes a difference.
A friend of mine has a huge monster that cost him about $2500.00
and it looks nice, I like the red and blue lights on it.

I asked him to let me try it for a couple of weeks while he went on
vacation and used it with my Rotel RB-1090 and I heard absolutely
no difference at all, not even a $2,000.00 power card made any
difference so I'm just using the stock cord with my Rotel now and
a good serge protector that only cost $25.00 and it's sounds just
great, so it didn't do a thing for me but I live in a new home that
has all new wires, if that even makes a difference?

I have the HTS-5100. The one thing it did for me was it got rid of my hum issues with my 1095 and 1090. I don't think it added anything to the sound, but it made a slight difference to the video. I also live in a newer home which is probably why it didn't make as dramatic of a difference.

[H.Donald]

I use two,both Monsters...the 5100 and the 3500.What do they do?Other than giving you a central place to plug things in?I am not sure...they do offer some form of protection,in case of??Funny,in order for my 1095 to stop buzzing I had to remove it from the 5100 and plug it directly into the wall.When I had basic cable I ran it thru the 3500 and video did seem clearer.But now with hi-def thats a no-no.As for audio,I have never heard a difference.Both units I purchased off eBay...so I paid much less than list.The real purpose of this unit?...the blue lights look nice at night...

[nash]

I have a Monster 7000 signature series. I don't have any illusions about it making a dramatic difference to sound or video. However, it's useful as a huge power strip (it has about 15 plugs in it) and as a very good surge protector. I got it at a great price and it helped me get a good price on my DLP tv, too (as a package deal). Plus, those blue lights and the voltage readout just look cool

[aud19]

APC Line R :T

The reason I got the APC Line-R was that beyond having noise reduction and surge protection it also offers protection for brownouts or voltage dips that are arguably more problematic than surges. The model I purchased can also handle 1200VA at 15amps total which is more than enough for most peripheral equipment. I do however keep my amp and sub plugged directly in to the wall. Everything else, TV, DVD player, PrePro etc is plugged in to the APC units.

While they were a fairly good deal when I got them for around $150 Canadian a couple years ago, they're now available for about $60 Canadian!! :E They're not as pretty to look at as some the A/V solutions but I have mine tucked away anyways...

http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=LE1200

APC will also carry A/V specific gear Q2 of 2005...

http://www.apc.com/products/category.cfm?id=15

[KEN KAZ]

I have some a couple floresent lamps on the same line...they are above a table that the kids use for crafts, that is about 20 feet from my HT.
When they turn on/off and I am just plugged into a "power strip" i get a big "bang"

everrything plugged into a panamax eliviates that.

so, there is some benefit,aside from surge supression

just my .02c

kaz