Power Conditioners
Hi-Fi writers and audiophiles have given compelling testimonies of improvements in sound when using expensive Power Conditioner for their Home Theater system.
"a very thin veil that I did not know had been there, was lifted. The clarity was now like a crystal goblet that was squeaky clean."
-An audio review of an expensive Power Conditioner
Power Conditioners plug into your wall and provide outlets for Home Theater components. Paranoia over dirty and noisy household electricity is used to sell Power Conditioners as a miracle cure that will unlock your audio system's potential. However a Power Conditioner may be considered to address specific electrical problems but don't expect the kinds of shining results stated above.
Advertiser Links for Power Conditioners
Here are some basic functions a Power Conditioner may perform:
Surge protector. Shunts excess voltage to ground but works more effectively in close proximity to natural Earth ground. The most effective solution is to protect all electrical appliances in your home by installing a surge protector at your fuse box which uses Earth Ground. Surge protection is quantified in joules and should conform to IEEE 587 standards. The best surge suppression is always to unplug your Home Theater system during storms or extended down time.
RF Noise filter. Normal amounts of noise from AC outlets are filtered by your equipment's power supply. Since there are no quantitative standards for reporting levels of RF filtering, how well a filter performs is largely left to your faith in the manufacturer. Devices that perform high frequency switching, such as computers or SACD players, should be plugged into outlets away from your TV or Home Theater receiver to limit residual backwash noise flowing into your power lines. Anyone who's turned on a vacuum cleaner with the TV on has seen the results of severe backwash noise.
Voltage Stabilizers & Regulators. These are used to stabilize fluctuating voltages that can shutdown or harm expensive equipment. Most household appliances, including Home Theater equipment, are sturdy enough to handle slight fluctuations from normal household power. For severe power fluctuations that dim lights and cause brown outs, you should call your utilities company. Voltage Regulators measure voltages to ensure negligible heat generation; common sense should dictate when your gear might be overheating. Only households with serious and consistent power problems might to need to take these measures.
Ground Stabilizer. Grounding problems can create hum from speakers or damage equipment. A ground leak in one Home Theater component can create a ground loop -- this should be repaired immediately. Ground problems in your household wiring should be repaired at the wall outlet or fuse box. An isolation transformer costs a fraction of a high end Power Conditioner and resolves problems with ground loops.
There is no magic to the jobs performed by Power Conditioners. Power needs will vary considerably from a rented apartment to a house in a residential area, and so will your options to meet those needs. If you decide you need AC line protection for your Home Theater, consider all your options. Inexpensive power strips that can provide surge protection and RF line filtering may even outperform some Power Conditioners; cost is seldom indicative of performance. Your decision to buy an exotic Power Conditioner should be based on facts and not colorful metaphors.
