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Is plugging a head into a power conditioner bad?

#41
Get a power conditioner that meets your needs. They are great for keeping the rats nest tidy and I like the lights and do recommend them. There are no risks for your preamps or effects and such, yet there hasn't yet been a definitive answer if they are bad for power amp. I still say don't plug an amp into them and use a multiple outlet extension cord. AND YES, THEY BASICALLY ARE A GLORIFIED POWER STRIP!
 
#42
Voltage is terrible here. In my house it can get as high as 140 (usually during the day) to as low as 95 (usually at night). Its even more hectic where I work at a small industry. I don't know if power conditioners are bad for the amp, I use the furman AR1215 as a way to power everything I use and protect. And I've fried a couple of things prior to using a power conditioner, but the last time there was a spike, the power conditioner did its job and protected my b15 and mesa 400+. Would have they survived on their own? Maybe. I'd rather buy another conditioner then worry about replacing an output or audio transformer and a full retube.
 
#43
garmenteros said:
Voltage is terrible here. In my house it can get as high as 140 (usually during the day) to as low as 95 (usually at night). Its even more hectic where I work at a small industry. I don't know if power conditioners are bad for the amp, I use the furman AR1215 as a way to power everything I use and protect. And I've fried a couple of things prior to using a power conditioner, but the last time there was a spike, the power conditioner did its job and protected my b15 and mesa 400+. Would have they survived on their own? Maybe. I'd rather buy another conditioner then worry about replacing an output or audio transformer and a full retube.
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you need a voltage regulator a power conditioner won't help this problem. Low voltage can lead to brownouts which can damage solid state components. Voltage regulators are kind of pricey though...
 
#46
Bob C said:
You seem to be contradicting yourself. Aren't the SL-Waber and Tripplite units that reduce background noise and protect from power spikes considered "power conditioners" (albeit perhaps more reasonably priced than Furman stuff)?
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there is a difference between a power strip/rack unit like Tripplite's that filters out line noise (not spikes, noise) and a furman which just has MOVs which basically just blow very quickly when a big spike comes along. SL Waber makes very high quality power strips with basic, resetable surge protection.
I suppose I should have been more explicit.
Power conditioners by hype merchants like monster and Furman dont improve your amps sound and do very little in the way of protection. It is better to get a tripplite or SL Waber which are very fancy for power strips but are durable as hell, UL/CE rated etc. Tripplite stuff is what I see when I do installs in hospitals. It really does lower the noise floor of gear you connect through it (if the gear is sensitive to AC noise).
 
#47
fourstringburn said:
you need a voltage regulator a power conditioner won't help this problem. Low voltage can lead to brownouts which can damage solid state components. Voltage regulators are kind of pricey though...
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The ar1215 is supposed to be a voltage regulator I believe... it emits a steady 120 volts +/- 1 according to furmans site...

It ran me back like 300 something dollars and shipping...
 
#48
xray said:
Why? Because most of it is BS? Therefore, TBers need more subjective reasoning. It's a fact that CDs are not sonically as good as records. Compression sucks the life out of pure audio's analog signal.

OP: conditioners will not harm your equipment.
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probably not, but if guys like andy, bob and bill say it's not good, i believe it. that said, i had a power conditioner when i had a rack and plugged my amp into it all the time ;) but i bought the cheap $50 one which is basically a power strip in rack form. i will say this for it...it kept my stuff more quiet in places where it was noisy without it.
 
#49
garmenteros said:
Voltage is terrible here. In my house it can get as high as 140 (usually during the day) to as low as 95 (usually at night). Its even more hectic where I work at a small industry. I don't know if power conditioners are bad for the amp, I use the furman AR1215 as a way to power everything I use and protect. And I've fried a couple of things prior to using a power conditioner, but the last time there was a spike, the power conditioner did its job and protected my b15 and mesa 400+. Would have they survived on their own? Maybe. I'd rather buy another conditioner then worry about replacing an output or audio transformer and a full retube.
Click to expand...

garmenteros said:
The ar1215 is supposed to be a voltage regulator I believe... it emits a steady 120 volts +/- 1 according to furmans site...

It ran me back like 300 something dollars and shipping...
Click to expand...

you are right. that is a voltage regulator and the best thing you can have for your situation...
 
#50
JimmyM said:
probably not, but if guys like andy, bob and bill say it's not good, i believe it. that said, i had a power conditioner when i had a rack and plugged my amp into it all the time ;) but i bought the cheap $50 one which is basically a power strip in rack form. i will say this for it...it kept my stuff more quiet in places where it was noisy without it.
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Did you ever have problems with your amp being plugged into your power conditioner. Do you think i should do it whether or not the power conditioner is a "waste of money"
 
#51
+ 1 on the Tripplite power strip. They are expensive, but worth it IMO. Saved the life of our drummer and gear.... the dive we were setting up in had wired the wall socket with two hot leads, or something else screwy. When flipped on (via drummers tennis shoe clad foot), the strip exploded and caught fire. But it did do the job of protecting everything plugged into it.

Voltage regulators are another thing all together, and I keep meaning to purchase one just for my own rig.
 
#52
MR PC said:
+ 1 on the Tripplite power strip. They are expensive, but worth it IMO. Saved the life of our drummer and gear.... the dive we were setting up in had wired the wall socket with two hot leads, or something else screwy. When flipped on (via drummers tennis shoe clad foot), the strip exploded and caught fire. But it did do the job of protecting everything plugged into it.

Voltage regulators are another thing all together, and I keep meaning to purchase one just for my own rig.
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Whys a tripplite so good? http://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-RS-1215-RA-Multiple-Right-Angled/dp/B00006B834
is that good lmfao
 
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#55
abcdefranklin said:
I hate this thread. There's so many mixed opinions
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As is usually the case where electrical/audio engineering concepts are involved those who have electrical/audio engineering knowledge, if not credentials, tend to line up on one side of the issue, while those who don't tend to line up on the other. If this was a question about plumbing who would you ask for advise, a plumber or a banker?

That was a trick question, of course. You can never trust a banker. :eyebrow:
 
#57
Floyd Eye said:
I am running my bass amp and everything else in my rack through a Furman M8. Are you guys saying that by plugging my bass amp straight into a wall I will get more power from it? Because I am all about more power baby. :bassist:
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From what I've gathered, that's exactly what they're saying. I've been doing the same with my M8, but I'm now looking into getting a Y extension cord so I can connect the head straight into an outlet. Apparently hooking the head into the Furman not only chokes the power you're receiving, but it could also be damaging to the head.
 
#58
IdealWay said:
From what I've gathered, that's exactly what they're saying. I've been doing the same with my M8, but I'm now looking into getting a Y extension cord so I can connect the head straight into an outlet. Apparently hooking the head into the Furman not only chokes the power you're receiving, but it could also be damaging to the head.
Click to expand...


Hmm. I'm going to test that theory at practice tomorrow night.
 
#59
Floyd Eye said:
I am running my bass amp and everything else in my rack through a Furman M8. Are you guys saying that by plugging my bass amp straight into a wall I will get more power from it? Because I am all about more power baby. :bassist:
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That depends on what an M8 is. If the M8 is a simple distribution strip w/surge protection and passive capacitive or twin-T power line filtering it won't bother your amp at all. It won't help either, as high quality amps already have that in them anyway. If it is a true active circuit power conditioner it might restrict current flow to your amp, and that's not a good thing.
Part of the problem is semantics. Until recently devices labeled as power conditioners actually contained active circuitry. But now the 'power conditioner' label seems to be applied to anything with a cord and a few outlets, so as with Mama Gump's box of chocolates you never know what you're going to get. A good guideline is the price. If it's 50 bucks or less it's not an active power conditioner, it's a power strip, and you should be OK.
 

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