1. Home
  2. Electronics Repair
  3. Average Joe need line conditioner?

Average Joe need line conditioner?

As many of us know in the electrical/electronics world, all home electronics equipment has a form of filtering associated with the a.c. line and/or the filtered d.c. down the path. Series noise filtering can be a line transformer as you would find on better equipment or an rc network as found on direct line connected equipment.

I see these "line conditioners" in the stereo/tv stores selling for as much as $500.00 to $1500.00. These units clean-up noise as well as stabilize the 120 volt line voltage.

As I have come to understand, the need for these units is grossly exaggerated by salesmen to unsuspecting customers, as the line noise levels are already reduced to acceptable levels in the tvs/stereos in general.

--
Dave M.
Reply to
Dave M.
Loading thread data ...

I am inclined to agree, unless you're doing hi-fi recording, in which case you might spend 200 bucks on a furman power conditioner if there's something especially noisy in your neighborhood. But usually if something is making noise on the power line, something isn't working right, and the power company can be talked into at least looking at it.I can't imagine what might be in the $1500 one that would make it that much better.

I once saw triple shielded optical digital audio cable made by monster in a fancy stereo shop.

Reply to
stickyfox

Yes they're mostly snake oil, since just about any equipment steps down the line voltage with a transformer, rectifies it and filters it interally you'd have to have a LOT of noise on the line to cause any problems, especially for better equipment with well regulated supplies.

Reply to
James Sweet

Unless you are into the very high end stuff it is a waste of money.

Speaking of the monster stuff, it gets me that they (or someone like them) sell a special replacement 120 v cord that replaces the one that comes on equipment for about $ 100. What good would that do when you have about 50 feet or more going to the breaker box and alot of aluminum cable going to the power pole ?

Reply to
Ralph Mowery

HAW!!!!! You think a $100 power cord is bad.. get a load of the duplex receptacle at

formatting link 

--
Dave M
MasonDG44 at comcast dot net  (Just substitute the appropriate characters in 
the address)

Never take a laxative and a sleeping pill at the same time!!
Reply to
DaveM

PCB-free snake oil, I hope.

Reply to
stickyfox

You dont get it, do you ? Gold-plated rivets make the sound better!!! ;-)

Reply to
Pszemol

LMAO!!! For that price, they ought to be solid gold!!!!

--
Dave M
MasonDG44 at comcast dot net  (Just substitute the appropriate characters in 
the address)

Never take a laxative and a sleeping pill at the same time!!
Reply to
DaveM

I would add that *if* you're into the very high end stuff it's all a waste of money IMO. There's good equipment, there's very good professional grade equipment, then there's audiophool grade equipment which differs from the former two mostly in price and marketing.

Reply to
James Sweet

them)

on

50

to

duplex

LOL I thought I'd seen it all. Where's the audio grade circuit breakers and romex cable?

Reply to
James Sweet

I can't even miagine a million dollar recording studio plugging their equipment into a $100+ outlet. It's true that the cheapest $0.79 outlets are not reliable and after several cycles of inserting and removing plugs, they loosen or break. So when I change an outlet in my house or for someone else I reccomend a more expensive outlet - about $3.00 - $4.00 each.

Reply to
Jumpster Jiver

I'm surprised it's not touted as an alternative to wiring your amp directly into the breaker.

Does anyone sell oxygen-free THHN wire?

Reply to
stickyfox

I get Leviton for around a buck and have never worn one out or broken one.

--
        If John McCain gets the 2008 Republican Presidential nomination,
           my vote for President will be a write-in for Jiang Zemin.
Reply to
clifto

ElectronDepot website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.