A different BT Mains Conditioner on EBay - problem

[up the music]

I'm hoping Trevor or somebody with a BT Mains Conditioner or EBay complaints knowledge could help me out here.

Is the 250VA unit rated as 5A?

I've just received a BT conditioning unit bought on EBay.In one place the auction ad does state it is a 5A unit. It then goes on to a review inserted into the page described as a 'review of this product' taken from HiFi Insight. The review is for the 250VA unit.

The EBay auction is here

My problem is that what I got in the post was a MCU5A/125, the smallest of these units. I did get a 5A unit as the auction advertised, I did not get the reviewed item though. It seems to me what I have is not as described.

I've so far have just send a polite mail to the seller asking for comments on this. I now need a cup of tea to calm me down. Wait for responses here, and see what seller has to say before I pursue the matter with EBay. The package has only been open 10 minutes.

 

[kena]

Maybe the auction should have said review of similar product , but in the end you got what you bid for...The seller may say he'll take it back but i'd imagine you would have to cover costs

 

[up the music]

kena:Maybe the auction should have said review of similar product

Exactly, on that basis I could put an ad up for 'A fantastic Naim Amp' and go on to say 'heee is a review of THIS amp', then insert a review of the latest mega bucks Naim. Surely if you got an early period Nait integrated in the post, you'd have been mis sold?

 

[kena]

up the music:kena:Maybe the auction should have said review of similar product Exactly, on that basis I could put an ad up for 'A fantastic Naim Amp' and go on to say 'heee is a review of THIS amp', then insert a review of the latest mega bucks Naim. Surely if you got an early period Nait integrated in the post, you'd have been mis sold?

Don't think the analogy is very relevant since the Naim products you mention are so different whereas the conditioner looks almost identical and will perform the same as its bigger brother.. Noticed on the lower half of auction page the "buy it now for £50" one where the photo only shows the front, No view to illustate if its the 1 or 2 socket variation, buyer needs to know his conditioners!! (Needs his head on his Shoulders)

Hope it works out

 

[up the music]

Yes, I realise the analogy is an extreme example, to make the point.

The seller does have a 100% record on nearly 500 transactions. I've just got an Email back from him. Most apologetic. He's amending another ad he has where he's done exactly the same thing. It does look like an innocent mistake.

I can still use the unit I have for source components so hopefully I needn't return it. As a bonus he has what appears to be an MCU500, which I might get at a decent price as he's 'messed me around' .... his words not mine.

It looks like we might have a speedy resolution.

 

[Anonymous]

Have just seen your post!

All the BT units I have come across have been rated @ 5A.

I think this is down to the fuse they put in the plug, that's all.

It is the size of the Mains Tranformer that is important, the bigger the better. The 125va will take a load up to 5A I found, but will go onto its protection mode if you push it higher.

However the 500va models will quite happily run at double that and then some on peak loadings.

It is not clear at all in his EBay listing which model it is, and I cannot tell by the photo either.
Personally I would be happy if he did either of two things here.
1 - Replace the unit for the 250va one that he posted the review on, or 2 - Let you buy a 500va one at a discounted price to compensate for his naughty marketing.
£30 would be fair I think. IMHO

PS You better plug it in 1st and see how much you like it!

All the best

 

[up the music]

Out of interest has anybody tried these or otr conditioners on a PC? If so, with what results? I know PC mains cables often come with ferrites, so I suspect there may be gain in not passing problems to other components.

I was under the impresion that the VA rating gave an indication of the number of watts these units could effectively condition. So the 125VA would do a nice job up to 125W load. After this its performance would deteriorate until a 5A (1200W) load was reached whereupon it would blow a fuse. Am I being wrong headed about this?

I did pay top dollar for this one, when Margetti's ent for such a huge sum. I figured if I din't another fool would.

Yes, now there's a chance it's not going straight back I shall plug and play with the new unit. Let me have another cup of tea first.

 

[margetti]

Saw that ad too and thought it a bit naughty, although I get the feeling a lot of the people selling these don't have a clue about them, other that they can get some money for them off hi-fi bods like ourselves.

Hope it all works out for the best - if he can give you a deal on a 500va then you'll end up with a real bargain (and an envious me who just paid a small fortune for one, lol).

If you end up sticking with the 125va (which I also have) then you will still get a lot out of it - I have my stereo amp (40-watt per channel), tv, cd player, pre-amp and tt all running off it (although they're not all in use at the same time obviously) and it copes fine.

Have tonight just plugged in my 500va - using it for the Onkyo and Sub. Bought a smile to my face - one of those improvements that you just don't bother doing an ABAB comparison because the difference is so incredibly, immediately, apparant.ÿ

 

[margetti]

up the music:O I did pay top dollar for this one, when Margetti's ent for such a huge sum.

Ah, now I understand your annoyance!

 

[Tear Drop]

up the music:Out of interest has anybody tried these or otr conditioners on a PC? If so, with what results? I know PC mains cables often come with ferrites, so I suspect there may be gain in not passing problems to other components

In the world of computers it has long been understood, well before it was in hifi, that static build up, interference and surges can cause problems for electrical circuitry - hence the prevalent use of ferrites for many years on PC cables, and the fact that pretty much every 'computer' cable is screened. The problems for computers though are more serious than the issue of just sound or picture quality. Static build up, excessive interference and surges can cause a computer to crash and potentially lose data. This is why conditioners and the like are essential for computer use. Since I started using mains filtration for my PC and Mac several years ago I have not experienced a single crash.

Also, as you rightly point out, computers are notorious for chucking noise back onto the mains, another reason to install mains filters in any home these days - both for the computer itself and also for your beloved music and/or movie system.

 

[ElectroMan]

Tear Drop: Since I started using mains filtration for my PC and Mac several years ago I have not experienced a single crash.

Ah, if only all MS Windows problems could be solved by sorting out the mains!

 

[Anonymous]

Oh yes, welcome to the enlightened group of music lovers.

Things will never be the same again for you.
It is nothing short of being a revelation to hear just how good everything sounds given a stable supply, especially on AV equipment.

It is similar in effect to putting a PSX unit onto a Cyrus amp, only better.