Belkin PF50

[El Hefe]

Hi all, I have read a few previous threads on the various Belkin power management units. I can see mixed reaction on whether it improves the audio and video quality or not. I am getting mine this Sunday, however at a hefty price of about GBP300. I have no choice as thats the best deal I can get here in Malaysia. I have othe roptions like RGPC etc, but its 5 times more expensive. I have been using the Belkin Gold Series 6 way surge protector but I have been looking for a 10 way surge protector but to no avail. The RGPC will cost me GBP1700, hence thats out of the question. With priority of having a surge protector and not sound improvement, how do you guys feel about this product? Getting the latter will be a bonus for me of course.

 

[scene]

Well I am the proud owner of a PF50 and I think it's a marvellous product, for the price I paid. I'll be honest, I wouldn't pay £300 for it - but then again, living in England, I probably don't have quite such bad mains issues as you probably had, which would impact my thinking.

Anyway - to the product. It is built like a tank and very well constructed. Its mains cable accounts for over half of the weight of the product, from what I can make out and is as thick as my thumb, its a little inflexible, but thats not a quibble. There's lots of flexibility in set up, which I haven't had the time to fiddle with yet.

As for the impact on my system. I've found that it has removed any audible clicks and pops from my sound - I used to get a lot from the fridge/freezers, the central heating, the kettle! It does seem to have improved the picture on my Kuro somewhat. I thought I was imagining it, but Mrs S thinks the same, and the picture does seem clearer and more stable. Now as all my sources (DVD / BDP / Cable box) and the TV (both screen and media box) are all plumbed through the PF50, I'm not sure whether it's source stability (my AC voltage seems to vary from 236-244V) or the display's happier with the smoother supply, I can't tell. But it doesn't matter - it's better, and that's all that's important. Sound does sound good - haven't noticed the "closing in" of sound that some people say they've noticed with the PF30 and PF40.

Overall a big thumbs up

P.S. If I get a chance I'll post what's plumbed into what socket and post that proper review of the PF50 I promised a month ago

 

[El Hefe]

Scene,

Thanks for the reply. It looks like its a good product. In my case, it might not be value for money but as long as it works especially to protect my equipments. Its funny how certain items are valued at different parts of the world. My main purpose is to protectmy kit as I am having light bulbs blowing up every other week.

As for the connection, are the sockets fixed to waht type of equipment can be connected as I can see its being split to digital, audio, video and high power? I have 2 x monoblocks and integrated amp to connect. So can i still use the audio or video sockets to connect 2 of the amps?

 

[scene]

El Hefe,

I'm not sure I can answer the question about the amps straight off - I've packed the manual, etc, up in the loft - and I'd need to dig it out (it's freezing up there as well!). I suspect it depends on how much current the amp and monoblocks will draw. I'd be tempted to say put the integrated amp onto the high current socket and the monoblocks into a pair of audio sockets. But that would depend on ratings, etc.

 

[El Hefe]

Scene,

I have checked and it seems its ok to connect equipments to either digital, audio, video or high current. But it may not yield the purity results.

More questions:

1. The input voltage seems to fluctuate between 247 V to 255 V. Is this normal?
2. The current meter does not give out any reading. Its zero all the time regardless I chose either Bank 1 or other Banks. Cant find anyhing on this matter in the manual. Does yours giving out current reading?
3. For the delay switch, it can only delay the switch between 2 banks is it?
I wanted to have a start up sequence of integrated amp -> power amps -> DAC -> CDP -> MD -> tape deck -> PSU to headPhone amp and tube buffer. However it can only turn on the integratd amp followed by the rest of the equipments simultaneously 15 sec later. Did I set it up right?

Sound wise, yes I am lucky enough to be able to hear the difference. The overall sound somehow sound more relaxed ie: the sound does not sound as if its struggling to drive my speakers.

 

[scene]

To answer your questions:

1. Voltage fluctuations - here in the UK I get 236-244V regularly. Can't comment on what you get where you are, but what you're quoting seems in the bounds of possibility.

2. I seem to remember that the current meter only displays studff when current is being drawn. That is, I found that I only got readings when the amp was on and reasonably loud.

3. I thought the delay was programmable per bank on the PF50 - that's what the manual says (on page 8). Each can be programmed to switched, unswitched, or delay on, or always on - with the delay being selectable to 5, 10 or 15s. There's a figure on page 9 that makes this clearer...

 

[El Hefe]

Ok so the voltage fluctuation is normal then.

A bit confused on the current meter. Why is it just showing current being drawn at high volumes? Isnt the equipments connected to the Power Console is constantly drawing current?

Thats what I thought on the delay switches but I think its only programmable between 2 banks and not between all 5as the delay time 5, 10 or 15 seconds will effect all 5 banks and cannot be chosen for individual bank.

 

[scene]

Sorry, I slightly misled you on the current meter...

Pretty much the only bank that shows current being drawn (about 1.2-1.3A) is my Kuro - that Plasma screen, just sucking the power! With a DVD playing, amp on, that was the only bank showing current...

As for the delay time - hmmm - I'd need to check that in the manual... OK checked, yes you're right - only one delay allowed. In fact, at the bottom of Page 8 it says "Delay Time Switch: This switch sets the length of delay for all socket banks that are programmed as "Switched" and "Delay" " (my highlight).

 

[El Hefe]

Talk about misleading advertisement from Belkin . But at least now I know that there is nothing wrong on the delay switch set up.

I wonder what is the rational of the current meter only showing readings for power hungry equipments.

I actually like what the Power Console doing to the SQ of my equipments.