hi i would like to know if these power centres with multiple sockets are any good i was told that they filter out all interference from the electricity supply which is suppossed to give you a clearer picture on your tv and stop damage to your electrical equipment i.e surges and spikes is there any truth or is it just another gimmick to get people to part with there cash,and can they have the opposite effect and cause problems any answers would be welcome cheers
MONSTER POWER CENTRE ARE THEY ANY GOOD
- Thread starter 3937edwards
- Start date
3937edwards: hi i would like to know if these power centres with multiple sockets are any good i was told that they filter out all interference from the electricity supply which is suppossed to give you a clearer picture on your tv and stop damage to your electrical equipment i.e surges and spikes is there any truth or is it just another gimmick to get people to part with there cash,and can they have the opposite effect and cause problems any answers would be welcome cheers
If your mains is 'dirty', these devices can have a very positive effect. If your mains is 'clean', they can have a detrimental effect. There's no way of really knowing if your own mains is clean or dirty without testing it, and this could cost you more than this device you're considering. Your house may have 'clean' mains, and yet a house at the end of your same road may have 'dirty' mains... it depends on too many factors to make sweeping generalisations.
So there's nobody here that can honestly give you a definitive answer - you can only try one for yourself and take it back for a refund if you don't see a positive difference. Having said that, many users on this forum get good results from the Tacima (aka Lindy), which WHF themselves tested to be reasonably good for the money - it's very similar in function to the Monster Power Centre you mention. There's a lot of comment about the Tacima here on these forums, mostly good (probably from those who have dirty mains), and some who've experienced mixed results (those with mains which is probably already pretty good anyway). Hope that helps.
If your mains is 'dirty', these devices can have a very positive effect. If your mains is 'clean', they can have a detrimental effect. There's no way of really knowing if your own mains is clean or dirty without testing it, and this could cost you more than this device you're considering. Your house may have 'clean' mains, and yet a house at the end of your same road may have 'dirty' mains... it depends on too many factors to make sweeping generalisations.
So there's nobody here that can honestly give you a definitive answer - you can only try one for yourself and take it back for a refund if you don't see a positive difference. Having said that, many users on this forum get good results from the Tacima (aka Lindy), which WHF themselves tested to be reasonably good for the money - it's very similar in function to the Monster Power Centre you mention. There's a lot of comment about the Tacima here on these forums, mostly good (probably from those who have dirty mains), and some who've experienced mixed results (those with mains which is probably already pretty good anyway). Hope that helps.
bigboss
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I use this which is perfect for my needs. I don't believe that cables can produce picture & sound improvements, but this protects my AV equipment against a power surge.
My friend's home cinema system was ruined when there was lightning 5 years ago. He had to claim them off his insurance. Since then, he's using this surge protector.
My friend's home cinema system was ruined when there was lightning 5 years ago. He had to claim them off his insurance. Since then, he's using this surge protector.
I get good results from my Monster Power HTS1650 which has 8 sockets, including 2 labelled " ultra high current". I've plugged my CD player & amplifier into both these sockets and A/V equipment to the others. It does seem to clean up the sound somewhat on my HiFi setup, but I use it primarily for surge protection.
bigboss:My friend's home cinema system was ruined when there was lightning 5 years ago. He had to claim them off his insurance. Since then, he's using this surge protector.
The trouble with Belkin's Connected Equipment Warranty is that it claims to cover lightening strikes provided it is used "in accordance with any labels or instructions"...and in the instructions it says "we cannot guarantee that it will protect all of your equipment in the event of a large lightening storm. In the event of a lightening storm, it is best to unplug your power console from the wall". Mmmm....
In any event (if the Belkin Power Console I use here is anything to go by), the active surge protecting device is nothing more than a chain of simple MOV's (55p each from Maplins here http://www.maplin.co.uk/transient-suppressor-mov-499)... which do wear out over time. They provide exactly the same surge/spike protection, but that's no better than no protection in the event of a direct lightening strike. If you are unlucky enough to have a lightening strike and your equipment does all go 'bang', it just means you'll be claiming against your own household insurance instead of Belkins.
Even so, these 'power centres/consoles/strips/blocks' do remove many of the smaller everyday mains gremlins...
The trouble with Belkin's Connected Equipment Warranty is that it claims to cover lightening strikes provided it is used "in accordance with any labels or instructions"...and in the instructions it says "we cannot guarantee that it will protect all of your equipment in the event of a large lightening storm. In the event of a lightening storm, it is best to unplug your power console from the wall". Mmmm....
In any event (if the Belkin Power Console I use here is anything to go by), the active surge protecting device is nothing more than a chain of simple MOV's (55p each from Maplins here http://www.maplin.co.uk/transient-suppressor-mov-499)... which do wear out over time. They provide exactly the same surge/spike protection, but that's no better than no protection in the event of a direct lightening strike. If you are unlucky enough to have a lightening strike and your equipment does all go 'bang', it just means you'll be claiming against your own household insurance instead of Belkins.
Even so, these 'power centres/consoles/strips/blocks' do remove many of the smaller everyday mains gremlins...
I have a monster power station ( can't remember which one and can't be bothered getting off the sofa) can't say it's had any truely spectacular effects on my system, but as I live in an 1960s house, I thought it was worth a go. They only thing I don't plug into it is the AVR which has own chord power lead, direct into the socket.
Hello Wireman,
How you doing? Hav'nt seen you around in a while mate, hope all is well with you.
I do get great results from the Tacima as i do from my powerkords so i must have VERY dirty mains, ha Or terrible case of placebo as some would point out with which i dont agree with at all.
I think like you say Wireman it's always best to try these things out for yourself as i originally did as it is the only way of knowing.
How you doing? Hav'nt seen you around in a while mate, hope all is well with you.
I do get great results from the Tacima as i do from my powerkords so i must have VERY dirty mains, ha Or terrible case of placebo as some would point out with which i dont agree with at all.
I think like you say Wireman it's always best to try these things out for yourself as i originally did as it is the only way of knowing.
Ah... Jase! AKA Mr PowerKord himself - DCT treated of course! Good to hear from you!
Nice to hear your Tacima is working well... I have my computers plugged into mine to stop noise from them affecting everything else - for me it works better like that than using it on my hi-fi or AV!
How did you get on with your RA Mini-Purifier, or did you end up sending that back? In my tests here I found it to be the most successful of all RA's suppression devices... but that doesn't mean it'd work for everyone in all circumstances. Did it work for you?
Nice to hear your Tacima is working well... I have my computers plugged into mine to stop noise from them affecting everything else - for me it works better like that than using it on my hi-fi or AV!
How did you get on with your RA Mini-Purifier, or did you end up sending that back? In my tests here I found it to be the most successful of all RA's suppression devices... but that doesn't mean it'd work for everyone in all circumstances. Did it work for you?
wireman:
Ah... Jase! AKA Mr PowerKord himself - DCT treated of course! Good to hear from you!
Nice to hear your Tacima is working well... I have my computers plugged into mine to stop noise from them affecting everything else - for me it works better like that than using it on my hi-fi or AV!
How did you get on with your RA Mini-Purifier, or did you end up sending that back? In my tests here I found it to be the most successful of all RA's suppression devices... but that doesn't mean it'd work for everyone in all circumstances. Did it work for you?
Hi Wireman,
First up thanks for the recognition, ha
The mini-Purifier had NO effect at all in my system mate, i even left it in for a few days bareing in mind this did'nt need any burn-in time, it had zero effect.
I did many demo's as you can imagine but no change at all, so this proves there's no placebo here!
So i sent it back and the staff at RAs asked me what the problem was so i explained etc and he said that obviously The Silencer is adequate for my system.
Now my powerkords? That was a different story all together now there nicely burnt in they have improved my system no end.
The tacima i was most surprised with as when i first bought it it felt so lightweight and cheap really apart from the snazzy coils you can see in it, but afterall it's a mains block so no need to get to excited about it's appearance or lack off, ha
I found it improved my CDP performance more than anything as it was instantly noticeable, made my music much more open, better dynamics and lovely tighter bass and vocals where crystal clear, so well worth £24 !
I can honestly say that my system is exactly how i've always wanted it, crystal clear pictures and sound to die for, always brings a smile to my face everytime a bomb goes off on screen, ha
So all in all mate im totally satisfied. Oh and i've no interest in 3D at all which is a good thing as if not i'd have to do all that upgrading.......again!
Ah... Jase! AKA Mr PowerKord himself - DCT treated of course! Good to hear from you!
Nice to hear your Tacima is working well... I have my computers plugged into mine to stop noise from them affecting everything else - for me it works better like that than using it on my hi-fi or AV!
How did you get on with your RA Mini-Purifier, or did you end up sending that back? In my tests here I found it to be the most successful of all RA's suppression devices... but that doesn't mean it'd work for everyone in all circumstances. Did it work for you?
Hi Wireman,
First up thanks for the recognition, ha
The mini-Purifier had NO effect at all in my system mate, i even left it in for a few days bareing in mind this did'nt need any burn-in time, it had zero effect.
I did many demo's as you can imagine but no change at all, so this proves there's no placebo here!
So i sent it back and the staff at RAs asked me what the problem was so i explained etc and he said that obviously The Silencer is adequate for my system.
Now my powerkords? That was a different story all together now there nicely burnt in they have improved my system no end.
The tacima i was most surprised with as when i first bought it it felt so lightweight and cheap really apart from the snazzy coils you can see in it, but afterall it's a mains block so no need to get to excited about it's appearance or lack off, ha
I found it improved my CDP performance more than anything as it was instantly noticeable, made my music much more open, better dynamics and lovely tighter bass and vocals where crystal clear, so well worth £24 !
I can honestly say that my system is exactly how i've always wanted it, crystal clear pictures and sound to die for, always brings a smile to my face everytime a bomb goes off on screen, ha
So all in all mate im totally satisfied. Oh and i've no interest in 3D at all which is a good thing as if not i'd have to do all that upgrading.......again!
It just goes to show that what can work well for one person is totally useless for somebody else in a different situation... it doesn't mean that any specific mains conditioner product or cable is totally useless altogether...
The Tacima works well for Jase, but is next to useless for me...
The RA Mini-Purifier works well for me, but is totally useless for Jase...
And yet RA PowerKords work well for both of us!
Having said that, I sold-on my RA Signature PowerKord since it offered nothing over and above my other RA Reference PowerKords... but the RA Reference PowerKords definitely work better for me than Classic PowerKords... yet, apart from the number of strands within the cable itself, they're all fundamentally of the same construction... maybe some of the cable sceptics can explain that to me!
It really does seem to me to be a case of trying these things for yourself and forming your own judgement.
Now all I need to do is get my PowerKords Cryogenically treated, eh Jase? No interest in 3D here either by the way...
The Tacima works well for Jase, but is next to useless for me...
The RA Mini-Purifier works well for me, but is totally useless for Jase...
And yet RA PowerKords work well for both of us!
Having said that, I sold-on my RA Signature PowerKord since it offered nothing over and above my other RA Reference PowerKords... but the RA Reference PowerKords definitely work better for me than Classic PowerKords... yet, apart from the number of strands within the cable itself, they're all fundamentally of the same construction... maybe some of the cable sceptics can explain that to me!
It really does seem to me to be a case of trying these things for yourself and forming your own judgement.
Now all I need to do is get my PowerKords Cryogenically treated, eh Jase? No interest in 3D here either by the way...
Hi Wireman,
yes i've always believed it should be a case of "try for yourself" as our results are the opposite albeit the powerkords.
Electricity works in mysterious ways eh Wireman? ha
And as for the DCT treatment i'd certainly recommend it as i've done A/B comparisons between untreated and treated on my bluray player, the results are very noticeable mainly the picture as a shine to it almost a feeling of polishing your tv screen (if you get what i mean)?
As for the sound it seems more punchier and the background detail seems more refined IMO of course.
Well worth a pop Wireman, you could get one treated and see how you go with it, if we where neighbours i'd lend you one mate.
As for the signature powerkord i've never tried one as just abit to expensive for me really but having said that i do get fantastic results from my reference (DCT treated) that's connected to my amp, fantastic, i'ts transformed my amp no end.
Actually i wont use the term transformed as i'm liable to get ripped to pieces for that of the sceptics but more "allowed my amp to perform to it's FULL potential.
yes i've always believed it should be a case of "try for yourself" as our results are the opposite albeit the powerkords.
Electricity works in mysterious ways eh Wireman? ha
And as for the DCT treatment i'd certainly recommend it as i've done A/B comparisons between untreated and treated on my bluray player, the results are very noticeable mainly the picture as a shine to it almost a feeling of polishing your tv screen (if you get what i mean)?
As for the sound it seems more punchier and the background detail seems more refined IMO of course.
Well worth a pop Wireman, you could get one treated and see how you go with it, if we where neighbours i'd lend you one mate.
As for the signature powerkord i've never tried one as just abit to expensive for me really but having said that i do get fantastic results from my reference (DCT treated) that's connected to my amp, fantastic, i'ts transformed my amp no end.
Actually i wont use the term transformed as i'm liable to get ripped to pieces for that of the sceptics but more "allowed my amp to perform to it's FULL potential.
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