Power conditioners

[Sam Laming]

I'm after a Furman Power Conditioner maybe for Christmas but there's so many I don't know which is best for me, surge protection sounds good and they all seem to provide enough sockets for me so why so many models?

What's the difference in the classic series:

http://www.furmansound.com/product.php?div=03&id=PL-8CE

+ the 10amp/16amp series? I play a Diezel Herbert, I don't know if that helps but I don't understand the amps relevance?..

Thanks!

 

[nbarts]

Basically,
Filter noise
Surge protection
Voltage regulation

The one you linked to does not regulate the voltage.

Other than that your main concern should be the max wattage it can have connected to it & make sure that it can handle all the crap you are going to have connected to it.

 

[Sam Laming]

This one looks like a better bet:

http://www.furmansound.com/product.php? ... =PL-PLUSCE

Has all 3 things you've mentioned and I like the idea of being able to say that 'clipping'...

Once my rigs sorted it'll be a Korg Tuner, G-Force, ISP Decimator, Groove tubes speaker emulator and mayybe another effects unit and emulator, it seems to have spare sockets for that so I'd assume it's safe although I know it's relative to wattage, not how many things are running...

 

[rsm]

I've had a Furman PL-Plus since the early 1990s, and recently purchased two more (PL-Plus Series II). These are moderately priced. I don't run any rack gear without one. Back in the day, I played at places that had power that was less than stable, and I always felt better knowing this Furman would provide some protection to my more expensive rack gear. Luckily, I never had to find out! I've got one protecting several hundred dollars worth of ADA rack gear, and another protecting my Axe-Fx Ultra and Trace Elliot MP11 bass preamp (these are rare, hard to find). I'd rather the $200 Furman die than this other expensive or hard to find gear. I opted to not get the voltage regulator, which increases the price.

There was someone selling brand new Furman on the 'bay, buy it now or best offer, and I got my two new units for less than GC, MF and others were selling for, I think it may have had free shipping too? The seller was "audiosavings" very happy with the deals and price, and my buying experience with them.

 

[nbarts]

This one looks like a better bet:

http://www.furmansound.com/product.php? ... =PL-PLUSCE

Has all 3 things you've mentioned and I like the idea of being able to say that 'clipping'...

Once my rigs sorted it'll be a Korg Tuner, G-Force, ISP Decimator, Groove tubes speaker emulator and mayybe another effects unit and emulator, it seems to have spare sockets for that so I'd assume it's safe although I know it's relative to wattage, not how many things are running...

Nop, it doesn't regulate voltage either.

 

[wc8485]

Just a suggestion, I'd get one that has the voltage meter display on it... the one with LED's or I think there is/was one with another type of display.

The furman voltage regulators vary in price from $350. and up... there are a couple of B-stock sellers on ebay that has them in the lower price range.

 

[blackba]

You shouldn't need voltage regulation, it just nice to monitor and it and make sure its between 110VAC and 125VAC.....

 

[Sam Laming]

This one looks like a better bet:

http://www.furmansound.com/product.php? ... =PL-PLUSCE

Has all 3 things you've mentioned and I like the idea of being able to say that 'clipping'...

Once my rigs sorted it'll be a Korg Tuner, G-Force, ISP Decimator, Groove tubes speaker emulator and mayybe another effects unit and emulator, it seems to have spare sockets for that so I'd assume it's safe although I know it's relative to wattage, not how many things are running...

Nop, it doesn't regulate voltage either.

Well presuming I've got this right, when you setup and turn on, there's your voltage as it'll say on the meter, you'll know if somethings up then generally although things may happen half way through a show. It's got voltage protection so as rsm says, he's never had to find out so hopefully I'll be just the same with my future power conditioner

 

[MrDan666]

If you are powering your main amp off the Power Conditioner.. personally i would opt for the Voltage Regulation...

Purely because it will help keep your amps tone consistant night after night. Without the voltage regulation, some venues can absolutely kill your tone and make it sound like utter shit. It can be a massive difference and i know because i have experienced it more than once. In some places the incorrect incoming voltage to the amp, can make the amp sound all shrill and ear piercing or can make it sound like pure mush with a severe lack of gain.

If you can get one for a great price, a Furman which does the actuall voltage regulation (eg taking the incoming voltage and keeping it constantly at 120VAC or within a small range around that number) and also power conditioning then it would be worth the extra dough.

 

[rsm]

If you are powering your main amp off the Power Conditioner.. personally i would opt for the Voltage Regulation...

Purely because it will help keep your amps tone consistant night after night. Without the voltage regulation, some venues can absolutely kill your tone and make it sound like utter shit. It can be a massive difference and i know because i have experienced it more than once. In some places the incorrect incoming voltage to the amp, can make the amp sound all shrill and ear piercing or can make it sound like pure mush with a severe lack of gain.

If you can get one for a great price, a Furman which does the actuall voltage regulation (eg taking the incoming voltage and keeping it constantly at 120VAC or within a small range around that number) and also power conditioning then it would be worth the extra dough.

There were a few places back in the day where the led read in the yellow, not the low red or high red. Ideally, your in the green. This was back in the late '80s early '90s. Voltage regulator is more expensive, and I never suffered tone depravation due to voltage regulation (not saying it isn't possible MrDan666!) but my goal was to protect my expensive gear. I also used a power strip that had surge protection - hoping that would fry even before the Fuman. At a minimum, I'd say power conditioner; if you can spend more, then voltage regulation isn't a bad idea. For me, it was the power strip and Furman suicide chain that was my goal. I never ran in the red on the leds, ran in the green or yellow, and never had tone issues. Its depends on your goal and your wallet. But I'd also use a surge protected extension cord too, better that take the first shot than your Furman at any price!

 

[King Crimson]

This one looks like a better bet:

http://www.furmansound.com/product.php? ... =PL-PLUSCE

That's what I've got. Works great - get it!

 

[King Crimson]

Once my rigs sorted it'll be a Korg Tuner, G-Force, ISP Decimator, Groove tubes speaker emulator and mayybe another effects unit and emulator, it seems to have spare sockets for that so I'd assume it's safe although I know it's relative to wattage, not how many things are running...

With all the money you'll spend on that cr--, er stuff, you could just get an Axe-FX standard and be done with it.

 

[nbarts]

Well presuming I've got this right, when you setup and turn on, there's your voltage as it'll say on the meter, you'll know if somethings up then generally although things may happen half way through a show. It's got voltage protection so as rsm says, he's never had to find out so hopefully I'll be just the same with my future power conditioner

I'm just telling you what they do & what they don't do, I don't want you to think that it's protecting you from something it doesn't. I'd buy it new from a retailer to be qualified for the insurance for the gear connected to it.

 

[King Crimson]

If you are powering your main amp off the Power Conditioner.. personally i would opt for the Voltage Regulation...

Purely because it will help keep your amps tone consistant night after night.

WTF are you talking about? Voltage regulation has absolutely nothing to do with the tone your rig produces. Unwanted noise, 60 cycle hum maybe, but tone, no. Some of guys are simply spending too much time whacking off and should be playing your guitar and rig more...

Sam, just get a furman pl-plus series II and you'll be fine.

 

[Sam Laming]

Haha, I'm getting mixed opinions here

MrDan, how do you know it's the power conditioner which is causing the tonal nuisances and not say a mic?

Once my rigs sorted it'll be a Korg Tuner, G-Force, ISP Decimator, Groove tubes speaker emulator and mayybe another effects unit and emulator, it seems to have spare sockets for that so I'd assume it's safe although I know it's relative to wattage, not how many things are running...

With all the money you'll spend on that cr--, er stuff, you could just get an Axe-FX standard and be done with it.

Well I've already got the tuner + G Force + plan on the rest. The only reason I said maybe another effects unit and emulator is because I'm going to have 2 rigs running at once it seems (Got an 8 string coming with Piezos that has a separate output)... Crap? I adore my G-Force and Korg, the rest of it I'll find out sooner or later

Well presuming I've got this right, when you setup and turn on, there's your voltage as it'll say on the meter, you'll know if somethings up then generally although things may happen half way through a show. It's got voltage protection so as rsm says, he's never had to find out so hopefully I'll be just the same with my future power conditioner

I'm just telling you what they do & what they don't do, I don't want you to think that it's protecting you from something it doesn't. I'd buy it new from a retailer to be qualified for the insurance for the gear connected to it.

Indeed! Yeah, I appreciate you sharing it with me, all I ever do on this forum is try to learn new stuff so cheers and I'm not going to get a second hand one.

 

[King Guitar]

not to spam you but I just posted a really nice power conditioner in the classifieds

 

[MrDan666]

If you are powering your main amp off the Power Conditioner.. personally i would opt for the Voltage Regulation...

Purely because it will help keep your amps tone consistant night after night.

WTF are you talking about? Voltage regulation has absolutely nothing to do with the tone your rig produces. Unwanted noise, 60 cycle hum maybe, but tone, no. Some of guys are simply spending too much time whacking off and should be playing your guitar and rig more...

Sam, just get a furman pl-plus series II and you'll be fine.

No.. WTF are you talking about?

Im talking about ACTUAL experience i have had when playing live many times in various venues. When playing in venues where the voltage is either WAY lower or WAY higher than the set 120v or 240v your amp wants to see.. then it screws with your tone big time!!

IF you dont believe me then power your rig through a Variac and change the incoming voltages to anything higher/lower than 120v. Listen with your ears and then tell me im wrong. There's a reason why guys like EVH/Steve Stevens/Lynch used variacs to change the voltage, because it CHANGES the tone!

 

[Sam Laming]

not to spam you but I just posted a really nice power conditioner in the classifieds

Unless your from England I shall pass danke though and hmmm Mr dan thanks, hmmmm, to voltage regulate or go for the one I posted ...

*edit* is it called something different on the Furman site? I can't find any with 'voltage regulation', maybe this means the same?:

'Zero ground contamination circuitry assures delivery of pure AC '

?

 

[MARK1970]

If you are powering your main amp off the Power Conditioner.. personally i would opt for the Voltage Regulation...

Purely because it will help keep your amps tone consistant night after night.

WTF are you talking about? Voltage regulation has absolutely nothing to do with the tone your rig produces. Unwanted noise, 60 cycle hum maybe, but tone, no. Some of guys are simply spending too much time whacking off and should be playing your guitar and rig more...

Sam, just get a furman pl-plus series II and you'll be fine.

No.. WTF are you talking about?

Im talking about ACTUAL experience i have had when playing live many times in various venues. When playing in venues where the voltage is either WAY lower or WAY higher than the set 120v or 240v your amp wants to see.. then it screws with your tone big time!!

IF you dont believe me then power your rig through a Variac and change the incoming voltages to anything higher/lower than 120v. Listen with your ears and then tell me im wrong. There's a reason why guys like EVH/Steve Stevens/Lynch used variacs to change the voltage, because it CHANGES the tone!

+1 maintaining a constant 120v will give you the same tone. The Furman site explains all this in detail. A voltage regulater would be the priority for me. The power conditioner actually filters out dirty electricity, whatever that is.
The voltage meter on the conditioner just lets you know what the flow of electricity is constantly, but does not regulate a constant 120v. Currently, I have had a reading of 124v to as low as 112v. There is an obvious difference at louder volumes. Unfortunately for me, I have only known about power regulating for the past year. I will be buying me one soon.

 

[nbarts]

Currently, I have had a reading of 124v to as low as 112v. There is an obvious difference at louder volumes. Unfortunately for me, I have only known about power regulating for the past year. I will be buying me one soon.

You should read more about voltage regulating before making a purchase. I'm not aware of a voltage regulator in the market that can provide constant 120V, that's not the way they operate. You should probably look into ac/dc-dc/ac units, but I should warn you that they are really expensive.