Speedskater
Major Contributor
Remember that 'power conditioner' is an undefined term. It could mean almost any combination of the following.
a] Noise filter - a low-pass EMI/RFI filter.
b] Surge protector - although it's better to have surge protection at the home's service entrance.
c] UPS - note that many UPS's are not really UPS's!
d] Line voltage adjuster.
e] Balanced power transformer.
f] Isolated power transformer.
g] DC blockers.
h] Regenerators (PSAudio)
i] Power Factor Correction
j] I forget? But I think that there are more.
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Much of the noise is generated by the other hi-fi components.
Well designed hi-fi components should be able to deal with this noise on their own.
a power supply does not need perfect sinewave power, as the current waveform of the power supply is mostly harmonics.
a] Noise filter - a low-pass EMI/RFI filter.
b] Surge protector - although it's better to have surge protection at the home's service entrance.
c] UPS - note that many UPS's are not really UPS's!
d] Line voltage adjuster.
e] Balanced power transformer.
f] Isolated power transformer.
g] DC blockers.
h] Regenerators (PSAudio)
i] Power Factor Correction
j] I forget? But I think that there are more.
****************************
Seldom are these filters very effective at the problem noise frequencies.AFAIK a power conditioner does the following things:
- Gets rid of as much of the EMI/RFI noise (LC filters). This can also be done with inexpensive conditioners with EMI/RFI filters built-in.
Much of the noise is generated by the other hi-fi components.
Well designed hi-fi components should be able to deal with this noise on their own.
A whole home surge surge suppression system is a much better solution.- Surge and over-voltage protection, usually done with varistors (MOV), gas dischargers and fuses.
an AC regeneration system can create it's own problems.- AC regeneration from expensive conditioners will restore your AC mains perfect sinewave
a power supply does not need perfect sinewave power, as the current waveform of the power supply is mostly harmonics.
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