ZippoTragedy said:
Surge is less of a problem than sag. Most people i have asked about this (including some very knowledgable giging and recording musicians) have commented that a power conditioner makes everything better. tv's are brighter, amps sound better, etc. i haven't dropped $5-800 on a pwr cond, but i'm seriously considering it. just the draw from running a 3-head setup is enough to brown typical house line, i would think...
With most components that are microprocessor-based, brown outs can cause the microprocessor to latch up, to the extent that the device then needs a reboot to restore proper operation. I've not seen this happen with my Standard, but then again, it's not on full-time, the way some other devices are.
With high-resolution audio systems, voltage regulators can sometimes cause a slight reduction in sound quality, depending on the method that the regulator uses to stabilize voltage; some of these devices increase the level of common-mode noise on the power line, as a by-product of stabilization. What works for a computer is not necessarily ideal for an audio device. (Your standard power line generally has lots of common-mode noise riding on top of the power, which contaminates audio & video circuits; a good quality isolation transformer is a "firewall" for such noise, but not cheap.)
Inexpensive surge-suppressors are typically "sacrificial", using simple parts such as MOV's. Once these take enough of a surge, they fail while still allowing the suppressor "power bar" to pass power. Once this happens, there is no protection. Some such devices have an indicator that this has taken place, but most don't.
Basically, you get what you pay for, no free lunch. Only a question of what's "good enough" for your needs and budget.
I do realize that voltage regulators can get pricey, but are they nesessary? Spike protection is good and noise suppression, but voltage regulation, is it needed with these units for the cost?
