1. Home
  2. amps-preamps
  3. 148648-10803

Power amps into surge protector/Conditioner or DIRECT to wall? Final verdict?

Just curious. I've heard for years not to plug amp into a surge protection evice. Does this apply to a preamp as well? Are the component fuses enough? Do affordable surge protection/conditioners exist that do not effect sound quality? 
Some of the mid line Furman studio units look nice. Plus you have the SurgeX/Brick devices that look like real winners. However, I'm not wanting any sound quality issues. BUT, I don't want my equipment destroyed as well. 

Thoughts please
aberyclark
erik_squires
17,570 posts
 
Oh, almost forgot. Of course, look for UL 1449 for a device tested as a surge suppressor.


If it doesn’t have that, especially at these astronomical prices, pretty much write it off.


Here is the spec for Furman's cheapest SMP strip:

https://www.furmanpower.com/product/15a-8-outlet-surge-suppressor-strip-wsmp-lift-and-evs-PST-8

dseltz
229 posts
 
Would you plug your pre-amp into a power conditioner/protector and amp into wall (I have a ss 18 wpc First Watt)?  Thanks for any advice

kalali's avatar
kalali
1,977 posts
 
Surge protection aside, I would personally plug my gear directly into the wall socket only when the outlet is a dedicated line. Otherwise you may get noise from all other devices that are sharing the line. These could include light dimmers, microwave ovens, hair dryers, etc., etc. In addition to noise, the voltage in the line may also fluctuate if you have any appliances which turn on/off - think refrigerator compressor, sharing that line. 
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,541 posts
 
As mentioned above....whole house surge protection.
cleeds
6,601 posts
 
1. Whole house surge protection.
2. Multiple, de-rated, 20A dedicated lines.
3. Separate lines for each amplifier (system is bi-amped)
4.) Separate lines for analog and digital.
5.) Every component goes into a power conditioner.
More to discover