Basic surge protection with some noise filtering without strangling the amplifier?


I’m looking to get a basic multi-outlet surge protector that has some basic noise filtering and that has at least a few outlets for high-voltage equipment (amp in my case) that will not kill the sound of the amp.

Do those of you with practical experience and/or technical know-how think that that the Furman Elite -15 PF i fits this description?  (From its own write-up, it does.) Are there other devices in roughly the same price range (<$1k), that I should consider?

The amps in question are a JRDG 625 V2 and a CODA CSib.

For one data point of comparison, I tried plugging the 625 V2 into a Torus RM-20 and while the sound floor did seem improved (from already very quiet to even blacker), the sound quality immediately suffered a lack of vitality and dynamism. So, the amp is not connected that way any more.  The other upstream components (pre-amp, Roon Nucleus One, streamer & DAC) do seem to like the Torus though. 

kirkwallace

@kirkwallace Your Jeff Rowland amp looks like Class D and uses a switch mode power supply which works on a completely different principle than your Coda's linear which is a Class AB. I think the main issue with AC filtering is that is that its claimed that it raises the impedance of the incoming AC voltage. When in reality the "high current" outlets aren't filtered at all but may have an MOV or some other surge protection device in line. Your amplifier's power supply by it's nature provides all the 'line filtering" you would ever need and the main advantage of a line conditioner as a number of you mentioned if voltage surges and having all of your components share the same ground and eliminating ground loops. I don't think there is any advantage to using a wall outlet over the high current ones on the line conditioner. The word salad they use regarding there being 45 amps of current available is just that when there is only 20 amps max available from the line.  

The following link is to Jean de LaSala's Audioholics who is one of the most reputable figures regarding the technical aspects of home audio and has the credentials to back it up.

https://youtu.be/flkN8luLkK4

This quote is courtesy of  https://www.tek.com they provide further discussion of the differences between switch mode and linear power supplies. I couldn't find a link to this specific discussion that I could paste here but if you look for "How Does a Switching Power Supply Work?" Tek.com you should be able to find it.

"How Does a Switching Power Supply Work? (In Simple Terms)
Here’s a straightforward breakdown:

Rectification & Filtering: Converts AC input into an initial DC waveform using diodes and capacitors.
High-Frequency Switching: Rapidly turns the input voltage on and off thousands of times per second (20kHz to several hundred kHz), generating a high-frequency square wave.
Voltage Transformation: A small transformer or inductor steps the voltage down (or up) efficiently.
Output Rectification & Filtering: Converts the transformed voltage back into clean, stable DC for the load.
This process allows switching supplies to be compact, lightweight, and highly efficient compared to linear counterparts."


 

@kirkwallace I had to break as it was getting late and I had to go make breakfast. I wasn't implying that our fellow members were creating word salad, just that they were reiterating what they see regarding manufacturer's claims. Another note regarding all of the accessory outlets for the lower current devices like wall wort power supplies for turntables as well as the ones that have more sophisticated ones like phono preamps and the like have all been designed to do their jobs like your power amps as I mentioned due. 

Your Torus line conditioner is based on an isolation transformer and because of the large ferrite ring and the countless turns of heavy copper wire wrapped on it makes it a heavy beast. Again though, the people who market these make all kinds of claims which may or may not be true. The other thing I believe its possible that like other components in your system they can produce noise or buzzing if there happens to be DC contaminating the AC lines at any given time unlike the tried-and-true square trans formers that use laminated steel plates with copper windings. I've experienced this with the solid-state integrated amps I've owned. I can hear my Naim buzzing away when I get up to change a record and I'm standing near it. Anyway, I think it behooves you to do some further study on the matter before committing to another significant expense. Chow.

i believe this article...

«For instance, Mike Lavigne, after installing a full Equi=Tech system, described consumer audiophile conditioners as “child’s toys” next to properly engineered industrial gear.»

Lavigne know his stuff...

 

Interesting article on industrial power filters vs. audiophile power conditioners:

 

https://www.headphonesty.com/2025/11/industrial-power-filters-beat-audiophile-power-conditioners/