CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

wowchad · Joined: 29 Oct 2009 Posts: 53 Location: Milwaukee'ish, WI

I already have a Monster HTS 3500 surge protector and stumbled across their AVS 2000 Voltage Stabilizer.
Of course owning something so cool and of this caliper is something in it self, but is it really necessary?
What gear truly benefits from completely stable voltage, what if anything is THAT sensitive??

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 6:37 am Post subject:

We had this discussion here once. The general consensus was unnecessary crap.

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

Yep, an Isolation Transformer would be better.

Athanasios

wowchad · Joined: 29 Oct 2009 Posts: 53 Location: Milwaukee'ish, WI

Thanks guys thats what I figured an impressive looking, but unnecesary, overpriced toy

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 8:06 am Post subject:

Avoid paying money for Monster brand. They aren't that special and they charge 3 times what their worth. the only time I ran monster was when I got it for free or when I was in a pinch. (something is better than nothing)

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 1:47 pm Post subject:

Nothing from Monster is worth owning. but wait, it has a blue LED, so it's gotta be good. Very Happy

wowchad · Joined: 29 Oct 2009 Posts: 53 Location: Milwaukee'ish, WI

So then who's surge protectors are rack mountable, work good and don't cost hundreds of dollars???
(and don't look like 1970's technology)

I love my Monster 3500 and I think I even have a 3600 lying around. Does its job just fine and I think I picked it up on eBay for around $50 several years ago...

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 4:54 pm Post subject:

Here's my point: (several in fact Razz

)

- how do you know that the Monster unit is doing anything? Unless you live in a place that has random power surges (not failures), and have had multiple pieces of electronics die, you have no idea what the Monster (or any other device) is doing.

-assuming you have relatively clean power incoming, you don't need anything inline with your stereo stuff. Where I live, most of my electronics is on 24/7, and I've got a big UPS on my work computer only to prevent the HD from dumping when the power goes out. In the 15 + years I've had a HT system, I've had one amp fail on me, and that was due to a filter cap giving way on a 30+ year old Phase Linear at 2 AM. It woke me up. Smile

Nothing else has ever died, smoked or given out on me.

- There are a bunch of really good posts in the >$20K forum at avs. You'll need to do some digging, but there are some great posts for pro and anti surge protection. If you do indeed have surges, a 'brick wall' type device right at the breaker panel that prevents any lightning strike from getting past the panel. If lightning hits within 1/2 block though, I'd say that even those devices won't stop the mega-joules of a semi direct hit, and other than unplugging stuff from the wall, you're screwed no matter what you do. Smile

-now, if you believe that a power conditioner/surge protector will make your equipment sound better, then you're on your own, as I don't believe a word of those claims. But you can feel free to believe. Wink

-I've repaired a couple of Monster boxes along with some other power bar/surge protectors. All failed due to crappy internal parts used, filter capacitors in the power supply gave out. They didn't die due to a surge taking out the units. I think that in itself speaks volumes. Ha!

wildchild22 · Joined: 16 Aug 2008 Posts: 185

apparently the monster unit sparks a lot inside as its a wiper that adjusts I am guesiing resistance to provide a constant 120 ac out. I can oonly imagine what would happen if the wiper gave out and instead of decreasing voltage it increased it. I think it will do more harm then good. Most ac in the USA and Canada is very close to 120hz most electronics works as low as 100-110v . So dips do not mater much.

everything or almost everything runs on 12vdv or 5vdv and the 120hz ac is converted to dc. So as long as the AC is high enough to be converted to the required dc it is fine.

I think Monster products are for people who have a need to wasste money. Also good for sales people.

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 7:34 pm Post subject:

wildchild22 · Joined: 16 Aug 2008 Posts: 185

here is a photo of the inside not mine. Maybe you can see how it workshttp://www.bukutronics.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Monster_Power_AVS2000.jpg

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

The best answer is to add an Isolation transformer to feed a dedicated sub panel box. This will be considered a separate derived power source. Its the cleanest power you can get. I have a 5KV unit i got for 150 bucks on e-bay. This is what the Richard Grey units basically are and charge thousands of dollars for. After installation i removed my Monster 3500 and still have to sell the damn thing.

My ISO Xfrmr weighs 140 pounds just so you can see the difference.

there is a thread in the HT construction forum on this, some debate ensued towards the end but i have had no issues with mine and how it was set up.

Athanasios

beun · Joined: 28 Jun 2006 Posts: 676

It is indeed a mechanical AC correction, but being mechanical it only works on a slow average. It is not resistive, it is actually a variac with a motor.

westom · Joined: 14 Dec 2009 Posts: 56

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 1:06 am Post subject: