[gadfly]

Hello,

What if any surge protection is recommended for a fet valve amp and T9 pre? Power outages
are not uncommon in my area.

Thanks-

[ArthurDent]

Hi gadfly-  I'd recommend surge protection for all your electronics. As to the stereo equipment there are a number of audio grade surge units available from numerous sources. I have both 'strip' protectors made by Furman, as well as a pro grade Elite 15-Pfi                      .     http://www.furmansound.com/product.php?div=02&id=IT-REF_15i
It controls my Ultra Pre, Insight+ Dac, McIntosh tuner, TT, HK cassette player, and has outlets left over.  Like the rest of your gear you can spend a lot or a little, all depends on your budget & desires. I'm sure you'll get a number of good cost effective recommendations. This is just what I use. fwiw Frank does recommend plugging amps directly into the wall, and not leaving equipment on all the time.  I have a FV Ultra 500, and Insight+250, and so far no surge/spike issues w/o protection. Others feel amps benefit from the protection, and depending on the protection chosen, more linear power supplied when the unit also conditions. ymmv. 

[JerryM]

I have a Fet Valve Ultra 550 and a T8+. I use this unit from Brick Wall.

Best of luck, 

Jerry

[modular747]

http://www.zerosurge.com  (the OEM for Brick Wall)

[Speedskater]

The 'Brick Wall', 'ZeroSurge' and 'SurgeX' are all excellent (and very expensive) point of use surge protectors. For the rest of us, a whole house surge protector at the main circuit breaker box/service entrance is the way to go.

Learn more about the advantages of Series Mode Surge Protectors:
http://www.prosoundweb.com/studyhall/lastudyhall/surge_protect2.shtml

http://www.brickwall.com/
http://www.zerosurge.com/
http://www.surgex.com/

[I.Greyhound Fan]

The Zerosurge and brickwall look like the same unit with a different badge. Same specs and features.

[Big Red Machine]

The Zerosurge and brickwall look like the same unit with a different badge. Same specs and features.

http://www.zerosurge.com  (the OEM for Brick Wall)

[charmerci]

The Zerosurge and brickwall look like the same unit with a different badge. Same specs and features.

OEM - Original Equipment Manufacturer.

[PSB Guy]

I'm using a SurgeX sa966 with all my AVA equipment. Yeah, it's a bit on the expensive side, but to me it's worth it. It's built like a tank, much like Frank's stuff.

Cornelis

[gadfly]

Hello,

Thanks for the thoughtfull input.  Jim Salk uses an inexpensive Belkin surge protector but
his potential equipment replacement costs are probably lower than mine; so a zero surge
product is on my radar.  Yesterday I placed an order with Frank V. for the fet valve 600R
and transcendance nine.

Gad-

[martyo]

Hello,

Thanks for the thoughtfull input.  Jim Salk uses an inexpensive Belkin surge protector but
his potential equipment replacement costs are probably lower than mine; so a zero surge
product is on my radar.  Yesterday I placed an order with Frank V. for the fet valve 600R
and transcendance nine.

Gad-

Now that is exciting!

[tipatina]

I second the recommendation for the Furman Elite 20 PFi . It has provided  my equipment good protection in an area with lots of storms and power outages. Not sure I can verify the claims that it will make your system sound better but I already had a dedicated audio circuit. There may be cheaper and similarly effective alternatives...

[gadfly]

Now that is exciting!

As Tom Petty once sang, "The waiting is the hardest part, you take on faith you take it to the heart, the waiting is
the hardest part."

Gad-

[avahifi]

Actually you probably do not need any expensive protection devices for an AVA product at all.

I can't even remember the last time one of our units came back for repair due to an excess line transient.

All we use here is an inexpensive computer surge protector AC strip box and have never lost anything in house.

Maybe in Florida something more significant might be advised, but I personally would not spend more than what it costs for a surge protection strip from your local computer store or Radio Shack.

Frank Van Alstine

[PSB Guy]

Not knocking the inexpensive surge protection by any means, it will work. But eventually the MOVs inside these units will stop working, and then all you have is an extension cord. So, you should replace the entire thing once in a while if you go this route. Anyhoo, enjoy the new gear!

Cornelis

[Scoville]

Frank --

Do you suggest that amps be plugged into the surge protector AC strip box?  One of the earlier posters said they understood that you recommended plugging amps directly into the wall.

Jim White

[gadfly]

Actually you probably do not need any expensive protection devices for an AVA product at all.

I can't even remember the last time one of our units came back for repair due to an excess line transient.

All we use here is an inexpensive computer surge protector AC strip box and have never lost anything in house.

Maybe in Florida something more significant might be advised, but I personally would not spend more than what it costs for a surge protection strip from your local computer store or Radio Shack.

Frank Van Alstine

Hmmmmmmm- so if I go the low budget route, and when the euphonic sound machines are not in use I turn off
the surge protector switch thus breaking the circuit for near absolute protection.........my chances of surge related
damage are slightly less than hitting the lotto big......

Gad-

[Wayner]

Maybe we need to list what a surge protector can and cannot do.

Can do: Stop errant voltages from utilities mis-wiring. Some surge protectors (Tripp-Lite) can isolate outlets from each other, thereby isolating power supplies of commonly connected components like amp, preamp, cd player, tuner and so on.

Can't do: Stop a lightning strike. Stop a surge from a nearby device (furnace, refrigerator, freezer, AC, sump pump). Filter out line hash or DC offset. Prevent a ground fault, or suppress an errant wiring condition.

Wayner

[modular747]

Maybe we need to list what a surge protector can and cannot do.

Can't do: Stop a lightning strike. Stop a surge from a nearby device (furnace, refrigerator, freezer, AC, sump pump). Filter out line hash or DC offset. Prevent a ground fault, or suppress an errant wiring condition.

Wayner

Surge protectors like Zero Surge in fact do protect from "nearby" devices as well as power line surges.  Some models include line filtering as well.

[Wayner]

I should have included the "resulting noise" surge from nearby appliances. Perhaps more expensive surge protectors may stop this, others may not. You can't cover the bases for every model out there, as some surge protectors simply have an MOV in there and nothing else. And the reason I really brought the appliance thing up was that the surge really isn't a voltage surge, but rather a current surge (and usually involves a starting motor capacitor), all resulting in a nasty "snap" at turn on, especially if your equipment is on the same side of the panel as, say the furnace. A friend of mine lost some tweeters during a party (fairly high levels) when the furnace kicked in. Pop goes the tweater.

My point I didn't make very clear is that these devices are not magic pills that can cure all the problems that can be had in a home environment, so at least be aware that evil still can lurk until your device has proven its defenses.

Wayner