Ok,
Don't feel like making a long and drawn out review at this time because I have a lot to do for tax season right now but I'll give the overall summary.
The only AC devices that I have owned or own that I have as comparison at the Monster HTS-3500 (sold it a while back) and the Bolder Quantum Power Strip (QPS, hereafter). It terms of performance I would rate the Dezorel as a 7.5. It did protect my system from the annoying line pops and cracks that happen once in a while, especially on the weekends. Neither of the other two products did. In terms of listening performance, it made no real audible difference from the QPS and used together it seemed to add nothing (or subtract is probably more appropriate). This might be a benefit as much as a deterrant.
Now the Value criteria is the harder to argue. Through Audionut's site as we had discussed before the prices listed are outrageous and certainly not worth it from my perspective. I would rather own the Monster at a $300 street price with more outlets and flexibility even if in theory it should be worse of a performer. If we are talking group buy here and looking to pay in the area of $300/each from Serbia then I would say the value is fairly mediocre. Say 7. Certainly not bad in the sceme of things but super cheap either.
Josh, please don't take the following as any comment whatsoever on your above text, think of it as a small trigger which sort of fired me.
People, let's get one thing straight - if you want to FILTER 20 amps of current on a CONTINUOUS basis, and I remind you that this is equivalent to (20x120) 2,400 VA CONTINUOUS, you simply can't have it cheaply.
Now, throwing a pair of caps from the line to the ground is some sort of filtering, probably just enough to be able to call it a filter, but in my book, this is a toy, not a serious filter. I have seen power strips with a series attached capacitor which were called filters and people were asked to pay some $100-150 for them. I have seen filters from some well known names selling for $150-300, which did indeed offer many more output sockets than that small case you guys have (even up to eight), but which filtered from around 100 kHz upwards, i.e. after over 80% of all the junk had passed on to your audio already.
Serious filters, capable of say a minimum of -20 dB at say 20 kHz, and capable of handling enough power to cover at least 99% of all systems available out there, simply cannot be cheap, because they need quality components, sometimes also massive (depending on their design). I am not saying $300-400 is insignificantly low, but I am saying there are offerings out there providing similar performance at $2K and upwards, where in fact most of them start from for similar results. All you get extra there are more output sockets.
Before anyone asks, yes, you can have solid filtering curves for say $70-100 (European prices used here, I don't know US prices). You can have reasonable filtering, but at a price, in this case mean phase shifts. So, in the end, you get relatively clean, but also colored sound, which you may like or may hate. Certainly different. This then gives rise to discussions about differring performance in different systems.
But let's face it, well over 80% of all line filters/conditioners out there rely on the ground for effect. If the ground potential is at about 0.8V and less than 100 ohms (as specified by I think like 90% of international electrical standards), it will work; the only problem there is that in my life, I have never once measured that. A friend from Paris currently leads on my wow list - he says his ground hits 70V on occasions, and is rarely below 50V. It's mostly not as bad as that, but 10-20V seems to be the best one can reasonably expect under usual circumstances, which exclude professional installations, labs, hospitals, etc.
That DeZorel filter's greatest two virtues are that it neither needs, nor influences the ground because it's fully floating, and that it combines what I would call outstanding filtering specifications right where I need them most, within the audio band, in combination with prodigious power handling. While testing it, I connected my entire electric stove via that little box (actually, it's older version, LF-H2), turned everything on to the max (approximately 14 kilowatts) and switched it on. It worked, everything was on, but as you would expect, in about 60 seconds from cold it blew its fuse (as should be). Try that test with something else.
Eventually, I discovered that it will actually sustain a power throughput not of 10, but of 12.4 amps, where the thermal switch blows.
Try finding another line filter which you can put on your TV set, or your FM tuner, under full load, and observe/hear no disturbance whatsoever.
Lastly, try finding another filter manufacturer at around its price who delivers equivalent specifications, which I must remind you, when measured were all about 5 dB (+78%) better than specified.
But it remains a fact that the ultimate effects cannot be known beforehand. If your audio has a poor power supply, no filter can ever salvage your sound, it's as simple as that. If on the other hand your audio has a good power supply, a line filter will indeed surprise you. Some manufacturers actually rely on line junk for tjheir sound - French high end company Jadis is a good example. I tried connecting the filter to it on three separate occasions, and every time I got back a sound which had become more detailed, but also cold and sterile, more fitting of $200-300 integrated amps than $5K and upwards components. Audio Research and Krell are the exact opposites - run them through the filter and you will be surprised, and pleasantly too. But then, take a look at their power supplies...
Point is, no filter can improve your sound as such, all it can do is liberate your audio to do its best, but ultimately, you will still be limited or unlimited by your audio. And you can't make this happen for peanuts money, no matter how you tweak it.
Cheers,
DVV
