I get popping through my speakers when appliances kick on, heart or a/c, or even my microwave door opening and closing. I am concerned for my expensive h/t equipment. I see power conditioners around for three hundred dollars or so. That's nearly twice what my DVD player cost! I have a $1200 TV - are these "pops" shortening the lifespan of my electronics? Does anyone have any advice for an inexpensive solution to this problem?

I bought a high-end Monster surge protector, but that doesn't seem to help.

I am not sure that the pops are causing damage but they surely must be annoying.

It may be worth it to try one and see if it makes any difference. Be sure to check the return policy first.

http://www.monstercable.com/power/lineHomePower.asp

I have a power conditioner/UPS and am very happy with it. I say a bit of thanks on those few occasions where the power drops out for 1 second. The alarm on the UPS sounds, but my equipments never flinches.

Define 'high-end'.
You said you bought a high-end surge protector but seemed to be balking at a $300 PLC.
Also, surge protection and power line conditioners are two different things entirely.
Read as much as you can on the subject, and see if higher price tag will be beneficial to your needs in relation to your equipment cost.
For the record, I use two Monster Power HTS2500 units in my system, and don't have a problem with voltage pops and line noise anymore. Ideally, a dedicated circuit for your HT is the way to go, but a quality surge protector/PLC is a good start.

I meant it as about as high-end a surge protector as one can get - just a surge protector, nothing more.

I am balking at the price tag because I consider the popping a minor problem - one which has a very expensive solution. The more I read, the more I realize that picture quality and actual audio quality can be vastly improved with the right equipment. So my mind might be changing.

Just out of curiosity, why do you have two different power systems for your home theater?

Glad to hear that you are reading up on the subject. There's alot of info to be found, and the better informed you are, the better purchase decision you will make.

I have two units simply because I have more components then one unit can handle

I had a terrible time with outside interference coming over my HT. I picked up surge protectors with noise filters and that solved my problem

When I bought my Toshiba 43H71 TV, every once and a while, it would make a popping noise and the picture would go out. So I bought a power conditioner and it's never happened again. I got one on E-Bay for $60 bucks.

I have and older Adcom unit I use in my dedicated audio system (though I don't have my system hooked up now). Very happy with it. Looks like the newer models have "HT" inputs as well.

From this link it looks like the lower end one runs about $220.00. Looking around the higher end unit runs a bout $320.00.

Adcom makes some great products at reasonable prices. LOVE several of their amps.

I use a vansevers model that works well in my system. PS Audio makes an excellent, though pricey unit.

However, it is unlikely that either a power conditioner or a surge protector will eliminate the pops associated w/ appliances. The easiest solution is to plug your audio/video equipment into a circuit that is not shared by a major appliance. The best approach is generally a dedicated circuit--you can do yourself if you are at all handy or have an electriction install one if you're nervous about it.

I've used several UPS's and they seem to keep any popping from happening. When looking for a UPS, you want to make sure you get one with a true sine wave output.

hehe...bump old topic

I just moved into a new apt/condo and I've been having problems with the power (I think that's the problem). I've got my computer plugged in and if I plug in a fan, it causes some sort of interference with the monitor no matter where I plug it in in the room. Now, I just set up my TV/VCR/DVD player and while trying to watch a DVD, I have quite a bit of snow which was not there before. If I turn my other fan on and off (which doesn't affect my monitor), the picture on my TV jitters - it's just noticeable when I turn the fan on and off.

I'm a poor college student and don't have $300, let alone $150 to spend on a UPS or a high-end Power Line Convertor. I read that you can pick up a basic PLC at Radio Shack and was wondering what good it would do me? Guess it wouldn't hurt to give it a go.

Also, I've got a Fry's nearby, and perhaps they have something in my price range (sub-$50).

Any suggestions??

interesting... I started this mess three months ago.

don't get the PLC at the Shack. It did nothing for my problem.

Wish I had some real advice... mine is still a problem.

Have you tried some of the more expensive power line conditioners? Monster Cables sells one for $130 that might help.

Didn't you post earlier..."The more I read, the more I realize that picture quality and actual audio quality can be vastly improved with the right equipment. So my mind might be changing."?

Well, let me add a little more advice: (and to anyone else) You get what you pay for.
Right equipment=fixed problem.

That's a really good point, DVD-O_Rama. I did post that. Your advice matches what I have come to realize: a conditioner, fine equipment though it may be, is just a band-aid on a larger problem. The reason I haven't fixed mine yet is that I have been trying to get the right electician to come to my house and install another line just for the home theater.

A dedicated circuit is a great idea, but doesn't help too much if the line noise is coming from the transformer down the street and not in your house.
A dedicated circuit is the best way to seperate your electronics (especially high-current amps) from everything in the house, but a quality PLC and/or voltage stabalizer offer nothing but improvement to the situation.

I think that APC sells some high quality backup/conditioners... I have one on my system and have been very satisfied..

I saw that APC has what looks like a pretty good conditioner for $130. Perhaps I'll work towards that - as the $4 temporary solutions I picked up at Frys don't work

But then again, for $4, I was willing to try anything. I got something called an AC Line Filter (Single Outlet Surge Protector). IT does jack crap. But hey...like mentioned earlier, you get what you pay for.

The first thing you want to do is add up the wattage used of all the things you want to plug into it. At the very least, you need to find a UPS that supports that wattage.

Try this if you are a DIY. It's a power line suppressor from a well respected audio engineer.

http://www.geocities.com/jonrisch/surge.htm

I am using a Furman power conditioner and 2 APC Back-up 500 Pro/CS UPSs for my HT and D-TiVos.

I can see the line voltage input, "in regulation" and extreme voltage indicators. If there is problem, the Furman shuts everythng down that is connected to it and UPSs go to battery. It does not happen often, but I feel protected when it does.

Ian