AudioQuest PowerQuest 3 Power Conditioner & Surge Protector Review

[welsh]

I meant for the believers. If they can't hear anything in the (near) null, how can they then claim that there is a difference that doesn't show in measurements but is nevertheless audible?

I’m a believer… not a trace of doubt in my mind! But, on the other hand: Desperation haunted all my dreams…

 

[Martini]

WHAT!!! They don't even uses their own "superior" wire in the construction of that thing, and this after touting dramatic sound improvements can be found by using their super-duper power cords. I'm shocked!!

The paired MOVs don't appear blown.

 

[welsh]

Michael Fremer seems to think that everything sounds better on vinyl even if it was made from a digital master.

Even Edison‘s original wax cylinder avoids the problems of a concentric record with less and less fidelity as you approach the dead wax.

 

[welsh]

I for one hope that Michael Fremer feels so slighted by what he sees on ASR that he quits reviewing, as Michael Lavorgna appeared to do after the Totaldac tests.

From his position as a self-appointed authority in the audio hobby, Fremer makes audio enthusiasts appear to be a bunch of loons (and yes, some of them are).

I saw him, along with his fellow luminaries Peter Breuninger and Alan Taffel, at the one big audio show I've attended. Fremer was running around with a GoPro on his head, Breuninger was kissing every manufacturer's ass, and Alan Taffel interrupted a sublime Mozart recording in the Sony ES room to ask that the latest Lady Gaga album be played instead.

I will never attend another audio show.

Both Fremer and Lavorgna specialised in ‘classy‘ insults when provoked. I seem to remember a foul-mouthed Lavorgna comment about somebody’s mother.

 

[Dialectic]

Both Fremer and Lavorgna specialised in ‘classy‘ insults when provoked. I seem to remember a foul-mouthed Lavorgna comment about somebody’s mother.

Yes, from my perspective, that whole set seems to be fading into oblivion. It is no great loss to the audio sciences.

 

[Chrispy]

Yes, from my perspective, that whole set seems to be fading into oblivion. It is no great loss to the audio sciences.

Unfortunately their ilk has propelled the likes of Bill Low into sustainability.....

 

[Dialectic]

Unfortunately their ilk has propelled the likes of Bill Low into sustainability.....

At least Monster Cable went out of business.

 

[Chrispy]

At least Monster Cable went out of business.

Did it or just the cable part and they're doing something else now with the money? I have some friends who are cousins of Noel Lee....

 

[snabbeltax]

I bought this hideous monster to protect and to serve....not to make my sound cristal clear.
It protects and it makes no noise. That's a good thing init? Enough with the ranting already.

 

[Dialectic]

I bought this hideous monster to protect and to serve....not to make my sound cristal clear.
It protects and it makes no noise. That's a good thing init? Enough with the ranting already.

Yes, it's good that an MOV surge protector makes no noise, especially when it costs $300.

 

[Chrispy]

I bought this hideous monster to protect and to serve....not to make my sound cristal clear.
It protects and it makes no noise. That's a good thing init? Enough with the ranting already.

Just that it really does pretty much nothing in the first place doesn't bother you?

 

[Jayce996]

Hi there,
I'm leaving in France and owing a BELKIN PF50, we will soon move to USA and i wanted to know if i would still be able to use it while the voltage & frequency will change from 240V to 110V.
This way i would still have my compatible gears (110-240V 50-60Hz) plugged to it with the existing power cables and protected.

 

[DonH56]

Hi there,
I'm leaving in France and owing a BELKIN PF50, we will soon move to USA and i wanted to know if i would still be able to use it while the voltage & frequency will change from 240V to 110V.
This way i would still have my compatible gears (110-240V 50-60Hz) plugged to it with the existing power cables and protected.

I see nothing in the manual showing it can handle 120 V input, just 240 V. I would contact Belkin support.

 

[fpitas]

I'm not defending AQ, but there is validity in filtering high frequencies outside the audible range as they could have negative effects in the form of EMC/EMI. This could affect the TV more than an audio system, but an audio system with very wide bandwidth could waste its efforts amplifying inaudible stuff like from Class D amplifiers or switching power supplies or even nearby cell phones. I'm not sure how any recommendation should be given, Amir, for its primary function of surge protection, unless that is tested. You can't assume anything these days

Any filtering is good, and more won't hurt, but most competent power supplies can deal with the higher frequency stuff.

 

[GXAlan]

I was the one who sent this in. I will say that I have had surges the likes of which triggered the “overvoltage” light on my Furman power conditioner and this unit.

The surge was enough to affect a GFCI outlet and an APC budget MOV surge protector.

So at least from the standpoint of series mode “non sacrificial” surge protection, this unit did its job.

 

[ReevaluateAdNauseam]

Correct. Audioquest's Garth Powell was the guy at Furman behind their SMP "Series Multi-Stage Protection" surge protection. They were sued and prevented from calling it "Series Mode" protection.

He brought it over to Audioquest. In reality, it's 2 small MOVs shunting to neutral before the surge gets to a small inductor. The over-voltage relay only protects 1 of the 2 MOVs, and the first MOV also lacks a thermal fuse, so you'll never know whether or not it's still functional. Once the 2 small MOVs inevitably take enough hits, the until has to be replaced. How on earth they call it non-sacrificial surge protection is beyond me.

All in all, it's a jack of all trades master of none surge protection. The over-voltage relay is it's best feature by far. It has barely any series mode protection, and only a couple MOVs. You're better off getting a proper MOV-based surge protector with lots more of them and proper thermal fuses. Same goes for series mode protection, you need a much larger air core inductor that won't get saturated as quickly.

View attachment 72574


SurgeX (This model also features inrush current elimination)
View attachment 72575

Very much appreciated! Great info.

 

[Pecrobet]

There is a lot of power line hysteria out there however. Some kooks at the local audio club went so far as to rewire their house so the audio gear could have a private special quiet run to the breaker panel! I think Doug Self said if a piece of audio gear can't tolerate noise and distortion on the power line it's not properly designed; just don't buy it.

I have read of individuals building add-on room with sound proofing materials on cement floor, separate power line to room, breaker panel box and more outlandish things for audio sound room.

At some point, you need to ask yourself what are you trying to accomplish and at what cost? Are you interested in music anymore or equipment?

Just my thoughts on subject.