Multiprese e stabilizzatori

How to choose a hi-fi power strip

A hi-fi power strip, or filtered power strip, distributes power to the system's components in an orderly and safe manner, and in more advanced models, reduces interference in your home's electrical system. Refrigerators, switching power supplies, lamps, and routers emit high-frequency noise, and your hi-fi system shares it with everyone else. A good power filter won't magically improve a system, but it can help when interference is truly present. Meanwhile, it replaces hardware-store power strips with solid outlets, secure contacts, and protection for valuable appliances. How much you benefit depends largely on the quality of your electrical system.

EMI/RFI filter and surge protection

The EMI/RFI filter attenuates electrical noiseromaMagnetic and radio frequency filters are present on the line; some models have separate sockets for digital and analog sources, so that noise from a streamer doesn't pass through to the amplifier. Surge protection, on the other hand, intervenes on peaks, for example during thunderstorms. These are two different functions: check which ones the model you choose offers. With power amplifiers, make sure the filter doesn't limit the current they draw during musical peaks: some manufacturers provide dedicated sockets for them.

Filter, stabilizer or regenerator

• Filtered power strip: distributes and filters without altering the voltage. This is the simplest and most common solution.
• Stabilizer: corrects for mains voltage variations, useful where the voltage is often outside the correct values.
• Regenerator: Rebuilds a clean, stable AC voltage for your system from scratch; this is the most comprehensive and demanding solution, and must be sized based on the power absorbed by your appliances.

Polarity and connections

The Schuko plug can be inserted in two directions, and fase and neutral are swapped. Many enthusiasts check the polarity of the socket and maintain the same direction for all components, because in some systems this reduces hum and leakage currents between appliances. Connect the entire system to the same power strip, avoid cascading power strips, and use suitable cables: you can find dedicated ones among the power cables.

Power strips and air conditioners that you can find at our store

Among the new filtered power strips and power conditioners you will find Furutech, PS Audio, Accuphase, McIntosh, Audiolab, AudioQuest, IsoTek and Supra Cables, from hi-fi power strips for the first system to regenerators for high-end systems. Among the most popular are the AudioQuest PowerQuest 3, Audiolab DC Block, Furutech e-TP60E and PS Audio DirectStream Power Plant P12.

You can see and listen to complete systems in the listening room at our Carpi (MO) showroom, or order them online from our website with shipping. If you're unsure whether you need a filter or a regenerator, please email us with the components of your system.