Do I Need a Line Conditioner?

Colin Winston

I just purchased my first big screen HDTV -- A Mitsubishbi WS55815 CRT -- and the salesman recommended I get a line conditioner for about $150.00. The surge protection, of course, I can get much more cheaply. Right now I'll just have a VCR hooked up to the set--I may do surround sound, but no time soon. I'll get COMcast digital cable. The salesman claimed that the line conditioner would improve my cable reception -- I assume it'll have no impact on picture quality when I play DVDs.

So is it worth the money? What do you think? I appreciate the views of people who aactually know what these things are and how they work!

Colin

hb2

Whether or not the line conditioner will do anything for you depends on the particular situation of the electronics/interference in your house and those around you. Probably wouldn't hurt to buy one and see for yourself if it makes a difference and return it if it doesn't. They say line conditioners help your audio even more than your video. I bought the $85 monster lc and cannot tell any difference whatsoever, but it could very well make your picture quite a bit better. You will get lots of arguments in this forum, but I just suggest you buy one and try it, so long as you can return it.

Good luck.

Akira

A power conditioner can provide a noticable improvement in picture quality and an even greater difference in sound quality. Here's the catch...only if you have a poor AC source. A poor source may include bad wiring in your home, other appliances on the same line, power tools or motors running even on separate lines, shared main electical distribution, a lousy service provider, or even the misfortune of being located in a bad area.
So how can you tell if you need a line conditioner? For a simple test hook up your stereo or HT system and turn up the volume with no program on. You should hear very little hum and no intermittent buzzes or hissing sounds. Noticeable hum is the result to your 60Hz AC cycle being picked up and amplified through your sound system. I am assuming you have a properly wired and integrated sound system. If your noise floor is acceptable, (meaning it is absolutely non existent when you are playing even quiet music or passages) you have a reasonably stable source. To improve the situation even more wire a separate line for your complete entertainment system directly to your main distribution panel. (20 amp fuse) This will isolate your system from all other appliances in your home and ensure that every component you have is on the same ground plane. How you wire your complete entertainment system together and the quality of cable you use will have the greatest effect on performance. You don't need over priced monster cable. Use short runs and avoid splits, loops and any duplication, such as doubling component video cable with an extra set of composite wires.
p.s. a surge protector is an absolute must.

greenfin

Thanks for sharing such a useful information