What Are the Best Power Conditioners? 10 Best Power Conditioners

Do you have expensive home theater equipment? It’s important to ensure that it’s protected. One of the best ways to protect your equipment is by using a power conditioner. So what are the best power conditioners?

A power conditioner is a crucial component for home theaters as it filters out “dirty” power, extends the lifespan of your equipment, and keeps it functioning at its best. Without a power conditioner, your equipment is vulnerable to dips and spikes in electric current which can cause damage. In addition, power conditioners also filter out excess noise to deliver a clean, crisp sound for your home theater. You can even connect your home theater lighting to a power conditioner to protect it from electrical current and surge damage.

There are numerous options for power conditioners available on the market, so we’ve compiled a list of the 11 best power conditioners for home theaters for every budget.

10 Best Power Conditioners on the Market Nowadays

• Furman Power Conditioner SS6B (on Amazon)
• Accell PowerSquid Surge Protector Power Strip (on Amazon)
• CyberPower CPS1215RMS Surge Protector (on Amazon)
• Pyle PCO850 15 Amp Power Supply Conditioner (on Amazon)
• Furman M-8X2 Merit Series 8 Outlet Power Conditioner and Surge Protector (on Amazon)
• Pyle 19 Outlet 1U 19″ Rackmount PDU Power Distribution Supply Center Conditioner PCO860 (on Amazon)
• Furman Power Conditioner PST-8D (on Amazon)
• Panamax MR4300 9-Outlet Home Theater Power Management with Surge Protection and Power Conditioning (on Amazon)
• Furman Power Conditioner M8DX (on Amazon)
• Furman PL-PLUS C 15 Amp Power Conditioner (on Amazon)
• APC H15BLK 12-Outlet H-Type Rack-Mountable Power Conditioner (on Amazon)

Our Picks

• Budget-friendly: CyberPower CPS1215RMS Surge Protector (on Amazon)
• Mid-range: Pyle PCO860 19 Outlet Power Conditioner (on Amazon)
• Higher-end: APC H15 Power Conditioner (on Amazon)

Furman Power Conditioner SS6B

Pros

If you’re on a budget and looking for a reliable power conditioner for your home theater, the Furman Power Conditioner SS6B is a great option. This power conditioner is manufactured by a reputable brand in the home theater industry and comes at a low cost. It features a 15-foot power cord, a circuit breaker, and six outlets.

The Furman Power Conditioner SS6B is well-built using heavy-duty metal and comes with EMI/RFI noise attenuation for home theater power conditioning. This feature helps eliminate humming noises caused by bad grounding or pops when turning on your speakers. Overall, it is a great budget-friendly option that provides all the necessary features to keep your home theater equipment protected.

Cons

The Furman Power Conditioner SS6B comes with six outlets, which may not be sufficient for a medium or large, high-end home theater system. As a result, you may need to purchase two power conditioners. Additionally, the outlets are not widely spaced, which may cause issues when trying to fit all of your plug-ins.

The Furman Power Conditioner SS6B does not come with many additional features. It does not provide USB, coaxial, or ethernet hookups, unlike many other power conditioners. It has basic power conditioning capabilities, but compared to high-end power conditioners, it is primarily a good-quality surge protector with some power conditioning capabilities.

Accell PowerSquid Surge Protector Power Strip

Pros

The Accell Powersquid Surge Protector Power Strip is a budget-friendly and effective power conditioner and surge protector. It comes with a 3-foot, heavy-duty power cord, and five flexible outlets that can be used for your home theater. The outlets are designed with flexible arms attached to each of them.

The Accell Powersquid offers 1,080 joules of surge protection and basic power conditioning, as well as noise reduction features through filtering RF/EMI in your home theater audio. This makes it a great choice for those looking for an affordable solution to protect their home theater equipment.

Cons

Like the Furman Power Conditioner SS6B, the Accell Powersquid does not come with many additional features, but it does fulfill its main purpose as a surge protector and power conditioner. This makes it a great option for small home theaters. However, for larger home theaters, the five outlets may not be enough and you may need to purchase multiple units.

It also doesn’t come with any USB, Ethernet, or coaxial hookups, which are available in other power conditioner/surge protector models on the market. It is a basic, budget-friendly option that fulfills its primary function of protecting your home theater equipment.

CyberPower CPS1215RMS Surge Protector

Pros

The CyberPower CPS1215RMS Surge Protector is a 120V/15A rackbar surge protector that comes with an impressive 12 outlets, including EMI/RFI noise filtering. It is also UL recognized. With this many outlets, it is a great budget-friendly power conditioner for a medium or large home theater.

The CyberPower CPS1215RMS has six outlets on the front and six outlets on the back. The back outlets are widely spaced, providing room for extra bulky cords and wall adapters. The unit is constructed with industrial-grade metal housing and comes with a 15-foot power cord as well as a cord retention tray.

This power conditioner is more advanced than the previous two options mentioned. It offers 1,800 joules of surge protection and is a 1U rackmount (19 inches) with 0U vertical rackmount and under-counter configurations. It is a complex power conditioner that was designed with the user in mind, which offers more features than just basic surge protection and some power conditioning capabilities.

Cons

The CyberPower CPS1215RMS Surge Protector is a great budget-friendly option for home theater power conditioning due to its 12 outlets and EMI/RFI noise filtering. However, it does not have connections for Ethernet, coaxial cables, and USB cords. It only comes with traditional outlets.

Pyle PCO850 15 Amp Power Supply Conditioner

Pros

The Pyle PCO850 15 Amp Power Supply Conditioner is a great budget-friendly option for home theaters by Pyle, a leading home theater brand. It has built-in AC noise filtering that eliminates RFI and EMI, as well as spike and surge protection.

It operates at a voltage of 115V – 60 Hz and has nine outlets, eight in the rear and one in the front. Three of the outlets in the back are widely spaced to make room for bulky cords and power adapters. It also has a built-in circuit breaker with a 15 amp rating, 1U rack-mountable, peak impulse current is 1,200 amps, 6-foot power cord and weighs 3.5 lbs.

With three widely-spaced outlets and one in the front, you should have enough room to utilize all of your plug-ins for your home theater, and with nine outlets in total, it should be able to accommodate many home theaters on its own.

Cons

The Pyle PCO850 15 Amp Power Supply Conditioner has received positive feedback from most customers, but some have reported that its surge protection capabilities are not top-notch. Some users have reported that equipment connected to the Pyle PCO850 15 Amp Power Supply Conditioner was damaged during a surge, while equipment connected to a basic surge protector was not.

While nine outlets is a good number for most basic home theaters, some users may find that this is not sufficient for their home theater. Additionally, the Pyle PCO850 15 Amp Power Supply Conditioner does not have any USB, coaxial, or Ethernet hook-ups, which may be a limitation for some users.

Furman M-8X2 Merit Series 8 Outlet Power Conditioner and Surge Protector

Pros

The Furman M-8X2 Merit Series 8 Outlet Power Conditioner and Surge Protector is available in two models in the mid-range price, one with a rack and one without. It has AC noise filtering that reduces RFI/EMI and spike and surge protection to keep your equipment safe, as well as nine total outlets.

The Furman M-8X2 Merit Series 8 Outlet Power Conditioner and Surge Protector has eight rear panel outlets, three of which are widely spaced for power adapters, and one convenience outlet on the front panel. It has a filtration rating greater than 23 dB, 200 kHz to 10 MHz, which is great for home theaters of all sizes. This power conditioner and surge protector is highly recommended for getting rid of all pops, crackles, and excess noise in speakers.

It also has a 15 amp rating with a circuit breaker built-in. This professionally-built power conditioner and surge protector is a great option at a reasonable price.

Cons

The Furman M-8X2 Merit Series 8 Outlet Power Conditioner and Surge Protector is well-liked by many customers for its noise elimination and power conditioning capabilities, but some have reported that hum sounds are not completely eliminated.

Nine outlets may be sufficient for many home theaters, but it may not be enough for large home theater systems that require multiple devices and accessories. Additionally, the product does not include extra hookups such as USB, Ethernet, or coaxial.

Pyle 19 Outlet 1U 19″ Rackmount PDU Power Distribution Supply Center Conditioner PCO860

Pros

The Pyle PCO860 19 Outlet Power Conditioner is a mid-range power conditioner that offers an impressive 19 outlets, 16 of which come with their own arms to ensure that all of them can be utilized. This should be enough outlets for most home theaters, and it also comes with one USB outlet.

It has a detachable 1u rack design for standard 19-inch racks, and it is also designed to be mounted on walls or under counters, thanks to its detachable mounting flanges. It is equipped with a built-in 15-amp circuit breaker and a 15-foot power cable.

This power conditioner by top home theater supplier Pyle has an integrated switched front panel AC outlet, and it is optimized for reliable distribution of power with an operating voltage of 110/240V and USB power of 5V/2A. This versatile power conditioner is a great choice for most home theaters.

Cons

The Pyle PCO860 19 Outlet Power Conditioner is a great mid-range power conditioner that offers an impressive 19 outlets and one USB outlet, however, some customers have reported issues with the USB outlet being faulty and that it does not fit a full 1U height, only the top mounting holes can be used during installation. Additionally, it doesn’t have multiple USB hookups or other hookups such as coaxial or Ethernet. It’s a good option for many home theaters but it may not be perfect for everyone.

Furman Power Conditioner PST-8D

Pros

The Furman Power Conditioner PST-8D is a top mid-range power conditioner that offers advanced linear filtering to dramatically reduce AC line noise and power contamination. It also features Series Multi-Stage Protection Plus (SMP+), which provides the highest level of AC surge suppression, allowing it to guard valuable home theater equipment from extreme voltage surges.

The PST-8D comes with eight main outlets, as well as coaxial and Telco connectors, so your home theater equipment, cable, satellite, and telephone/LAN will be protected. It has a sturdy aluminum chassis and a warranty that covers loss of electronics when properly connected to the PST-8D during a power event. The PST-8D’s SMP+ circuit incorporates Linear Filtering Technology (LiFT) and a high current TVZ-MOV to ensure the highest quality of clean, filtered power and noise reduction. This power conditioner is a great choice for those who want a high-quality power conditioner with advanced features for the protection of their home theater equipment.

Cons

Even though the Furman Power Conditioner PST-8D is a well-designed and high-performance power conditioner, the number of outlets may only be suitable for some home theaters. Some users may need to purchase additional power conditioners/surge protectors to protect all of their equipment. Additionally, the PST-8D does not have any USB outlets. So, this product may not be the best fit for all home theaters, especially those that have a lot of devices and accessories to be protected, or if they want USB connectivity.

Panamax MR4300 9-Outlet Home Theater Power Management with Surge Protection and Power Conditioning

Pros

The Panamax MR4300 Surge Protector and Power Conditioner is a high-end power conditioner from the leading home theater brand, specifically designed to provide protection and filtered power to home theater systems. It comes with nine protected and filtered outlets that feature its exclusive Automatic Voltage Monitoring (AVM) and Panamax Level 3 Noise Filtration. It also offers a $5,000,000 Limited Lifetime Connected Equipment Protection Policy and a Lifetime Product Warranty for added peace of mind.

In addition to the outlets, the MR4300 also has two pairs of universal CATV/satellite connectors and one pair of RJ-45 and one pair of RJ-11 in/out connectors. Two of its outlets are specifically for high current hookups, like pre-amps and receivers. Plus, it has one USB charging outlet on the front panel, providing a convenient way to charge your devices while they are protected.

Overall, the Panamax MR4300 Surge Protector and Power Conditioner is a great high-end choice for those who want to protect and power their home theater systems with advanced features and added connectivity options.

Cons

The Panamax MR4300 Surge Protector and Power Conditioner is a high-end power conditioner that boasts advanced features and added connectivity options. However, it does have some downsides, as reported by some customers. The number of outlets is limited to only nine, which may be suitable for some home theaters, but may not be sufficient for larger home theater systems. Additionally, only a few of the outlets have extra spacing between them, which can make it difficult to fit all of your plug-ins. This might be a problem for some people who have a lot of devices and accessories that need to be protected.

Furman Power Conditioner M8DX

Pros

The Furman Power Conditioner M8DX is a high-end power conditioner that offers advanced features and added functionality. It has eight outlets in total, with three of them widely spaced to accommodate bulky cords and power adapters. It is built with both AC noise filtering to reduce RFI and EMI, as well as spike and surge protection to keep equipment safe. It also boasts a peak impulse current of 12,000 amps and has a maximum continuous operating voltage of 130 VAC RMS, providing robust protection for your home theater equipment.

Additionally, it features two slide-out, swiveling light fixtures that offer discreet illumination of equipment, which is a rare feature among power conditioners. This power conditioner also has a noise attenuation of greater than 26 dB, 200 kHz to 10 MHz and an operating voltage of 120 VAC 60 Hz. It comes with a 6-foot cord and a maximum output current of 15 amps, making it a great option for home theater owners who want to ensure their equipment is well-protected and running at optimal performance.

Cons

Having nine outlets, with four being well-spaced, is an ideal number for a home theater. However, some setups may require more outlets. The bulky cords on some equipment may make it difficult to utilize all of the outlets provided. Additionally, traditional outlets are the only type of hookups available. To ensure the protection of USB, coaxial, and Ethernet equipment, separate protection will be necessary.

Furman PL-PLUS C 15 Amp Power Conditioner

Pros

The Furman PL-PLUS C 15 Amp Power Conditioner is considered as a step-up from the M8DX by some experts. This advanced power conditioner is equipped with SMP, EVS, and LiFT technology, which provides top-notch equipment protection during power surges.

The isolated outlet banks minimize inter-component interference and noise contamination. Additionally, it has a segmented LED voltmeter that displays and monitors the incoming line voltage. With an operating voltage of 120V 50/60Hz and a maximum output current of 15 amps, it offers efficient performance.

The PL-PLUS C also features excellent noise attenuation of 10 dB @ 10 kHz, 40 dB @ 100 kHz, and 50 dB @ 500 kHz. It has a maximum surge current of 6,500 amps and spike clamping voltage of 188 VAC peak @ 3,000 amps. It also has dimmable, pull-out lights, similar to the M8DX, and comes with a 10-foot cord.

Cons

The Furman PL-Plus C is a top choice for those looking to protect high-end home theater equipment. However, it only offers nine outlets which may not be sufficient for larger home theaters with multiple equipment. Furthermore, it only includes basic three-prong outlets and doesn’t provide any additional outlets such as USB, coaxial or Ethernet.

Bonus One: APC H15BLK 12-Outlet H-Type Rack-Mountable Power Conditioner

Pros

The APC H15 Power Conditioner is an excellent product from a reputable brand in home theater. It offers 12 outlets to meet all of your power needs, including CATV/modem and satellite/antenna hookups, as well as Ethernet hookups. The 12 outlets are well-spaced, allowing you to utilize all of them for your home theater equipment. Not only will your home theater equipment be protected, but your phone line, internet, and TV can also be protected.

It features isolated noise filter banks (INFB) and outlets with grouped filtering protection, such as digital filter outlets, video filter outlets, analog filter outlets, and high current filter outlets. It has an LCD display that shows voltage in and voltage out, frequency, and load, and also has light dimmer settings. The feet can also be unscrewed for rack mounting installation.

It has a surge energy rating of 5,270 joules and comes with a $750,000 Connected Equipment Warranty. It also has let through voltage rating of <40, a maximum input current of 15A and EMI/RFI noise filtration of 100 kHz to 10 MHz, 50 dB.

Cons

The APC H15 Power Conditioner offers a wide range of outlet types, including CATV/modem and satellite/antenna hookups, as well as Ethernet hookups. However, it does not include USB hookups.

Find the Perfect Power Conditioner For Your Home Theater

When considering purchasing a power conditioner for your home theater, it is essential to analyze your current and future equipment needs. It’s essential to take into account the number of plugs you need, the types of plugs, and the spacing between them. It’s also important to plan for future purchases, to ensure that your power conditioner can accommodate your equipment.

It’s a good idea to make a budget recommendation for your power conditioner purchase, and check all possible stores to find the right power conditioner for you. You may find a model you like at one store but not the other. It’s also recommended to consult with an expert to ensure that the power conditioner you choose is an ideal fit for your home theater.

If you are looking for a simple surge protector instead of a power conditioner, you can check out our article on the 10 best surge protectors. Surge protectors are cheaper than most power conditioners and are suitable for non-essential devices.

Some Q&A About Power Conditioners

What is a power conditioner and why is it important for home theaters?

A power conditioner is a device that regulates and filters the electrical current flowing to your equipment, providing protection against power surges, voltage fluctuations, and electromagnetic interference. It is important for home theaters to use power conditioners because they help ensure that your equipment is receiving a stable, clean power supply, which can help prolong the life of your equipment and improve its performance.

What are some common types of outlet types in power conditioners?

Some common types of outlet types in power conditioners include traditional three-prong outlets, USB outlets, coaxial outlets, and Ethernet outlets.

How many outlets do I need in a power conditioner for my home theater?

The number of outlets you need in a power conditioner for your home theater will depend on the number of devices you have and their power requirements. It’s a good idea to count the number of plugs your equipment needs and review the types of plugs, as well as considering future purchases.

What is the difference between a power conditioner and a surge protector?

While both power conditioners and surge protectors provide protection against power surges, a power conditioner goes a step further by also regulating and filtering the electrical current to improve the performance and prolong the life of your equipment. Surge protectors, on the other hand, are simpler devices that only protect against power surges.

Do I need a power conditioner for all of my home theater equipment?

It’s not necessary to use a power conditioner for all of your home theater equipment, but it is recommended for devices that are sensitive to power fluctuations or are critical to the performance of your home theater system.

Read more about Power Conditioners here…