Furman Power Conditioner (PST-8)

Amazing product. Gives great piece of mind.

Purchased in 2019, still going strong in 2025. Use it for my computer, monitors, and soundbar

I rarely leave reviews, but this time I had to say something about this surge protector. It is definitely more than just a surge protctor! I had no idea it would improve my Audio signal this much. I'm using it with an audio interface and Windows PC. The sound was noticeably cleaner and clearer. I was using a basic surge protector, but trust me, this one is worth the extra money spent!

Most people know that they should have surge protectors to protect their electronics (TV, home theater, computer) from surges that occur when the power comes back on after a blackout or from lightning strikes and other incidents that cause unwanted bursts of voltage. They usually buy an inexpensive unit for $25 or so, plug their stuff into it, and forget about it.The problem is, these inexpensive surge protectors "sacrifice" their electronics with every surge. One big surge can render them useless; many small surges over a period of time can do the same. Once those sacrificial bits are killed, the unit becomes a simple power strip with no protective ability.Manufacturers recommend replacing surge protectors after any big power event or every two years, which most people－by which I mean ME－don't do.The Furman units like this one absorb surges without sacrificing the electronics, making them a good choice for people like me who want to plug it in and not think about it anymore. It's three or four times more expensive up front, but it should pay for itself over time, especially if it saves my equipment.Then there's the power conditioning aspect. I read opinions about power conditioners varying from how essential it is to clean up the power from your outlet to opinions that conditioners are a waste of money. Some people say it depends on how dirty your power is, that dirty power can result in speaker hiss, and that cleaning up the power can give speakers more clarity and extend the life of your receiver. I don't know who to believe.I have no idea how you're supposed to know how dirty your power is, but I do know that I can walk around my neighborhood and hear the power lines crackling overhead, so I figure it's pretty messed up. I'm happy to have power conditioning built into my surge protector. Can't hurt.Other reviews talk about how BIG this unit is. In some photos it looks as big as a coffee table! It's big compared to cheap surge protectors but it still fits handily under my TV shelf and under my desk. I don't find the size to be a problem at all, and I appreciate the heft of this aluminum-clad unit.Is it working? Heck if I know. I guess I'll find out sooner or later, but for now I'm betting on Furman's reputation and doing what I do best with surge protectors－I'm forgetting about it.

I obviously missed this detail but this very hefty and apparently well engineered piece of equipment does not provide surge protection for ethernet (RJ-45) only telco (RJ-11). I honestly didn't even have occurred to me that it wouldn't. Seems like an odd omission in 2024. Would have given it five stars otherwise.

I bought this so that I could try it on my vintage Hi-Fi audio system. I had been building my system over the past couple years and it was on various bog standard surge protectors. Monster, Belkin, etc. Those were all, of course, quite fine, but I knew from past experience that cleaning up the signal can make a difference. I also wanted something with a more robust protection system. After reading about this unit, I decided to give it a shot. My friend, who has an outrageously expensive system, has used all kinds of power supplies and power conditioners over the years. While some outrageously expensive gear can make a significant difference I think that you would have to spend well above this price point to get something that you would notice. Switching from a standard surge protector to this unit. There was an immediate difference in sound quality. For those who think that audiophiles are crazy when they say that you have to realize that these systems don't actually improve your other equipment. They simply remove things that are making your equipment worse. Cheap conditioners and filters can actually have negative impacts. I was worried that might be the case as the price point was right on the cusp. It did not do that at all. All it did was allow my stuff to sound as clear and crisp as possible. I was shocked by how good it sounded. Time will tell if the surge protection portion is as good as reviewed by others. Based on my initial impressions, I would expect that it does exactly what it's supposed to

I was surprised when I received this product. It was heavy, constructed almost completely out of aluminum and had a very solid build. The cable to plug into your outlet is very thick and quite long making it easy to correctly position the device. The plugs are well constructed and you can really feel them grip whatever you plug into them.Furman claims that the device will reduce AC background noise through a linear filtering process. I am using the device to power my audio set-up and I can actually hear the difference. There is more clarity in sound that is coming out of my speakers now.The product is rated to "unlimited joules," so I feel confident that it will protect my equipment from surges.While, $84 seems expensive, this product actually does what it says it will do, is incredibly well-built and a small amount to pay to protect your gear. I recommend this product without hesitation.

Seems to work.