IMHO, the answer is qualified yes, a surge protector can detrimentally affect sound quality just as much as any cheap powerstrip or powercord can. It is all a function of the resolution of your system, the quality and type of the surge protector, and what, if anything, it is replacing.
As I've recently discovered, the subject of "surge protectors" is hotly debated. Most surge protectors on the market that you find in Target, Office Depot or online under $50 are cheaply built (which unfortunately, does not necessarily correlate with the price you pay). They are based on MOVs (Metal Oxide Varistors) which do wear out with time. Sadly, most fail in a way you'll never see until there is a surge that simply doesn't get stopped. Some, however, do fail in a most nasty way - they overheat and catch fire. I've recently replaced all my MOV based surge protectors with series mode protectors that do not wear out with time and have been proven to be far more effective against real-world power surges. It's a fairly new technology available from the likes of ZeroSurge, SurgeX and Brick Wall. (I believe ZeroSurge holds the patents and licenses to the other two). I have placed a ZeroSurge into my audio rig and cannot hear any detrimental impact on sound quality. If anything, it may improve it since it does have some level of power conditioning as well. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ mdconnelly's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=10312 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=95953 _______________________________________________ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
