One Monstrous voltage stabilizer
Written: Sep 16 '05
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Full 15A power handling, adjustable time-delay AC sequencing
Cons: Heavy, slight hum emitted
The Bottom Line: The AVS2000 is a top-notch voltage stabilizer for high-end home theater systems, but it's not for everybody.
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| compuwhiz's Full Review: Monster Cable Products Reference AVS-2000 (MONSTER... |
Overview
Any home theater enthusiast can tell you that performance is limited by the weakest link in your system. Thousands of dollars invested in an HDTV display and DVD player is worthless if you use $5 cables to connect them together. Similarly, a high-end system will not perform at its greatest ability without a nice stable power signal to work with. There is already one type of device that exists to improve home theater performance: the power conditioner. However, Monster took things a step further and released the AVS2000 voltage stabilizer which is designed to be used in conjunction with a high-end power conditioner.
In the box
You get the 68-pound AVS2000, a user's manual, rack-mount brackets, and a 6 foot DC trigger cable if your power conditioner supports remote turn-on via trigger signal. That's it... not much at first glance but at this price level the focus is on the unit itself and not accessories that most enthusiasts will already own.
Tech Specs
Contrary to epinion's description of the AVS2000, it is not designed to be a surge suppressor. So what does it do then? The AVS2000 will accept an input voltage anywhere from 80 volts to 140 volts AC and will give you a nice, consistent 120 volts AC (+/- 1%). It can handle a 15 amp load with an input of 120 volts or more.
How is this accomplished? Monster uses a servo-controller variac to continuously adjust the output voltage. This is what accounts for the immense weight of the AVS2000. Some less-expensive stabilizers may only handle 7 or 8 amps of current but that is often not sufficient for high-power amplifiers and/or powered subwoofers.
Layout
The rear panel of the AVS2000 is divided into three sections. The first section has DC trigger inputs and outputs so that the voltage stabilizer can be remotely powered-on and it can also remote-control power conditioners downstream.
The second section has a series of switches that allow you to adjust the power delay for the sequenced outlets. You can select a 1, 2, 3, or 6 second delay for each of the 4 switched outlets. This allows you to provide a delay between power amplifiers to limit startup surge.
The third section consists of the power outlets and ground connection. Two of the outlets are non-switched which means you can hook up video components that are designed to receive power all the time (cable/satellite receivers) and the other four outlets are switched. The ground pin can be connected to the ground connectors on other power units to help eliminate ground loops, or also to the ground connector on a turntable if you use one.
The front panel has three displays of red LEDs (blue LEDs if you buy the Signature Series). The far left display normally shows the output voltage, but you can push a button and have it temporarily display the input voltage. The center LED display shows the current voltage adjustment, and the far right LED display shows the amperage usage. All three sets update 3 times per second and can be dimmed partially or fully. The 6 status lights below the LED displays cannot be dimmed or turned off.
The unit is designed to match perfectly with the new HTS series power conditioners from Monster, and you can easily stack them without problem. The tabs that are provided will allow you to rack mount if you have the ability, and Monster provides the tool for removing the faceplate screws.
Performance
Those who will benefit most from the AVS2000 are those with an AC voltage lower than 120 volts, since this saps available power to your audio system. Even if you normally have a voltage very close to 120 volts you may find that it varies greatly when your air conditioning or heater kicks on. My AVS2000 typically has to lower the input voltage about 3-4 volts to attain 120 volts output. However, with the A/C running and the system cranked up loud it will sometimes add 2-3 volts to provide 120 volts. During intense bass peaks I've actually managed to overload the AVS2000 into providing 17-18 amps with voltage correction of +6 volts and the warning LED will flash to let you know that you've exceeded the design capability. If it's just a transient you should not have to worry.
One thing to note is that the AVS2000 does make a small amount of noise during voltage fluctuations as the servo moves. You won't be able to hear this when listening to music or watching a movie, but when the components are turned off you may notice the slight noise. Also there appears to be a small amount of chassis hum that is audible if you put your head right next to the unit. It fluctuates depending on the amperage draw but isn't even detectable from 2+ feet.
Warranty
Unlike the other Monster Power components, the AVS2000 does not provide a connected equipment guarantee. After all, it is not a surge suppressor and does not provide any power filtration. When combined with a Monster HTS series power conditioner you will of course enjoy the equipment guarantee provided with the conditioner.
Is it worth it?
It's a very subjective question because there are many places to invest in upgrades for a home theater. If you have a decent voltage in your home the AVS2000 may not be necessary and may not make much of a noticeable difference. If you've invested heavily in other components and are looking to follow up with high-quality power, then the AVS2000 would be the next logical choice after a quality power conditioner. I'm happy with my choice and should never have to buy another voltage stabilizer, so it was a good investment.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
compuwhiz
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Member: Jeremy Gillow
Location: Melbourne, Florida, USA
Reviews written: 21
Trusted by: 3 members
About Me:
System administrator and computer information systems graduate student.
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