Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

This review is for the "Tripp Lite HT10DBS Home Theater Isobar Surge Protector" OVERVIEW: ----------- The HT10DBS is a well-reviewed, high quality value sweet spot among premium surge protectors. It offers UL 1449 3rd Edition verified surge protection with decent EMI/RFI AC line noise protection. This is a premium AV surge protector offering from a company that takes surge protection seriously. NEW TECHNICAL DETAIL: [03/2014] ------------------------ (1) EMI/RF AC NOISE ATTENUATION Although HT10DBS specs say 60dB EMI/RFI AC line NOISE ATTENUATION, Tripp Lite engineering says that with current units the outlets CLOSEST TO THE POWER CORD are 80dB and those furthest away are 50dB. So clearly we want components most likely to benefit from noise attenuation plugged into outlets closest to the power cord. (2) MORE ISOLATED FILTER BANKS Tripp Lite engineering says that current units have 5 ISOLATED FILTER BANKS, that each outlet pair is its own isolated filter bank like most of the ISOBAR/ISOTEL units. They said it used to be 3 and before that 2. If these two technical details are accurate, it makes the HT10DBS more competitive with other models of the ISOBAR/ISOTEL line. It would now be an alternative to ISOBAR/ISOTEL for those who might just get it as an ISOBAR/ISOTEL with 10 outlets and greater spacing convenience, with the upgraded EMI-RFI noise reduction being just icing on the cake. MISC. DETAILS: --------------- (1) Ethernet line (RJ45) surge protection is, like most RJ45 consumer surge protection these days, not for gigabit speed ethernet, it is for up to 100baseT. I confirmed with the company. (2) The EMI/RFI and noise attenuation is for the unit's AC outlets, not for the coaxial cable, tel/fax line, and ethernet line, they however get the surge protection, of course. Source: Tripp Lite engineering. (3) If the outlet isn't grounded, surge protection won't work (however you would get the outlet EMI/RFI and noise reduction). (4) The on/off switch (which doubles as a circuit breaker) takes just enough force to make it a little more cat proof than some others. WHAT IT HAS IN COMMON WITH ALL ISOBAR SURGE SUPPRESSORS: --------------------------------- The ISOBAR/ISOTEL line of surge protectors (HT10DBS is one of them) is technically respected, the line has been around over 20 years and they have sold almost 20 million of them. Even their plug receptacles are high quality. These are a great value. Some key ISOBAR/ISOTELs benefits: (1) UL1449 3RD EDITION TESTED (see below for details) with let through 140V RMS "CLAMPING" VOLTAGE (UL Verified at 330V). This means at 140V it starts passing the over voltage to electrical ground. If a surge protector doesn't have a clamping voltage at 330V or lower, consider looking for one that does if you are serious about surge protection. (2) ISOLATED FILTER BANKS. Some equipment send more noise than others back down their AC cords. The isolated filter banks eliminate interference between equipment in this regard. As noted above, starting sometime in 2013/2014 the HT10DBS model of the ISOBAR line now has five isolated filter banks (each outlet pair). Thus electrical noise from each outlet pair won't affect other outlet pairs. For example, you might isolate equipment with motors like DVRs and DVD players from noise sensitive equipment like TV and speakers. Note: I was told that versions older than sometime in 2013/2014 of the HT10DBS had only 2 (and I heard later 3) isolated filter banks and most of the marketing materials still reflect that, and their sales people and even some of their engineers may still refer to that old material. (3) SURVIVABILITY, unlike many surge protectors this isn't designed to be a disposable product. ISOBAR surge protectors are designed to be highly survivable in addition to doing their job of protecting your equipment. And if it does sacrifice itself protecting your equipment there is a good chance the company will send you a new one at no cost. Comments on sites suggest they take their lifetime warranty and equipment protection guarantee seriously. There is circuit breaker (12A) built-in too, of course. (4) EMI/RFI FILTERING, the db attenuation level is model dependent. Although the HT10DBS model specs say it goes up to 60db noise attenuation (depends on frequency range), Tripp Lite engineering says it is up to 80dB closest to the power cord and 50dB furthest away. Again, this does not apply to the coax cable, tel/fax line (RJ11), or Ethernet (RJ45) line, they get the surge protection, though, of course. I don't know why the online specs are different than the understanding of Tripp Lite engineering. If I resolve anything I'll modify accordingly. (5) A tough all metal housing, thus for example no melting plastic cases in extreme conditions. (6) For over 20 years, the ISOBAR line has committed to the technical high-road and showed product durability/survivability over the long haul and the company appears to make a good faith effort to honor their warranty. NOTE: The rest of the benefit laundry list I won't cover as they are to be expected for any premium surge protector and there is nothing to clarify or add: - expected status indicators - high joules protection (HT10DBS has 3840) - thermal fusing to avoid fires, etc. - etc. HT10DBS SPECIFIC BENEFITS: ----------------------------- [ Rewritten in 03/2014 to reflect spec changes ] At its core HT10DBS is a 10-outlet ISOBAR/ISOTEL surge protector with BETTER OUTLET SPACING than the 2-8 outlet models. Like the other 10 outlet member of the ISOBAR/ISOTEL family, the AVBAR10, it adds surge protection for: - coaxial cable (x3) - RJ11 (fax/phone) - RJ45 (computer network/ethernet - only up to 100BaseT, NOT gigabit). So what does the HT10DBS have over its nearly identical twin of the ISOBAR line, the AVBAR10? - The HT10DBS now has up to 80db EMI/RFI noise protection/filtration (source: Tripp Lite engineering) for the outlets as opposed to AVBAR10's up to 40db. As noted earlier that is 80dB closest to the power cord and it is down to 50dB at the other end. Note that the online specs still say 60dB max., however Tripp Lite engineering says it is now 80dB. - HT10DBS has 3840 joule suppression rating vs. AVBAR10's 3384. Some say this isn't significant, however I include it as some care. - The new HT10DBS design now has 5 isolated filter banks (source: Tripp Lite engineering) vs. the 3 on the AVBAR10 (source: Tripp Lite engineering). HT10DBS is the more premium product. UL1449 3rd EDITION - WHY DEMAND IT AT THE MINIMUM FOR YOUR SURGE PROTECTOR: ------------------------------------------- Okay, so you read somewhere that you want a UL1449 verified/tested product and preferably a maximum of 330V let-through clamping voltage, <1 nanosecond response time, etc., but what added value does UL1449 3RD EDITION give us? UL1449 3rd Edition became effective 09/2009. Any surge protection device (SPD) made after that must meet the new tests to be UL1449 verified. Why choose a product that meets the new edition of the certification (much less meets any old UL1449 cert.) if you are serious about protecting your equipment? Here are two reasons: (1) It added a STRESS TEST for Type 3 SPDs like this called the Duty Cycle Test. They electrically whack it 15x to see if they can ruin its ability to protect, cause a fire, etc. (2) The UL1449 3rd Edition tests with 6x MORE SURGE AMPERAGE than the 2nd Edition test did. A UL Listed product that claims to be a surge protector is not necessarily UL1449 3rd Edition listed. For example, it may only be UL1283 listed (or one would hope rarely, even UL1449 2nd Edition listed in the past and not following the rules for listing continuation). Watch out for carefully constructed marketing that really is just claiming to be as good as UL1449 listing or verification, instead of actually being UL listed/verified. SOME SELECT NOTES FROM INSTRUCTIONS AND ELSEWHERE: (Reworded for brevity) ------------------------------- - Plug the unit directly into the wall socket, don't daisy chain extension cords. - If socket is ungrounded, surge protection won't work, be sure warning light shows socket has ground. At least you'll get EMI/RFI noise reduction for the outlets, but without ground you've got an extension cord not a surge protector. - If you are serious about surge protection from nearby lightning strikes or power line events, be sure to get whole house surge suppression in addition to these kinds of surge protector units (unit and installation can be as little as $200ish, Note: Get a unit with status indicators). - Under UL 1449 3rd Edition, these kinds of surge protectors are Type 3, which are partly defined as being 30'+ from circuit breaker box. This is why you will see reference to premium surge protectors being 30ft. from a circuit breaker box. It doesn't mean that at 29.9' your surge protector will go nuclear. SOME OTHER UL1449 3rd EDITION SURGE PROTECTORS: --------------------------------- - FURMAN: Furman PST-8 Power Station Series AC Power Conditioner Furman PST 8D Advanced Level Power Conditioning, SMP, EVS, LiFT, 15 Amp, Aluminum Chassis, 8 Outlets, Isolated Outlet Banks, Cable & Telco Protection - WALL PLUG-IN: TRIPP LITE SK5TEL-0 Surge Protector Wallmount Direct Plug in 5 Outlet RJ11 1080 Joule - ISOBAR: Tripp Lite ISOBAR8ULTRA Isobar Surge Protector Metal 8 Outlet 12 feet Cord 3840 Joules Tripp Lite ISOBAR6 Isobar Surge Protector Metal 6 Outlet 6 feet Cord 3330 Joules Tripp Lite ISOBAR4ULTRA Isobar Surge Protector Metal 4 Outlet 6 feet Cord 3330 Joules - ISOTEL: Tripp Lite ISOTEL8ULTRA 8-Outlet ISOTEL Surge Protector (3840 Joules, Tel/DSL) Tripp Lite ISOTEL6ULTRA Isobar Surge Protector Metal RJ11 6 Outlet 6-Feet Cord 3330 Joules - AVBAR: Tripp Lite AVBAR10 Isobar Audio Video Surge Protector 10 Outlet Tel/Coax 8 feet Cord TRIPP LITE AVBAR8 Isobar Metal RJ11 RJ45 Coax 8 Outlet 8-Feet Cord A/V Surge Protector Monster doesn't publish whether or not some of their surge protectors are UL1449 or UL1449 3rd Edition verified, but they are considering doing so some day. They also don't publish their surge protectors EMI/RFI noise attenuation, but they are considering doing so in the future, as well. Obviously many folks and companies serious about surge protection are not likely to use surge protection that doesn't show UL1449 listing. INTERESTING FORUMS: ---------------------- avsforum hometheaterforum ecoustics SOME RELATED PRODUCTS OTHER UL LISTINGS: ------------------------- UL497A/UL1459 - Relates to Telco (ex: RJ11 protection in our case) UL 991 - Tests for safety-related controls using solid state devices UL 1283 - EMI Filtering for these kinds of units UL 1363 - "Relocatable power taps" (think extension cords) with or without EMI filtering or surge protection