Furman Elite-15 PFi Linear Filter AC Power Conditioner

With each upgrade or addition you make to your home theater system, you have another power cord to plug in. After the wall outlet options run out, you add a surge protector, then another one, and then you still run out. One solution to all this mess is to get a centralized power conditioner that not only provides all the outlets you need, but also provides a practical way to monitor voltage and protect against voltage fluctuations and spikes, and also clear up power line interference. One product that might do the job for you is the Furman Elite-15 PFi.

The ELITE-15 PFi allows connection of up to thirteen components into a centralized device, with only one power cord actually connected to the wall outlet. This eliminates the use of one, or more, power surge protectors or power strips.

Another benefit of the Elite-15 PFi is that it provides component isolation . In other words, Amplifiers, Receivers, and Powered Subwoofers, are electrically isolated from source components, such as a Blu-ray Disc player, or other source device. This assists in limiting any interference that may be generated from one component affecting the power going to another. In addition, the Elite-15 PFi also reduces the noise generated by external appliances that are connected to the same house current.

I noticed removal of low level hum from my subwoofer and background hiss from my home theater receiver. However, after looking and listening to several Blu-ray Discs and DVDs (including test discs from Silicon Optix (IDT), Spears and Munsil, and QDEO), I did not notice any change in video or audio quality with my own setup.

In addition to power isolation and protection, the Elite-15 PFi also helps improve signals going through RF cables. Here I did notice an improvement in the noise level from analog cable when routed through the Elite-15 PFi, resulting in a slightly cleaner image on my television.

One extra feature of the Elite-15 PFi has nothing to do with power protection, but the inclusion of extendable LED lamps is really a nice touch. If the Elite-15 PFi is placed as the top component in an equipment rack or cabinet, you can use the provided extendable lights to see the front panel controls on the rest your equipment. This makes it easier to make adjustments in a darkened room. It even helps when you want to open your DVD or Blu-ray Disc package and read liner notes on the back.

Unfortunately (or fortunately), I didn't experience any excessive voltage spikes or dips during the time I used the Furman Elite-15 PFi, so I can't personally give testimony to its effectiveness in protecting my own components from a real world excessive voltage spike or dip incident.

Components Used

Home Theater Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR705.

Source Components: Sony BD-PS350 Blu-ray Disc Player and OPPO DV-983H Upscaling DVD Player

Loudspeaker System 1: 2 Klipsch F-2's, 2 Klipsch B-3s, Klipsch C-2 Center , 2 Polk R300s.

Subwoofer: Klipsch Synergy Sub10 .

TV/Monitor: A Westinghouse Digital LVM-37w3 1080p LCD Monitor.

TV Signal Sources: Cox Analog Cable Service (straight RF feed - no cable box - through the ELITE-15 PFi and out to an RCA VR725HF VCR to the S-video inputs of the Westinghouse monitor), Samsung DTB-260F External HDTV Tuner (RF-in from Antenna/HDMI-out to Westinghouse monitor)

Audio/Video connections made with Accell, Cobalt, and AR Interconnect cables. 16 Gauge Speaker Wire used.

For a close-up look at, and more detailed explanation of, the features of the Furman Elite-15 PFi, also check out my Photo Gallery Profile.