Reccomendations for a true "Online" Sinewave UPS for Audio Production?

[Randyman...]

I'm looking to replace my APC SU1400RM "line interactive" UPS with a true "Online" Double-Conversion UPS for all of my Audio Recording Gear. Lots of this gear is Analog (discrete mic preamps, etc), and needs to have very clean power for best results. The building I'm in has all sorts of stuff contaminating the A/C line, and I know the APC UPS's aren't exactly worshiped for their clean power and they also tend to send electrical noise back into the circuit they are attached to. I figure a double-conversion UPS would be my best bet, and allow me to have a single unit to clean up the power and to provide UPS backup for the DAW PC.

I'll need about 1000VA/800Watts (120v/US) to leave some headroom. Bigger is OK, but bigger = more $$$. Pricerange is $300-$500 MAX. Runtime is really not a consideration as long as I get a few minutes to save my project and shut down the DAW PC. As little as 4-5 minutes of runtime should be plenty (I don't want to pay for large battery banks I'd never use). I'd prefer a 2RU rackmount, but a Tower would also work.

I've seen the Tripp Lite series:
1000VA / 2RU Rackmount (http://www.tripplite.com/en/products/model.cfm?txtSeriesID=659&EID=13790&txtModelID=2948)
1000VA Tower (http://biz.pcconnection.com/IPA/Shop/Product/Detail.htm?sku=473125)

Are those any good?

What else do you fine people recommend or have experience with?

Thanks!

:cool:

[Freezer7Pro]

I think a decent net filter on the input of the UPS should be good enough. My SUA1000I actually outputs cleaner power than the grid when running on battery.

[Randyman...]

My SUA1000I actually outputs cleaner power than the grid when running on battery.

Which is precisely why I'd prefer a true "Double Conversion / Online" UPS - to really clean up the dirty power and voltage fluctuations since the APC "Smart UPS" series doesn't always run on the inverter.

IIRC, the AVR regulation in the APC's uses different transformer taps and switches through them until the voltage is too low - at which point it switches to battery power. The switching between transformer taps (and then to battery power) is anything but "clean" - and not like an online UPS that is running off the inverter 24/7 - and you get much tighter voltage regulation to boot (+/- 2% versus more like +/- 10% with the "Transformer Tap" method). If these "Transformer taps" change during a recording, you can bet an audible click would be present due to the switch time. The online UPS's would not exhibit any such switch time - so no audible pops on the recording ;) , and it is spitting out perfectly clean inverter power 24/7...

Have you used the Trip Lite models I mentioned above, or can you recommend any other online UPS's in my price range?

PS - I already have a Tripp Lite LC-1800 (http://www.tripplite.com/EN/products/model.cfm?txtSeriesID=326&CID=1&txtModelID=2833&gclid=CJKY4NaCtJwCFRkMDQod-0hsoA) which is a Voltage Regulator/Filter, and it uses the "Transformer Tap" methood, and is useless to me for my Audio Production application (pops occur when the unit switches taps).

Rock on! :attn:

[ratbuddy]

My friend has one of PS Audio's high end units on his stereo, and swears by it. They do make a UPS that would probably be perfect for you, a bit out of budget though. http://www.psaudio.com/ps/products/detail/powerpack-1500?cat=power

There's one for under $700 shipped, if you trust Ebay.. http://cgi.ebay.com/PS-Audio-Power-Pack-1500---NIB!_W0QQitemZ220458869220QQcmdZViewItem

edit: Combine it with one of http://www.psaudio.com/ps/products/detail/powerplay-8000?cat=power and :drool:

[MadMan007]

Nearly anything 'audiophile' is going to have the stupid audiophile tax associated with it. Those commerical units in the OP look like the best bet.

[Randyman...]

My friend has one of PS Audio's high end units on his stereo, and swears by it. They do make a UPS that would probably be perfect for you, a bit out of budget though. http://www.psaudio.com/ps/products/detail/powerpack-1500?cat=power

There's one for under $700 shipped, if you trust Ebay.. http://cgi.ebay.com/PS-Audio-Power-Pack-1500---NIB!_W0QQitemZ220458869220QQcmdZViewItem

edit: Combine it with one of http://www.psaudio.com/ps/products/detail/powerplay-8000?cat=power and :drool:

The power in this building is pretty horrid, so I'm fairly confident I'll need something that uses double-conversion to get the clean power I'm after (trying to clean up the mains with filters and such seems futile in this battle zone :) ).

The $700 one isn't even a true Double Conversion unit, and PS in general is too pricey for what you actually get IMNSHO. PS/Monster - I kind of lump them together in that you pay a huge premium just for the name...


Nearly anything 'audiophile' is going to have the stupid audiophile tax associated with it. Those commerical units in the OP look like the best bet.

Exactly. I'm an Audio Engineer/Mixer/Musician. I consider myself an "Audio-Dude" - not an "Audiophile". The 2 are very different ;) .

I'm thinking the Tripp Lite series would be just fine. I was looking for some real-world feedback and/or other recommendations to solidify my assumptions. Any further input is appreciated :thup:

Thanks :cool:

[ratbuddy]

The power in this building is pretty horrid, so I'm fairly confident I'll need something that uses double-conversion to get the clean power I'm after (trying to clean up the mains with filters and such seems futile in this battle zone :) ).

The $700 one isn't even a true Double Conversion unit, and PS in general is too pricey for what you actually get IMNSHO. PS/Monster - I kind of lump them together in that you pay a huge premium just for the name...

Gotcha.. He loves that thing, says it's a regenerator or something like that.

[MadMan007]

I think you're above our heads here at OCF for what you're looking for ;)

I consider myself an 'audiophile' but just in the simplest sense of the word - I like audio :D - rather than the silly snakeoil sense of the word.

[Randyman...]

Gotcha.. He loves that thing, says it's a regenerator or something like that.

If it (the $700 one w/UPS) is actually re-generating, then it would be an option. I quickly peeked at the link, and it mentioned "True Sinewave power on battery" or whatever - which leads me to believe it isn't a true "online" model. It is 1500VA, so I'd be paying a bit extra for the extra capacity. I think the $999 model you linked to was a "Re-Generator" - Essentially an Online UPS w/o the UPS ;) (Rectifier and Inverter w/o the battery portion of the equasion). I still suspect I'd be paying a hefty premium for the Audiophile name and snazzy looks versus the more "utilitarian" Tripp Lite models.

I think you're above our heads here at OCF for what you're looking for ;)

I consider myself an 'audiophile' but just in the simplest sense of the word - I like audio :D - rather than the silly snakeoil sense of the word.

LOL. Loving music and great sound is what it's all about IMO. That in itself does not constitute an "Audiophile" IMO (that comes when you start buying based off the large pricetags and become somewhat disconnected from the musical enjoyment at its most basic level - Audiophiles tend to fall victim to "Snake oil" as you say - just my opinion as an "Audio-Dude" ;) ). If you can't distinguish the difference a piece of "Audiophile" gear (or cable) makes in a true A/B/X double-blind test, then it's snake oil :p

I do agree that Audio Engineering is a bit of a "Niche" to bring up here, but I know clean power is paramount for us Overeclockers and Network and System Admins and such with a lot "riding on the line" :) . I've got a few other threads going at other Pro-Audio sites, and I figured I'd pick OCF's brains for this perspective as well :)

Any other brands/models I should be looking at?

Rock and/or Roll :attn:

[Audioaficionado]

I don't know if this has already been suggested here, but how about a reasonably priced prefilter ahead of a reasonably priced true sine wave UPS?

[Randyman...]

Any of the "Pre Filters" I have seen that actually rectify to DC and invert back to A/C are more expensive than a comparable double-conversion UPS (why - I have no idea since a double-conversion UPS is the same thing with a battery tossed in the DC rail).

I currently do have a Tripp Lite LC1800 (liked to in a previous post above), and it is a ~$250 unit, but uses "Transformer Taps" to incrementally step the voltage up/down (and has a fairly loose tolerance of +/- 12% or so). This creates "pops and clicks" in the recording (40-50dB of gain with a Mic Preamp is common and any A/C transitions that have a "Switch Time" WILL be audible in the recording). Even if I got a nice re-generator to put in front of the UPS, the UPS will still have a "switch time" if the power takes a quick hit or whatever. An online UPS would not have any "Switch Time" no matter what the incomming AC looks like (even if it goes away for 10 seconds in the middle of that PERFECT take :) )...

The power in this place is pretty bad - likely beyond what a basic "Line Conditioner" will be able to clean up, and I think a true "Double Conversion" online UPS is really what I'm after. I just need some reassurance on the Tripp Lite series I linked to in the OP, or some recommendations for simular models under $500 or so that have clean re-generated A/C power. I figured someone here has used the Tripp Lite series I linked to, no?

Thanks for chiming in :)