WAudio W-3900 Power Conditioner - A Surprisingly Mediocre Thing

[@ConnahJay]

Can you review some power conditioners/strips that you do recommended? Maybe at a few price points, would be nice to know what unit to sink some money into or maybe there an overall best buy?

[@therainbowbeard]

Say what you will about this product, but it just solved a huge issue for me. I was getting a terrible hum/buzz through my Shure SMB7 connected to a GoXLR mixer. I have been through 4 or 5 different brand new products trying to take the horrible hum out of the mix. It would change frequency and intensity depending on hours of the day. 6pm was the worst. Audio was unusable during those hours. I finally gave this thing a try. Plugged my computer and mixer's power into this... mic is finally dead quiet.! I am so happy. Finally!

[@indegruv]

What were you using previously? Straight plugging into wall ?

[@therainbowbeard]

@@indegruv I tried both a nicer Belkin surge protector and a brand new Anker. Nether made any difference.

[@webekelven]

Yes. Although I have not personally tested the unit, there is no reason to think (or assume as Scott did) the X2 rated suppressor capacitors and the common mode AC choke will not function as intended. I've opened up similarly priced gear from Tripp-Lite and Furman to note similar circuitry, albeit without phase detection. Scott could have been more professional instead of taking time to criticize the admittedly poor translation from Chinese into English product description--then proceed to blame the manufacturer of poor quality control, when it was he who broke the circuit board stand-off while clumsily removing the board. Much time could have been saved had he tested first the noise filtering. While many manufacturers advertise (incorrectly) their line filters as power conditioners, credit is due this company for stating exactly what their unit is: a line filter. This is the first of Scott's videos I have viewed, and unfortunately the last. Scott comes across to me as the typical "ugly American," falsely self-assured and arrogant. Life is too short.

[@s.a.1555]

@@therainbowbeard I have a Helix that sounds amazing. But in the place where I am it sounds with a lot of power current noise. I was planning to buy this until I saw this video. Because it's not cheap. Did it solve the problem for you?

[@therainbowbeard]

@@s.a.1555 If fixed my issues, but I don’t know the root cause of my issues and your issue might be different. All I know is, it was my miracle. I just bought a new house and am moving soon, so hopefully I don’t have any new problems at the new place. 🤞🏻

[@Rckrkid287]

I'm glad you're making content again. And it's awesome that you review oddball shit like this.

[@ellaochomogo5154]

You mentioned you can get more for that price. Can you give a few examples?

[@michaelwright1602]

How about a review on the Emotiva CMX-6 unit, $99 with free shipping. I would love to see your take on these.

[@D1Calderon]

What power strip do you recommend besides CyberPower?

[@farosonico]

that would be useful to know

[@ravnvidal13]

@ScottDotDot, Can we replace the circuit with a Schaffner Two-Stage Filters FN2090 ? , I guess that sort of thing can be shown in a video.

[@yvesboutin5604]

Thanks for the video! I agree with your assesment that it is just a glorified power strip. The medical grade outlet cost 20$ for a combined pair in Canada, so I guess it justified a bit the price tag. The filtering parts are flimsy. An EMF test would have told us if it really filter something out. I like your channel! Keep them coming!

[@TheLkdude]

@ScottDotDot , are those LED's replacable ? I kind of observed them to be glued ?

[@dawaynecleckley8673]

Thanks for the review. I appreciate your approach. I used this two protect my high-end hi-fi system. It made a highly noticeable difference in imaging and soundstage. Actually, it was a huge difference.

[@kack7130]

all aside, did you test it with greenwave noise meter before and after? Because even with AudioQuest - Niagara 1200 Power Conditioner, I tested before 75 and after plug in it adds more noise to it 96. So another snake oil?

[@steverogers7611]

I thought it was 20 amp Hence the cables and sockets, so why would it trip at 15 amp ?

[@oscillatingdailyaudio]

do you have a video/s talking about a "good" power conditioner ?

[@theHeartlessNooB]

Hello. I bought this thing and now I am concerned about the 2 receptacles that you said would only be found in a poorly built home. I then read some articles and they said that those type of receptacles aren't even sold in the US anymore because they aren't reliable. Is it possible to replace the two receptacles?

[@oliverkadel6586]

Thanks, Scott, can you recommend something that is proper. Really struggling to find anything that looks promising on the market. Thanks

[@rkks43928]

Bought this and put it in my system. Found it improved the overall sound quality as advertised. Seems you were focused on the negative from the beginning of the video, and never made any 'in use' evaluation. It's easy to be critical, without being constructive.

[@metalfather8139]

Hi ..is there any conditioner that does a decent noise filtering job under 100$?

[@michaelwright1602]

Emotiva CMX-6, they are solid, dead quiet, no degradation in SQ that I can discern. I own 3, and two of their CMX-2 units for my DAC and preamp. Both units under $100, with free shipping.

[@jasonking9548]

The isolated ground doesn't look so isolated, Why even use those type of receptacles if there wired in with the others ?

[@polycyclic]

Hey Scott, I’d like to see you review the Tripp-Lite Isobar series sometime! Those are some pretty beefy units, and think it’d be right up your alley.

[@ScottDotDot]

Weirdly I did do an Isobar repair on another channel: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYSWnp-QhL9prLc I think the video is rambly and may have been a live stream which is why I didn't put it on here? But one thing is for sure, it does exist!

[@polycyclic]

@@ScottDotDot Thanks, I’ll sub to your other channel 😃 Imo the Isobars are without doubt the best surge suppressor on the market. Full metal case, actual sockets instead of brass clips, you know, all the works. But everyone seems to glance over Tripp-Lite’s standout feature, the inclusion of a thermal fuse. Its so obvious, yet something that remains mysteriously absent from every other power strip. The newer models I’ve seen also are adding those white, fiberglass flame-resistant pouches covering over the MOVs for added flame/explosion resistance. Im not sure if they’ve done the silastic to the inductors tho. That would truly complete the mix.

[@laszlosokolai2858]

@@polycyclic nope. SURGEX are the best surge protector power bars as they don't have joule ratings or rely on unreliable MOV technology. Second best is Hammond's ZAP TRAP - using gas discharge tubes that crowbar clamp the power and can last infinite hits.

[@krishmandal9769]

I have this. I'm not saying its great, I don't know much about circuits. But I did get this after an audiophile KZbinr tried it and said he did hear a difference between a regular power strip and this one. The video here is mildly informative because very little is actually explained. Mainly, yup thought so, does nothing. That said, you lost me completely when you didn't actually DO a test of the unit for what it SAYS it does. You had the opportunity to show us that it doesn't really do much, and in the end you got lazy and gave up. For this to have any real weight, you have to show us the test with the numbers you get. Otherwise, it's just us taking your word for it, knowing nothing about what is really going on with the actual juice going through it.

[@4132ize]

We need a before and after video of real systems plugged into it so the sound can be heard.

[@johnwilliamson467]

Given a 15 amp iec cable the 20 amp receptacles are a bit off. The hubbell 8600 is a 20 amp hospital grade plug . By the way my whole house has 8600s on all the 20 amp circuits . One may think I am hard core so be it . Common mode chokes can do a lot depending on the down line power supply .

[@ChaplainDaveSparks]

No *MOVs?* Yet they call it a _"surge suppressor"?_ I would love to see that enclosure at a thrift store, though. I could populate my own circuit board in place of theirs. Gas Discharge Tubes, MOVs, TVS diodes, etc. Since they're routing those LEDs straight to ground, I'd love to know what the leakage current is.

[@rmzidann]

We all saw you yanking it out with force dude. You broke the stand off… just a reality check. 😉 But, seriously though, thank you for an extensive review and tear down. I learned a few things. Btw, I bought this unit about 1 year ago and honestly didn’t notice an improvement in my audio system’s sound. I have SET tube amps. A class A preamp and using Eversolo streamer and a Pontus II DAC with a Full range TB 8” driver in a folded Voigt Pipe. It’s an ultra revealing system and every time I change something I notice a difference. This product was returned back to Amazon 👍

[@4132ize]

I absolutely love mine! Have it full of audio gear - 2 systems worth - Notice a HUGE difference in soundstage - bass is tighter with better clarity and warmth - WORTH EVERY CENT! I have all analog equipment and use a Marantz 4400 Receiver in my main system and I did purchase the Heavy Duty power cable.

[@y_x2]

Ridiculous

[@Shift4g]

Not worth it if your protector is out of site for sure, but I don't want a Walmart surge protector sitting next to a 4k monoblock either lol

[@麻辣燙-u1v]

It’s not a responsible review of an audio product without even trying it out. Like some other people commented, this unit made a tremendous improvement for my stereo system. If you live in SoCal, I don’t mind to give you a demo

[@TobyCowles]

That orange power switch kind of reminds me of an IBM PC power supply switch

[@kalijasin]

You don't need to filter out noise unless its causing some kind of interference. In the audio world that wold be the hiss, hum, crackle, and feedback.

[@Xyrium]

With all of that space in there, one could truly build a fairly decent "conditioner". Perhaps chuck a toroid isolation transformer on one side or mounted to the baseplate.

[@laszlosokolai2858]

Those red receptacles are really crappy. The red ones lasted about a dozen insertion cycles before they became arcing hazards. The black ones are made by a company called Rong Feng which is used by tripp lite, belkin 10 outlet home depot power bars (now home depot switched to PRIME brand power bars because the belkin 10 outlet power bars that used these RONG FENG receptacles were found to have dangerous intermittent grounding. Those red hospital grade receptacles are chinese counterfeit Eagle brand american made receptacles. I have one of these power bars I got for free and replaced the receptacles with hubbell HBL 5252 receptacles.

[@trippypages7309]

What a nice looking product. Looks super nice and well built. Sadly not hi end on the inside. I do not own one one but i almost was about to buy it. Thanks for the review. I would not mind to paid even more money if it was really hi end.

[@Toki1908]

Hey thanks for saving my bucks on these! I went out to get a APC H10 which is only $30 more and significantly better quality with a toroidal transformer inside.

[@BrianGarside]

Thanks Scott. Unfortunately I had purchased this unit and the power cables before watching this. Defiantly ripped off. I used a Noise analyzer and as expected it reduced virtually nothing if not went up in some cases. I'll keep it until I can find a better unit. Furman perhaps...something less than $1k. Even then it has been shown that clean power doesn't actually affect the audio band as explained by the AudoScience channel with Niagara 1200.

[@kack7130]

niagara adds noise with my meter, another snake oil

[@latheofheaven]

Heh... that was great Bro! Nice, dry sense of humour 😊 That is really good to know exactly what is inside. I AM kind of looking for a decent, AFFORDABLE power strip for my audio system which is nothing overly extravagant, but nicely custom designed and with fairly high resolution. BUT... I am *NOT* really into 'Power Conditioning' and feel that in most cases, even with very expensive 'High End' conditioners, the sound truly suffers. I am a real 'Purist' at heart. But, it WOULD be nice to be able to get a power strip that was made well and that at least would NOT introduce any degradation into the sound. And yes, my system is primarily analog oriented, with a nice vintage turntable/line-contact cartridge, a nice used Ayon orion II Class 'A' tube amp, and tall open baffle dipole mult-driver line arrays, with a separate Crown 2502 bridged driving 2-15" dipole woofers. It's just that Sean from Zero Fidelity on KZbin, who I feel is scrupulously honest and forthright, and NOT at all inclined to like 'Power Conditioners', etc., actually was very surprised that his system upon multiple comparisons sounded definitively better with this being used as compared to just being plugged into the wall. Thus my interest... Thanks again for the excellent and most informative video. I just kind of wished I knew what to do. Heh... by your comment about the 'Fancy' braided plugs, I would guess that you likely don't think that they do much.

[@michaelolivero8491]

I am disappointed as well. Could you recommend a better piece of equipment?

[@eyezonmy6]

mains through banana jacks... After being shocked through 240 a couple times.. just like holding a soldering iron by the hot end, even when powered off... something I would never do 😅

[@bernardchesneau3091]

Zero fidelity liked it

[@djgazaaka5000]

So why you never tried it with some music 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@ramencurry6672]

I would just get a $150 Furman power conditioner. It’s probably not great but it looks cool

[@tolgadabbagh1877]

you can buy the similar functioning stuff for 5 dollars i think. just a simple filter .

[@thinkIndependent2024]

Knowledge is Knowing thanks for helping to be Known

[@christopherdunn317]

tripplite has good filtering but only after seeing a review saying the first two plugs will do a pretty good job but not the other plugs after if you want really filtering you are going to spend something like 700 dollars on a medical transformer filter then you will be good !

[@wilfredmay-u9f]

Sounds like a bit of sanity is ctreeping in, keep up the gppd work.

[@robertgreene1946]

Power cable help audio sound I don't think you know whats up

[@carlosoliveira-rc2xt]

You're incorrect thinking the power supply of components will filter out garbage. You're really out of your depth discussing power conditioning. Also snake oil is the legitimate article. It's irritating when people use phrases incorrectly such as BMW owners calling their vehicles "beemers/beamers". Beamers are motorcycles by the way.

[@JoshFisher567]

I believe what he was saying is newer digital devices have better capabilities at handling it better than analog devices like a tube amp or high quality DAC. This might help some on analog devices but I ordered one recently and it's going back. As you can see in the video there is a black version and a silver version on Amazon. The black one shows a date first available in 2020. The silver one, which is 100 percent the same, has a date first available of 2014. WAudio literally changed the color just to make it look newer and up to date. That's shady in itself. I do agree that power/line conditioning works and helps AV equipment but you have to call a spade a spade and this is NOT a good device for filtering out noise, heck, it's barely a surge protector. The number one selling power conditioner on Amazon is a Furhman device from 2004. That's almost 20 years old so I would think the tech would have evolved since then and Furhman makes good power conditioners but the newer models are twice the price of this and are rack mountable. I'm debating on getting the AUSTERE VII Series Power 8-Outlet device. I looked at the iFi power station but it's just too expensive to justify and the AUSTERE has isolated pairs of outlets while every outlet on the iFi is isolated. Also, iFi recommends adding iFi AÇ purifier plugs which aren't cheap in addition to their very expensive power station which already comes with a iFi purifier built in. Heck, you can listen to radio over a main with the noise sniffer so I do agree about noise, I just think newer digital devices handle it better than even new analog devices like 10K tube amps. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y5iqqIhnfNuLobs

[@DasAntiNaziBroetchen]

"This has been the... wtf has this been??" Lmao

[@jdm-uk-yank]

I got mine for £30 I think it's worth that much at least

[@vlogmusic-copyrightsafemus3292]

Saved me some money thanks

[@brooklynknightss]

Thanks!!

[@custompainter]

"filter digital NOICE" NOICE!!!

[@denis4072]

This is what I call SNAKE OIL... 🤣🤣🤣

[@crodoc69]

To conclude, you didn't test the main function wich is noise filter, but you concluded how this is crap? Interesting. I don't have it and because of that I wanted to find something useful about this product and power conditioners in general. Searching for answers I bumped on this extremely biased and video that made no answer in term does this device filter anything or not. Thumb down from my side.

[@STONEDay]

High-end. Haha. High would have to be so high to buy that.

[@Addahasan]

Well thank you for sharing the garbage product. I was looking at the schematics and can make much more reliable and better filtration unit myself.

[@theaudiofool5475]

Yes the EMI filter is not very special but if you look at the used materials and time it takes to produce something like this, it is a fair price. Because their is a lot of manual labor involved to assemble it. On most equipment this filter won't do much, but it does filter HF so I would not call it snake oil. I have seen similar filters in products that costs thousands, now then we are talking about unfair prices 🫤

[@Steven-pv1xr]

If you are expecting big changes from a power conditioner ypu are horribly mistaken. It is for the most part snake oil. Shielded power cprd snake oil. Power conditioners can help but very marginally. Certainly will help your gear ride through lightnin strikes

[@Chahtawarrior31]

Thanks for saving me money! I will save and get a know conditioner from a good brand. OORAH De WV1Q