Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)==UPDATE 9/2008 == When I wrote this it was $860. Now it's $200 more. This only strengthens my view that a quality UPS is a better solution than a home theater product.
I liked D. Bowman's review but he needs to change the word "watts" to "volts" i.e. "most neighborhoods fluctuate +/- 3 to 4 VOLTS" would be accurate, but not WATTS. WATTS is how much power YOU are using like a 100 WATT lightbulb, VOLTS is what is comming into your house and varries a little bit over a day based not only on your neighbors usage but yours as well. In the USA most homes get two 120 volt (average) circuits which combined make 240 volts for high power devices. A neighborhood uses thousands of watts. You should not need to be concerned about this to use your stereo or TV. Most every consumer product, including your HDTV, stereo, etc, is designed to handle this normal variation in voltage.
Now onto the AVS2000. A Psychiatrist did a study by holding a seminar where 50% of the audience was allowed in FREE, and the other 50% had to pay $50 for the advice, which was just plain common sense. Both groups were then asked to evaluate the seminar after they attended it.
Those who got it free felt "it was OK" while those who lost $50 had much more complimentary reviews like "It will be a life changing experience". This is common human nature to believe you did not get ripped off and a key to marketing high profit stereo equipment. I've heard people say that after buying monster cables for $200 their stereo sounded much more musical. I asked them to define "musical" and they couldn't.
The AVS 2000 is not a life changing experience, but it does lighten your wallet several hundred dollars, and you naturally will say it's the best power strip you can buy, which is probably true. But do you need its ability?
While the 2000 has some nice bells and whistles, and it does stagger the power on sequence of your equipment to prevent startup current surges, another feature I like, it is overkill for 90+% of all MODERN equipment. If you own a 1970's $20,000 stereo with TUBE amplifiers then you will probably derive a REAL benefit from the 2000's ability to regulate voltage. You MIGHT even be able to hear it.
On the other hand, If your equipment was made in the past 10 years, take a look at the nameplate data (usually stamped where the power cord goes into the device) and it will likely say "Input Voltage 100-120" or maybe "100-240 volts AC 50-60 Hz" if it is meant for international markets like many products these days. If your house outlet is in the 110-115 VAC range, which most are, then your equipment will perform EXACTLY as intended without the AVS2000. A $10 voltmeter can tell you what your voltage is.
HDTV won't be any better with the AVS2000 than without it. Your stereo won't be any louder with than without it. You'll have a hard time to hear anything more "musical" like the salesman said you would.
Monster products tend, in general, to be well made overbuilt cables with great strain reliefs built in and oversized conductors. Their equipment is aimed at the true audiophile who has money to burn on a $100 cable instead of the cheap one that came in the box with his new DVD player. Their packaging is advertising how important the product is. They are high profit margin items for stereo stores to sell with a system that has a limited profit margin on the main item. Former used car salesman turned stereo experts will tell you how much "more musical" your system investment will be if you spend another $300 in cables or $900 in power strips. Of course you can't setup 2 identical systems in the store to see this for yourself, i.e. a direct A-B comparison like we do in the laboratory.
Monster products are very nicely made, and I do own several of them, however I did not pay for mine, they were given to my lab and I was paid to evaluate them against other alternatives, and comparing a $110 monster fiber optic cable against a $10 no-name fiber optic cable showed zero difference in connecting an optical digital output to an amplifier. Being digital, it either works or it does not work.
The AVS2000 does what it says. Most devices sold today, however, simply don't need it.
If your equipment can tolerate a wide range of input volatages, and you are not having power problems where you live, then this is NOT the solution for you. Your HDTV will look better if you spend the money for an AVS2000 on a bigger screen.
If you ARE having problems with your power, GET THEM FIXED! I had power problems and contacted my utility provider who fixed their transformer on the pole to get rid of them permanently, for free. Using a $100 digital voltmeter I could show the utility that the voltage dropped every day at 6PM when people cooked dinner below 100 volts Line-Neutral at the meter. This was outside of their specification and they were required by law to fix it.
For the price of the AVS2000 you can buy a comparable computer grade UPSAPC SUA1500RM2U 120V 1500VA USB and Serial RM 2U Smart UPS System with similar voltage regulation and it will prevent your stereo/TV from shutting off and back on 5 seconds later when the power goes out momentarily during a storm. The AVS 2000 can't do that. UPSs also have surge supression and some simple metering if you want those features. This one is rackmount and will go nicely in a stereo rack, and is less expensive than the AVS2000 while doing more. (the APC UPS can make power when there is none, the AVS2000 can not)
The AVS2000 is a niche item for people with older equipment that suffers from improper voltage. For most modern systems it is overkill and not needed. It has lots of impressive looking meters but lacks performance for its pricepoint.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Monster Cable MP AVS 2000 Home Theatre Automatic Voltage Stabilizer
AVS 2000 is designed to stabilize power line fluctuations and maintain constant voltage to your home theatre. Voltage sags (below the standard RMS value of 120 volts) are often caused by power-hungry appliances like clothes washers, air conditioners, and electric heaters, which draw more power (over 1500 watts) than your house was designed to support. This can have a direct effect on home theatre components, including amplifiers and two piece projection systems, which require a lot of power to operate at an optimum performance level. As a result, the picture can lose brightness and suddenly shrink in size.Amplifiers change gain structure which results in nasty distortions. They also won't deliver peak power, dropping from 100 watts to as low as 60 watts, for example. Your home theatre is very power hungry, too, often drawing twice as much power as a washer and air conditioner combined. This can cause even more voltage sags and ultimately, inferior home theatre performance. With AVS 2000, all your high power devices will maintain the stability needed to deliver peak power and performance. You'll enjoy the smoothest, most natural sound and the sharpest, brightest picture possible with vivid color.And, thanks to AVS 2000's sequential turn-on feature, your high power loads can operate at peak performance without causing unnecessary electrical stress that can often pop a circuit breaker or damage your components. "I highly recommend this component."Kevin Miller, Home Theater MagazineStereophile Guide to Home Theater Accessory of the Year Award 2001. Winner of a CES Innovation Award Audio Video International Video Grand Prix, and Audio Grand Prix Award.
