15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
Does exactly what it advertises!
I use this for my computer setup. Being that I have WAY too many devices that do not shut off when I shut the computer off like a USB hub, a Dymo Label Writer, and more, I use this to shut off those little power leaches when I shut down the computer.
The device seems very well built and is very solid. It does emit some blue and green light from the power...
14 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
Doesn't work with TV
We purchased this Monster Digital PowerCenter MDP 650 with Green Power primarily for the "green power" feature. We already had a perfectly good surge protector our A/V equipment was plugged into, but my wife wanted something which would prevent the standby power consumed by our Wii, a DVD player and a Blu-Ray player.
I use this for my computer setup. Being that I have WAY too many devices that do not shut off when I shut the computer off like a USB hub, a Dymo Label Writer, and more, I use this to shut off those little power leaches when I shut down the computer.
The device seems very well built and is very solid. It does emit some blue and green light from the power switch area so you'll want to plan on putting it some place where that light isn't a problem. I got mine in Amazon Frustration Free Packaging, which was awesome.
The only thing I wish were different is that I wish more of the outlets were "green" outlets that shut off when the main device shuts off. I am breaking the rules a bit and using a second power strip off of one of the green outlets so I can shut off a few more devices. I'm not overloading the device as they're all tiny power consumers, but still, not a recommended use but it does work if you ask it to.
I couldn't be any happier with this device, other than the price. I've always used Monster on my home theater setup too, and may get another one for that location.
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Almost every electrical device nowdays draws some small, meaningless amount of power - say 4 watts in "sleep" or off mode. Its waiting to hear from the remote to turn on usually, or perhaps waiting for a wake on lan signal that nobody uses. Not to mention those so called "wall warts" that plug into the wall outlet and look like, well, a wart. Well, technically a 7 watt wart.
The idea of this device (my lab was involved in early certification) is to ONLY turn on secondary devices when a "MAIN" device is operational, thus saiving the 6 devices x 5 watts = 30 watts x 24 hours x 365 = 262.8 KWH / year * 10c/kwh + tax = about $30/year, so the device pays back conservatively in 3 years, faster if you have more addon devices.
Say your home stereo centers around the nice TV. CD player - 7 watts, Amplifier for THX audio? 16 watts, equalizer, 10 watts either on or off - doesnt care, CD changer - 4 watts off, all those devices are wasting electricity - called 24 hour loads, they load the electric grid 24 hours a day and do nothig with that power.
By installing this and selecting the TV as the master device, plug in your protected devices, then plug in all the devices you need to run your audio video system into the remainder of the plugs. When the TV is off, everything else will be off too. Turn on the TV and your whole audio video system is ready to go.
There is a 2nd advantage. With the storms comming all your precious devices will be disconnected when you are not using them - like running around unplugging stuff that is valuable before surges hit the power lines. Grounding protection is also built into the product.
You've heard it before and I'll say it again, if everyone saved 262 kwh per year, we would have less emissions from power plants maknig power that is wasted, we would have less ice melt, lower sea levels, and a healtheir planet. And people who know me would never call me a tree hugger or an environmentalist, I drive a humvee that gets 8 MPG although my commute is only 2 miles, but when whales are slaughtered and power is wasted, I feel like something must be done, because if I don't nobody will. I do secretly clap for the tree huggers who stand up for their principles, so I am standing up for mine. Wasting power is bad, and everythig is made to do it these days.....
There you have it - 3 years it's paid for itself in the WORST case, 1 year with the typical home theater system. Works for computers too, turns off displays, printers, faxes, external drives, and all those wonderful chargers that plug in, plus routers if you do not have a wireless home net with more than one pc, and even the dsl modem. Another application of the same product.
I have 3 of these remaining after tests were completed, and I found it to be of superior quality. Today my TV, computer, and laboratory equipment is protected by the remainder that were leftover. And my electric bills shrank right away. QED.
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This review is from: Monster Power HD PowerCenter 900 with GreenPower [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging] (Electronics)
Your TV or Component must drop below 17 watts in standby mode to disconnect the Green Outlets. My Plasma TV would not disconnect the Green Outlets but the AV receiver did.
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This review is from: Monster Power HD PowerCenter 900 with GreenPower [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging] (Electronics)
So I have this set up in my bedroom with my LCD TV as the switching source. One half is always on and the other half is switched by the power state of one device. If you have an old power strip and run out of switched outlets just plug the power strip into one of the switched outlets, problem solved. Everything but my network gear is switched and linked to my TV. Kind of a hassle having a PC connected to it (TV as monitor), as obviously, suddenly cutting off the power is not good for a computer. So I have to shut my PC down (or put it to sleep) before I turn the TV off, and I know what your going to say, why not just use the PC as the switching device? Well its gaming rig so its loud and Im not always using it, and you get only one master device. At any rate rest assure your electronics are off cold with this thing. There will be no stand by power usage at all from the switched devices which will, over time, pay for the power strip. As for the features they advertise (cleaning the power etc), I have not really noticed any difference before and after in interference so I think that's just a marketing thing. Green like with anything means an initial investment that pays for itself and then save you a lot of money down the road. Think of this as the CFL bulb of your electronic gear ;). If you have the money just buy it, looks cool too! On a side note, the "frustration free packing" means its just in a cardboard box without the cool monster packing... Cheers!
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We purchased this Monster Digital PowerCenter MDP 650 with Green Power primarily for the "green power" feature. We already had a perfectly good surge protector our A/V equipment was plugged into, but my wife wanted something which would prevent the standby power consumed by our Wii, a DVD player and a Blu-Ray player.
We first tried plugging our satellite receiver into the control outlet. When the receiver was shut down, the other components continued to stay on in standby. We figured maybe the receiver was going to standby as well, and therefore wasn't triggering the switched outlets to turn off. We then tried plugging the TV into the control outlet. Even with it off, everything in the switched outlets continued to receive standby power.
Monster advertises this surge protector as being for computers, and maybe a computer would shut off completely triggering the switched outlets to turn off, but our AV equipment couldn't do it. I'm giving it two stars because it seems like it still works as a surge protector, just don't expect to save any "green" on your power bill from it.
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I've been using Monster products for my home theater system for several years. I can argue that my A/V system sounds better but sonic improvements are hard to quantify. To my ears, at least, my system produces music that sounds cleaner, brighter and more transparent. There are fewer transient distortions now because signal transmission is more stable. Blu-ray audio such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio sound especially clear and immersive.
There have been other tangible improvements in several different areas. The speaker wire is sturdier and designed to be flat so I haven't had problems with damaged wire. The somewhat pricey gold-tipped flexible cables that connect various components - such as my universal DVD Audio/Video/SACD player - to my A/V receiver never suffer from static charge build-up, oxidation or damage, are much easier to manipulate and have been trouble free since I began using the very same set more than 5 years ago. The gold-tipped banana plugs are terrific: they are sturdily constructed, and they also boast a lack of static charge build-up or oxidation and there are no more occurrences of damaged speaker wire tips shorting out my system, something that was once a frequent (and potentially very costly) problem.
My satisfaction with the Monster products I've used induced me to purchase their Monster Power HD PowerCenter 850 and I have been most pleased with the results. The first thing that attracted me is the spacious design of the outlets which have a generous allotment of space between them. Recent struggles with having to jam power plugs into a crowded and cramped surge protector make me applaud this feature. I consider this design improvement over my last protector sufficient repayment for the purchase.
But there are other features that I've found extremely helpful. When the protector is triggered by an electrical event a healthy (though not obnoxious) alarm alerts me. I was always the last to know whenever my old surge protector was triggered. The PowerCenter 850 effectively dampens the energy usage of all connected equipment in stand-bye mode. This saves electricity, lowers one's bills a bit and finally helped to alleviate the gnawing guilt I used to experience whenever I felt that electrical warmth wafting upwards from my A/V system.
The plug contacts are 24-carat gold so once again there is no oxidation or static charge build-up, a feature I've come to appreciate over the years. The fairly robust light on the protector makes it easier to find in the dark so there's no more fumbling around amongst all that expensive electrical gear. And when I switch off my A/V receiver all of the ancillary components - such as the blu-ray player and subwoofer - are switched off as well. Turn my A/V receiver on and the rest of my connected equipment are all turned on too. This is a feature that offers me a great deal of convenience since I'm always forgetting to turn things off.
The PowerCenter is sturdily made and simple to use. There are surge protectors that cost much more but this one meets my needs. I have found this to be a worthwhile purchase and a good surge protector.
Mike Birman
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Well made, works just like it says. Would be nice if when your computer went to sleep the green plugs would turn off. I rarely find myself completely shutting down my computer. buy all in all the product is great and does exactly what it says. The amazon packaging is also really nice, no plastic to mess with.
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This review is from: Monster Power HD PowerCenter 900 with GreenPower [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging] (Electronics)
I bought this hoping the electric source was the problem with TV humming but it's the TV. The green feature of putting items on standby is great but I wish it was more than just 4 that did that. Maybe the other sizes do. Took a day to arrange which was "master" controlled unit. Don't plug Tivo or DVR into it though as per Monster. Amazon prices was way better than local stores. I will be buying second one when I get new TV for family room.
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This review is from: Monster Power HD PowerCenter 900 with GreenPower [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging] (Electronics)
Very good product.Plugged in my TV to the main power outlet and I can plug in any 3 devices to be turned off when the TV is off.It is very conveinent to know when I turn off my TV,the video game,blu-ray player and and amplifier will be turned off automatically.
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