Customers have good things to say about the 9 Outlet/2 USB Component 3240 Joules Surge Protector/Power Conditioner. They appreciate the number of outlets, especially the high current outlet in the front for easy charging, and the surge protection capabilities of the product. The USB ports on the front and back of the unit are also seen as a convenient feature. However, some customers find the lights on the front panel to be too bright, even at the lowest dimming setting.
This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.
The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 1 Showing 1-20 of 23 reviews
Pros mentioned:
Number of outlets
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Seriously
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
If you truely want to protect your electronic investments read here. The PR81-B from ELAC has my vote. Two front and rear facing usb a ports. Three groups AC outlets on the rear group one (2 high current iso outlets) group two (2 lower current w/ filtration iso outlets) group three (4 iso outlets w/ filtration). Digital display teads in real time voltage includes an unsafe voltage led reboot button , ground ok led additional AC outlet on the front
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Protect your gear
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Protecting your gear is important and this is one of the best! Plenty of plugs, spaced evenly so you can protect your TV, speakers and important electrical components.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Powerful and BIG
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Pros: 9 outlets, status lights, ability to button-push reboot for some outlets, total voltage used indicator, USB device plugs on front
Cons: Like most power "strips", spacing of outlets does not accommodate size and shape of all device plugs. One outlet is on front of box - convenient for temporary devices, but not for permanent installations.
Biggest objections: 1. the "on" power light constantly flashes - it's not clear if that's by design, but it is distracting and obnoxious if our cabinet door is open to allow use of devices; 2. the conditioner is another box with a relatively large footprint for which we have to make shelf space.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Surge protection, Usb ports
Cons mentioned:
Bright lights
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Great Power Protection Device but with Flaws...
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The ELAC Protek Power Protection Device is a surge protector with 9 total AC outlets on board (8 in back, one on the front), and all of them are filtered.
The PR-81B is UL certified and with a max energy dissipation of 3240 Joules, laid out in 3 groups of outlets. Group one is a high current option. The max spike in power that this unit can deal with is 6000V/165,000A which offers great protection to your plugged in devices. ELAC offers upto $500,000 in device protection insurance with the unit.
4 USB-A ports (5V/2.4A), 2 on the front, 2 on the back offer charging opportunities from the unit as well. I've installed mine in the sliding drawer of my desk, as I don't use that tray for my keyboards. I have two iMacs and a Macbook Pro with external monitor plugged into the back of this unit. In my use, I've not had any issues at all, my computers are running smoothly, without only a little fluctuation in power reading throughout the day.
The display along the front lets you know if your power is being delivered smoothly, the voltage or the amps being used (at the switch of a button). Using the ELAC Protek App, you have control over which groups are turned on (1, 2 and 3) - with the addition of a physical 'reboot' button on the front for Group 1. You can also set up scheduling if you have a device that you don't want on all the time, but to come on at a specified time.
So far I've been very happy with the unit apart from a couple of things.
1) For the price of this unit, I feel that the LED display is lacking in functionality. It feels like something from the 80's, its characters are oversized and very rudimentary, especially when reading Amps. A nice multi-line display with more information on it would be nice.
2) The dimming function is nice, but when dimming, the display turns to a more blue color, and while the LED display and the indicator buttons do dim, the big, bright blue power button remains an incredibly bright blue and is very distracting.
Thankfully, as mentioned, I have this in a drawer in my desk, so I personally don't see it, but I can see if someone was using this for a home theater, in a console in front of them, that blue light would be very distracting indeed. That definitely needs some consideration.
Overall, the functionality of the unit has been flawless so far, and as with all devices like this, it's more of an insurance policy you hope to never have to use, as far as surge protection, but, it's piece of mind knowing that, in my case, I hope to not lose 3 expensive pieces of equipment, should there be a spike in voltage at my house.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Number of outlets, Surge protection, Usb ports
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Incredible protection for your devices
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The ELAC ProteK 9 is the most advanced surge protector that I have ever seen, let alone used before. It's also much bigger than any surge protector I've used, and looks and feels more like a piece of audio-visual equipment that will fit right into a 'stack' on your display shelf with no problem at all.
That's a good thing, since you'll want to keep it somewhere kind of convenient in order to take advantage of both it's display capabilities, as well as all of the standard and USB outlets on the front of the device.
Set up is relatively easy--in the box are the device and a two-page instruction booklet. Simply remove it and figure out where you're going to put it. You will want to give the instructions a read, since not every outlet on the back is the same. The instructions do a decent job of explaining each 'group' of outlets and what type of device should be plugged in. All the plugs are protected, but a couple are better for audio equipment and other 'high current' devices (I currently have my PS5 and audio receiver for my surround set up plugged into those two).
There is an app (of course) though the device can be used without it perfectly fine and protects your devices with no problem. If you are going to use the app, you'll want to link it early in the process--I waited until after I had everything plugged in, then discovered the device must be 'reset' to pair with the app. Not a big problem, but I had things downloading when I figured this out and had to wait until that was done, since resetting the device does cycle the power off to everything plugged in. After doing that the app paired immediately with the Protek. If you're going to have more than one of these, you will want the app for the 'home' controls provided on it. You can shut down any devices, get power read outs, etc, all from your phone at any time.
There is a TON of information on the front of the Protek. Probably the most important displays are the led indicators for 'clean power' and the incoming voltage display. You'll get used to it reading "120v" very quickly. Basically you’ll want all the indicator lights on--if they're off it's bad and will indicate there was some sort of problem with the voltage, ground, power, etc.
The number of plugs and connections is, in a word, awesome. Between standard plugs and USB ports you can have up to 13 (!) devices protected at once. There is a plug and two USB ports on the front for convenience, while there are eight plugs and two more USB ports on the rear of the device. All are protected with the fail safes built into this device. The Elac Protek protects from surges up to 165,000 Amps! For reference, an average lightning strike within a mile of your home can send up to 200,000 Amps through your home--which would melt most of your wiring and damage most electric devices plugged into that wiring. The Protek has a ‘circuit breaker’ that will trip if this happens to your home. It’s a great system, and one I would trust before most ‘cut rate’ power strips.
Obviously with the price for the system this is a big investment, but considering the cost of high-end TV’s, sound systems, video games, 4K blu ray players, etc., it can be worth it to have this kind of protection for your devices. There are also less advanced Elac protection systems available that still do a wonderful job at a lower cost. If you are looking for high-end protection for high-end products, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better system than this! Highly recommended!
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Number of outlets, Surge protection, Usb ports
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Excellent Features & Price
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The ELAC 9 Outlet Smart Component Surge Protector and Power Conditioner with USB and Bluetooth is easy to set up, with the app, using directions that are well-written. There are 8 outlets on the rear, and 1 on the front. Group 1 has two outlets that are unswitched, and used for high-current items like amplifiers and subwoofers. Group 2 has two outlets, and Group 3 has four outlets, all switched (can be turned off). See the picture. You are also able to name the surge protector / power conditioner, so you can have multiple units.
In the app, you can rename the three groups to be called what you want. You can set up schedules to be on / off for the groups, or set a countdown to power off. The app can be used to manually turn groups on / off. There is also a button to tap that displays the average kilowatts used current, power, and voltage.
It is convenient that the unit has USB ports (2 front and 2 rear). It is a standard size, and seems to fit on an average tv stand. I live in a city, but I get power outages somewhat frequently. I have a good deal of home theater equipment, and also have bridges for smart lights, smart plugs, and my router. If I get notified of over or under voltage, I can turn off the unit for a while until the storm is complete. I'm always concerned about a brownout situation. It has a good 3240 Joules of surge supression.
This is convenient to have a surge protector and power conditioner in one unit. I'm considering purchase of a second unit for my computer / office area in my bedroom.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
MID-LEVEL SPECIFICATIONS
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Like many other people, we have a substantial investment in high quality, expensive electronic equipment, including large HDTVs, home theatre and component equipment. We understand the necessity to protect our A/V and electronics against powerline related damage, such as transient voltage surges and spikes that can damage or destroy our electronic devices.
Resultantly, we seek out high-quality powerline protection equipment, with robust specifications to protect our electronic devices.
The ELAC ProteK 9 Outlet Component Surge Protector/Power Conditioner with Dual USB, Model PR-81B is marketed towards consumers who want powerline protection for their expensive electronic devices, and are willing to pay a premium price for that protection.
I had presumed that the ELAC ProteK 9 would be an upgraded, premium surge protector and power conditioner for our best and most expensive audio-video equipment.
When I selected the ELAC ProteK 9 there were no specifications available on the ELAC or any other website. Telephoning ELAC for information was unproductive.
Nevertheless I ordered the ELAC ProteK 9, based on the optimistic presumption that a surge protector at this high price point would have excellent, superior specifications and be suitable for protecting very high quality, expensive electronics.
I misjudged.
The ELAC Model PR-81B now appears on both the Best Buy and ELAC websites. Best Buy lists it as the “ProteK 9” model. ELAC lists it as the ProteK Rack 8 + 1 Smart Surge Protector model.
The sparse electrical specifications for the PR-81B are listed on the ELAC website, as follows:
• Surge Energy Joule Rating
• 3240 Joules
• Response Time
• 1ns
• Max Spike Current (Amp | Volt)
• 432000A | 6KV (Erroneous Data On ELAC Site Product Page) - 165,000 A and 6 KV (Accurate Data On Best Buy Site and ELAC Setup Guide)
• Filtration Rating
• up to 70 dB @ 150 k – 100 MHz (Applies Only To Group 1 Taps – 40 db For Group 2 Taps)
• Overcurrent Protection above 135VAC and Undercurrent Protection below 95VAC
When selecting a Surge Protective Device (SPD) (formerly known as Transient Voltage Surge Suppressors (TVSS)) as regulated by UL Standard 1449, there are a few specifications which differentiate SPDs, as follows:
1. Joules – The Higher the Joules rating, the better.
2. Maximum Spike Current – The Higher the number, the better.
3. Response Time – The Lower the number, the better.
4. Clamping Voltage – The Lower the number, the better.
5. Filtration Rating – The Higher the number, the better.
Possibly the most important specification, the Clamping Voltage, is not listed by ELAC in the specs. However, it is provided on the manufacturer’s label on the bottom of the SPD, where it lists “Voltage Protection Rating: L-N 500 V”.
The ELAC PR-81B specifications are not all bad, but neither are they terribly impressive.
The Joules rating essentially represents the cumulative energy absorption capacity of the SPD. The higher the number equates to the more hits from power spikes and surges that the SPD will endure before failing.
A rating of 3240 Joules is not horrible, but for comparison, the SPD that currently protects my main TV and Home Theater System is rated at 7114 Joules, and it was several hundred dollars less expensive. I also have some even less expensive SPDs which are rated at 6490 Joules and “cheap” SPDs rated at 4320 Joules. The more expensive ELAC PR-91W is rated at 6480 Joules.
The Maximum Spike Current rating is listed on the ELAC website with two different values. On the product webpage, it lists 432,000 Amps which would be very good, if only it were accurate. On the Best Buy website and in the printed Setup Guide, the Maximum Spike Current is listed as 165,000 Amps, which is far less impressive. I also have to presume that the listed value is for Hot to Neutral, and that the lower values for Hot to Ground and Neutral to Ground are not provided. For comparison, my current, less expensive main TV / Home Theater SPD is rated at 252,000 Amps.
The Response Time is either 1 nanosecond or >1 nanosecond, depending on which portion of the ELAC product page is consulted. Most decent SPDs are rated at Under 1 nanosecond. How fast the SPD reacts to a voltage spike or surge is critically important in ensuring that the overvoltage is shunted to ground as rapidly as possible.
The Clamping Voltage, which may also be referred to as the Voltage Protection Rating (VPR) or Suppressed Voltage Rating (SVR) indicates the voltage level which will trigger the SPD to react and shunt away the excess voltage to ground, and it is of critical importance when selecting an SPD. Clamping voltage is expressed as one of three values based on UL1449; 330 V, 400 V or 500 V, with the actual test result voltage being rounded up to the next tier value. The Clamping Voltage / Voltage Protection Rating is perhaps the most important specification for an SPD. It relates how much excess voltage will be permitted to pass-through to the sensitive, protected electronics, before the SPD intervenes with the Metal Oxide Varistors absorbing surge and shunting the overcurrent to ground. A VPR of 330 V or less is desired. Some of the SPDs that I use have a Clamping Voltage of 188 V. 400 V is marginal, and 500 V is not worth connecting to electronic devices that matter, and is often described as “too little, too late”.
The Filtration Rating of 70db @ 150 kHz to 100 MHz for the Group 2 taps is good, but 40db for the Group 1 taps is poor. EMI/RFI Noise Reduction is of course not a factor in the protection of electronics from spikes and surges.
Again, the specifications for the ELAC PR-81B are not altogether terrible, however I had the reasonable expectation that an SPD in this price range, which is marketed to the audiophile community, would have far more robust specifications.
The ELAC PR-81B measures about 17” x 8” x 1.75”. It is rack mountable, but rack mounting hardware is not included.
The taps on the PR-81B are arranged with 8 on the rear panel and 1 on the front panel, which is always hot. The taps on the rear panel are switchable and configured in three isolated groups; one group of 4, and two groups of 2 taps. The Group 1 taps cannot be switched off; only rebooted with the front panel Reboot Button, or with the ELAC phone app. The Group 2 and 3 taps are switchable, but only with the ELAC phone app connecting via Bluetooth. The rear panel also has two USB-A Ports and a resettable Circuit Breaker.
The PR-81B front panel has a master Power Button with LED, a Reboot Button for the Group 1, High Voltage, rebootable taps, a Voltage / Current Button and a Dimmer Button for the LED Voltage / Current Display, LED Status Indicator lamps for “Protected/Clean Power”, “Ground OK”, “Reversed Polarity” and “Unsafe Voltage”, the single front panel tap and two USB-A Ports. All USB ports are rated for up to 2.4 amps, for USB charging.
The website information states that the ELAC Protek smartphone app will connect via Bluetooth LE (2.4 Ghz). The Protek app allows for setting a countdown timer, scheduling, and controlling the power on the switchable groups of the surge protector’s outlets. Curiously, the ELAC Protek app in the Google Play Store states that the app is compatible with all ELAC ProteK “W” models and does not list compatibility with a “B” model, such as the PR-81B. However, the Setup Guide states to use this app, and it is, in fact, compatible with the PR81-B. I am having difficulty envisioning a practical application for switching the power source to an audio-visual system, TV, home theater, etc. as the method of turning any of those electronic devices on and off, manually or on a schedule. Most electronic devices require continuous power to support their stand-by modes, which allow their own internal timers and controls or the user’s remote controls to operate the devices. Switched outlets and timer switched outlets seem far more appropriate for table lamps, and even lighting controls are better served with smart-connected lights. Certainly, no one would reboot a computer or a microprocessor controlled electronic device by turning the power source off and on. Perhaps a set-top cable box might be rebooted in that manner.
The PR81-B and app lost connectivity and needed to be re-paired. The front panel tap physically shifted in its mounting the first time a plug was inserted and again on removal.
Evaluating an SPD is predominantly based on physical attributes, including capacity, and most significantly upon the manufacturer’s claimed specifications for performance and UL1449 testing. We certainly cannot know in advance whether or not a particular SPD will actually protect our electronic equipment, so it is necessary to rely upon specifications.
Regrettably, I find myself disappointed in the specifications for the ELAC PR-81B, having expected much higher performance specifications at this price level. Additionally, perhaps the most significant specification of Clamping Voltage is listed only the label on the device, and is a troubling 500 volts, the poorest performance level for UL Standard 1449.
There are many SPDs on the market, from many manufacturers. Many of them have specifications which are superior to the ELAC PR-81B, and many of them are less expensive.
Inasmuch as the new ELAC PR81B offers significantly lower levels of surge protection than the SPD that I am currently using I will not use it to protect my most expensive electronic components. Although the ELAC PR-81B carries a premium price, it fails to offer the premium level of surge protection that I was expecting; hence my disappointment.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Cons mentioned:
Cannot control remotely
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great Protection with Peace of Mind
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I have owned many surge protectors, but this is my first line conditioner. I have a lot of equipment for listening to music and watching TV, so naturally I want to do all I can to protect my investments. We don’t have any blackouts; however, we do lose power multiple times a year.
Setup was easy and I was able to locate my device quickly and pair it via Bluetooth. I also connected this device to Google Assistant, but it was not as straightforward as the initial setup. I noticed the directions were a little off, but I was still able to figure it out and complete this optional setup.
I liked how you could use the app to turn off any one of the 3 groups of outlets. This could be handy if I choose to have lamps plugged into one of the groups. I especially liked the 2 USB type A connectors on the back and the 2 on the front. I now have two Nintendo Switch controllers charging neatly in my TV stand with the cords hidden away.
The only improvement I would like to be added is the ability to turn on/off the group of outlets while away from my house, using the ELAC app or Google Home. This would only be possible if the protector was able to connect to my Wi-Fi.
Pros
3 individual groups of outlets (1 outlet in front)
Bluetooth controllable
Alexa and Google Assistant
Cons
Cannot control remotely
I would highly recommend this surge protector/line conditioner. There are a lot of outlets to protect a lot of different devices while maintaining a streamlined size.
I would recommend this to a friend
Cons mentioned:
No homekit support
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
Functional but bland and over-priced
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
ELAC PR-81b 9-outlet Smart Component Surge Protector and Line Conditioner
As we consumers continue to add electronics there is a greater need to protect them from deadly power surges. I have a half dozen or more surge protectors throughout the house protecting TVs, Receivers, guitar equipment, game consoles, etc.
This product is an interesting one because of its’ ability to remotely turn groups of outlets on or off from your mobile device.
You can schedule timers for things that need charging between off peak times which could be useful and save on the electricity bill.
I can see where plugging a lamp or something in one of the three switched groups would be nice, though there are several other wall warts from the likes of Elgato Eve and others that accomplish the same thing for about $50 and work with Apple HomeKit which I wish this did.
Pro
+ scheduler saves electricity
+ front outlet plug
+ front dual USB-A ports
Cons
-pricy
-not flashy
-no HomeKit support
-lacks USB-C ports
-not remote access
-must be on local network
-can not rename PR-81b in the app
-voltage meter does not seem to fluctuate
Conclusion
I’ve long been a fan of famed Andrew Jones speaker design and own a pair of Elac speakers, and was saddened when he left the company late last year. I feel at this price point the product should look more high end, have a larger display, and a little more sizzle. It just doesn’t excite me as much as the Monster Power Signature surge conditioner pictured below the ELAC PR-81b. Unless you require the remote features I cannot recommend this as a buy.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Number of outlets
Cons mentioned:
Bright lights
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
The best condioner i’ve found
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This is definitely worth the money! The front high current outlet makes charging your devices easy. The lights on thr fromt panel can be annoyingly bright if you dont have it hidden in a cabinet like i do.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Simple, Easy to Use/Setup, and Does Its Job!
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Excellent, simple to use and effective! The setup was a breeze (just plug straight into a power outlet). After, I was able to download the ELAC Protek app. from the Google Play store and connect that to the PR-81B via Bluetooth. The app itself lets you setup timers, automation, shutoff particular outlets on the devices, etc. You can even see how much energy you have used. I do like that it has USB outlets so I can plug in other devices that I wanted protect from potential power surges. The rotating plug is also a very nice touch!
I would recommend this to a friend
Cons mentioned:
Bright lights
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Not quite
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Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Item works very well, however there is far too much intense light on the face. Even when at the dimmest setting it is f at too bright. The unit also must be set up and controlled with an app. I’d prefer a manual method as well, and the product description is not thorough enough
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Surge protection
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Surge Protection
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
As per our installer, it is the top choice for power surge protection and it has already shown its usefulness
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great product in. a low profile design.
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Posted . Owned for 4 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Nice build quality and discreet appearance. This small profile fits well with by integrated amp, network streamer and CD transport stack. I am thrilled with this match for 2.1 bedroom hi-fi setup.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Sleek and eliminates the bulky surge protectors!
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
With this surge protector, I can have this within my tv stand and connect all of my devices! The amount of visible cables has been reduced drastically! There's a blinking blue light which I thought would annoy me but I don't even notice it anymore.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Surge protection
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Surge protector
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Great surge protection easy to set up and works great
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great Item
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Seems to control outputs as described. The dimmer function is GREAT as factory settings are set to high intensity on the displays.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Surge protector
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Posted . Owned for 1 year when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The surge protector is awesome. It actually keeps the power at a certain level. Highly recommend this.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Surge Protector
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Posted . Owned for 2 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
A little pricey, but so is the equipment that I bought too.. Worth purchasing for that "just in case" piece of mind.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Elac
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Elac is a new brand for me but it is very nice I have it on my lg c2 ps5 and Xbox with full Sonos system