Using UPS on Amplifiers good or bad idea ?

[jean-paul]

There are too many differences in UPS systems to generalize. Online, offline, what kind of inverter, delta conversion, double conversion, transformer type or direct drive etc.

Some can be very good some are plain bad for audio. Point being that the good ones are often large, heavy, expensive and often not suitable for homes with noise from fans. They also consume energy themselves. Best for audio would be a rotary UPS system 😀

One of the more affordable items are isolation transformers with MOV's (and fuses!) against spikes. One of the best upgrades in audio! Don't ask me why but many of the guys I know do the same and also in my system removing the transformer makes you want it back immediately. If you combine it with several IEC outputs, main filters per outlet and a clunky NOS NIB power switch you can also switch off the whole audio system at once. Very rewarding upgrade of a system. Of course over dimension and check for silent operation.

 

[A/V Systems]

Hi . Using UPS for audio depends on audio equipment power supply type (50/60hz trafo or smps) and ups output waveform type ,when working on battery . Problem is when cheap upses produce modified sinewave ,which actually is useless for 50/60hz based transformers and can even damage some equipment , such upses can supply only simple smps based loads like cheap east made power supplies without active pfc ,but no way 50/60hz transformers ,or ac motors,or similar loads. They do produce square wave 50/60hz with pause , which will make transformer make buzz and probably heat ,also voltage on load will depend on load. Another story is with ups ,whose produce "pure sine wave" . You may supply most equipment from such ups , but when operating from battery,they produce some sound few khz ,maybe more , which is part of their pwm operation. This needs to be good filtered if using with audio loads ,because mostly pattial filtering is performed by ups output transformer itself .

I agree 100% try using a UPS system at a large venue with amplifiers over 8000 watts of power I'm quite sure it will not go well.