April 2007 Reviewed by Roger Kanno	ZeroSurge 1MOD15WI Surge Suppressor

Description Model: 1MOD15WI Price: $420 USD Dimensions: 19"W x 1.75"H x 8.5"D Weight: 9.5 pounds Warranty: Ten year limited warranty	Features WVR (Wide Voltage Range) series-mode surge suppression Magnetic shielding Black finish Ten grounded, isolated outlets (eight on front, two on rear) Master and auxiliary switches Power indicator Reset switch Rack mount available

For someone who’s invested a lot of money in a home-theater system, I’ve spent little on surge suppression and power conditioning. I used to have a couple of basic power-line conditioners (PLCs), but eventually got rid of them. As I upgraded the quality of my components, I felt more and more that these inexpensive PLCs were degrading my system’s overall performance. Sometimes the dynamic range seemed to be reduced, and there was a slight haze that obscured image outlines.

Various SoundStage! Network reviewers have written about many excellent surge-suppressing, power-conditioning, and even power-regenerating products. Although many of these have interested me, they have typically been quite expensive, so I’ve resisted buying any for my system.

However, my system’s longtime lack of power conditioning -- and especially of surge suppression -- have always remained in the back of my mind. Given the opportunity to review ZeroSurge’s inexpensive but highly regarded surge suppressors, I didn’t hesitate.

No MOVs

Like all ZeroSurge surge suppressors, the 1MOD15WI ($420) includes the company’s patented, series-mode, Wide Voltage Range (WVR) technology. ZeroSurge states that WVR more effectively reduces the harmful effects of surges than the commonly used metal-oxide varistors (MOVs). Back in 1999, Doug Schneider favorably reviewed the Brick Wall 8R15AUD series-mode surge suppressor. Pete Goudreau, then our engineer-at-large, described series-mode surge suppression as "a clever design . . . providing significantly better surge protection than MOVs."

ZeroSurge claims that their WVR technology takes this a step further by offering surge suppression over a wider voltage range (85-265V) with no degradation in performance. Basically, WVR delays the surge, stores excess surge energy in its capacitors, and slowly releases the residual surge to the neutral line, therefore preserving the ground wire. Traditional surge suppressors use an MOV as a switch to sense a surge and then shunt it to ground. But not only do MOVs degrade with use and over time; after enough use, they fail completely. ZeroSurge claims that their WVR suppressors work faster, allow less surge through over a wider voltage range than MOV-based products, and will last indefinitely.

No frills

It’s not much to look at, but the 1MOD15WI seems solidly built, and is straightforward and businesslike in appearance. Only 1.75" high but 19" wide and 8.5" deep, it can be placed on an equipment rack and stacked, or ordered in a rack-mount version. (ZeroSurge also offers less expensive, upright versions of their WVR line that start at under $200.) There are eight outlets on the rear and two in front. On the front panel are a Reset switch, a rocker switch that controls all of the outlets, and another that controls just four of the eight outlets on the rear panel. The case is of relatively heavy-gauge, black-painted steel and weighs a respectable 9.5 pounds. A 14-gauge, nondetachable power cord with a molded plug provides power from the wall. Other than a green power-indicator light on the front, there’s little else to look at.

Out of sight, out of mind

I had no way to verify that the 1MOD15WI was actually protecting my system from damaging power surges, but just knowing it was there gave me a great sense of security. Although primarily designed to protect electronic equipment from damage, the ZeroSurge also includes basic EMI and RFI filtering to clean up the incoming power.

The most noticeable improvement the ZeroSurge made in my system’s performance was with video material. Images seemed just a little brighter and clearer, with less noise. I actually adjusted the video settings slightly to compensate; after recalibration, the picture had an amazing amount of detail. Blacks were darker, with better shadow detail. Colors seemed ever so slightly less saturated, but were more realistic, with a finer gradation of hues. Overall, the picture looked less "digital," more film-like.

I’ve recently been watching some Superbit DVDs from Columbia Pictures. With everything plugged into the 1MOD15WI, I noticed that the supersaturated colors of Desperado were still there, but that the contrast now seemed more natural and less exaggerated. Salma Hayek’s perfectly creamy-smooth skin tone was wonderfully captured, as were those of Joaquim de Almeida and Antonio Banderas -- but neither’s was as lovely as Hayek’s. The varying textures of Banderas’s jet-black, scorpion-emblazoned jacket were easily visible, and de Almeida’s silky shirt looked appropriately soft and unstructured. The stylized cinematography of Black Hawk Down also looked a little sharper and more defined with the ZeroSurge. This film’s overexposed look is sometimes fatiguing, but the added detail helped flesh out the picture and lessen its overall starkness.

The upscaling circuitry of my Oppo DV-970HD universal player increases apparent picture detail, but often with the unwanted side effect of more video noise. There seemed to be a little less noise with the ZeroSurge, which made the Oppo’s upscaling of standard-definition DVDs to 720p or 1080i more watchable. The Superbit version of The Fifth Element looked excellent upscaled to 1080i. The detail in the faces of the characters in chapter 6, especially the pockmarked complexion of the lead scientist, was stunning. Difficult material, such as the multiple scenes of skylines at dusk from the HQV Benchmark DVD, still exhibited video noise, but to a lesser degree. Again, the picture looked less "digital," but with more apparent detail.

The ZeroSurge also marginally enhanced my system’s audio performance. What impressed me most was what it didn’t do to the sound. Dynamics were never constrained or reduced. Nor was there any of the veiling or haze that I associate with inexpensive PLCs -- the sound always remained clear and unrestrained. Neil Young’s "After the Gold Rush," from the 24-bit/96kHz version of his Greatest Hits [DVD-V, Reprise CDW 48924], even sounded a bit smoother, with less sibilance and a bit more weight behind the piano. The improvement in sound quality wasn’t really noticeable with raucous movie soundtracks, but again, I noticed no reduction in dynamics, even at reference levels.

Audiophiles might be put off by the 1MOD15WI’s modest power cord and 15A rating -- then again, my listening room’s electrical circuit is only rated for 15A. The ZeroSurge should have been able to handle as much current as the wall socket could provide. In fact, it seemed to be able to supply as much current as my amps required, as well as provide power to my large CRT video display, surround-sound processor, and DVD player -- all concurrently.

During the review period, the ZeroSurge 1MOD15WI may have sat hidden from view behind my equipment rack, but I never forgot that it was there. It provided a subtle yet surprising improvement in the video performance of my system, and even slightly enhanced the sound. And the knowledge that its WVR series-mode surge suppression was protecting my system provided me with great peace of mind.

ZeroSurge, zero debate

The ZeroSurge 1MOD15WI’s raison-d’être is not to improve a system’s performance by filtering the incoming power, but to protect that system from damaging electrical surges. I honestly can’t say whether or not it did the former -- I had no way of checking what sort of surges might have occurred in my house’s power while the 1MOD15WI was hooked up. However, I know that it improved my system’s performance compared to a high-quality power bar like the ESP A/V Power-Flow Pro ($500, discontinued). Without the 1MOD15WI, I had no surge suppression in my system. With it, my entire system was protected with what I understand to be state-of-the-art surge suppression. The fact that it actually enhanced my home theater’s audio and video performance -- at a price only slightly higher than most of my power cords or cables -- was an unexpected bonus. I can’t think of a more sensible or practical investment for my system.

Manufacturer contact information:

ZeroSurge
889 State Route 12
Frenchtown, NJ 08825
Phone: (908) 996-7700, (800) 996-6696
Fax: (908) 996-7773

Website: www.zerosurge.com

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