|  Panamax
has a reputation for providing high quality and affordable power conditioners
for the A/V user. The Panamax MAX® 7500 PRO (MSRP $1999.95) is their latest
flagship power conditioner specifically engineered to
improve the performance
and life expectancy of home theater and audio components while protecting them
from dangerous voltages. The MAX® 7500-PRO incorporates an advanced power
filtration system that features a 720VA isolation toroidal transformer optimized
to provide power for digital source components and displays. This transformer
isolates noise generated by digital source components and prevents them from affecting
sensitive audio or video components in the system. The MAX® 7500-PRO also
features a ground isolation feature that mechanically interrupts ground loops
should they occur.
Operation
Holding
down the main Power button for two seconds activates the turn-on or turn-off sequence
for all of the outlets. The Bank Status Indicators display which corresponding
bank is on or off. When flashing, this indicates the bank is in transition to
either off or on. The Ground Isolation switch controls the ground connection
of banks 3 and 4. When enabled these power banks have Balanced Power with an isolated
ground connection. Alternatively, when disabled these banks have Balance Power
with a common ground reference. Depending on the system application some users
will prefer one over the other. A Convenience Outlet on the front of the unit
provides a quick and convenient way to plug in temporary components such as camcorders
and video game systems.  Meters
Both
of the front panel meters are analog. The left meter displays the incoming line
voltage to the MAX 7500-PRO as well as Out of Regulation (regulated output
voltage is out of specification) or Unsafe Voltage indicators (over or
under voltage condition). The right meter displays either output voltage or input
current (up to 15 amps) of the unit when the Master Select button is
pressed. Turing the Master Select knob changes the brightness level on
the panel meters. When fully counterclockwise,the auto brightness mode is enabled
and the front panel display will dim with the detected ambient light level.
 Back
Panel
The
MAX® 7500-PRO has a detachable power cord which is held in place with a locking
clip that screws into the back of the unit. This prevents the power cord from
being accidentally pulled out from the unit. A large ground lug is available for
connecting a heavy ground wire. The back of the MAX® 7500-PRO has a total of ten
AC outputs grouped into five banks. Each bank with the exception of Bank 1 has
a switch that can select between Always On or Delay. This allows
the power for each set of components to be controlled. A master power control
switch lets the user control the power banks or use the Custom Settings
stored in nonvolatile memory.
Power
Banks 1 & 2 are Filtered Regulated Outlets featuring Balanced Double L filtered
outlets for low current analog audio components such as preamplifiers, receivers,
VCR's and tape decks. Power Banks 3 & 4 are Isolated (Switched) and Regulated
Outlets that provide complete (transformer) isolation for digital source components
such as DVD players or display devices like plasma TVs or DLP projectors. This
set of outputs are limited (due to the isolation transformer) to a total of 6
amps. The outlets are completely isolated from the rest of the system to prevent
digital noise from polluting the system power. Power Bank 5 has two High-current
Outlets specifically designed for power amplifiers and powered subwoofers
to provide noise filtration without limiting current. Each of these (Bank 5) outlets
can be individually configured to either turn-on instantly or provide a delay
to prevent "speaker thump". The
MAX® 7500-PRO has two pairs of F-connectors that feature Universal Cable and Satellite
TV Coaxial interfaces optimized for Satellite TV, Cable TV, or standard Antenna
signals. The DC Trigger Input (3.5mm jack) is designed to connect to a remote
trigger device that uses a DC voltage signal (3-24VDC) to initiate a startup/shutdown
sequence on the MAX® 7500-PRO. The DC Trigger Output (3.5mm jack) produces a 12VDC
trigger to control another device. Remote diagnostics is made possible with the
provided RS232 card and for advanced users an optional IP-ready Ethernet card
is available. This gives the MAX® 7500-PRO multi-zone control wherever remote
diagnostics are needed and allows users to configure each outlet bank individually
to customize their home theater system. Protected phone and Ethernet interfaces
are also available on the unit. A USB connector provides power to the included
gooseneck lamp to see the connections in the dark. Installation
The MAX® 7500-PRO is a heavy unit weighing around 36 pounds and measures 17"
W x 12.75" D and 3.5" H (standard 2U rack mounting). If the unit is
rack mounted, the included 1U blank panel needs to be installed below the unit
to ensure proper ventilation. Rear support of the unit will be required due to
the weight. Also included is a 10-foot heavy-duty 12-gauge detachable power cord,
a USB convenience light, 1U blank panel, a pair of rack mount ears and an assortment
of cables (pair of RG-6 patch cables and a telephone cable). Bank
1 output are always on, so it is best to connect components such as DVRs that
need continuous power. We connected our Dish ViP722 DVR since many of the software
updates are done in the middle of the night. Bank 2 outputs are similar, but can
be switched. Our OPPO DVD player and PlayStation3 (Blu-ray) players were connected
to Bank 3 & 4. We chose to connect our Parasound HCA-2205AT 5-channel amplifier
and M&K subwoofer to the high current (Bank 5) outputs.  Inside
The
inside of the MAX®
7500-PRO is busy and includes two toroidal transformers and several circuit boards
designed to protect the connected hardware. Toroid transformers are more expensive,
but offer very low magnetic strayfield emission levels, quiet operation, relatively
small size, and high efficiency. All of the power lines use heavy 12 gauge wire
to ensure high current carrying capability. Common mode chokes and filter capacitors
can be seen on several of the boards. MOVs (Metal Oxide Varistors) are also placed
between each of the power lines to prevent large transient voltages from damaging
the connected components. The right side of the unit is occupied by a large 720VA
toriodal isolation transformer with a smaller toroid in the center for powering
the internal electronics. The board layouts are clean and organized with impressive
build quality. Heavy-duty high current relays can be seen throughout the inside
of the unit. The front panel analog meters are mounted on a separate circuit card.
 True
Isolation
As mentioned earlier, the MAX® 7500-PRO isolated power for
Power
banks 3 & 4. These outputs use a
large 720VA isolation transformer that is designed to provide clean power for
digital source components or displays. This isolation transformer provides protection
to other components connected to the MAX® 7500-PRO by isolating the primary and
secondary power lines. This completely blocks DC from passing through the transformer
and prevents EMI and RFI contamination. Users need to be aware that the output
of the isolation transformer cannot exceed the 6 amp current rating. This is important
when choosing which components to connect to these banks. The unit has a separate
circuit breaker for the (Bank 3 & 4) outputs to prevent overloading the isolation
transformer.
 Voltage
Regulation
Surge and EMI/RFI filtration is only part of the features offered
on the MAX® 7500 PRO. Automatic Voltage Monitoring (AVM) and regulation keeps
the output voltage at 120 VAC with the input varying between 100-135 VAC. The
plot shows the output voltage of the MAX® 7500 PRO we tested as the input
voltage changes. We observed a very stable voltage with the exception of the lowest
input voltage range (below 100 volts). During our tests, the unit detected an
under-voltage condition when the utility voltage dropped below 90 volts. An over-voltage
condition occurred when the line input reached about 136 VAC. In both cases, the
MAX® 7500 PRO shut the output off when encountering unsafe voltage levels
to protect the connected components. This is much more advanced than the earlier
power conditioners that did not offer any Voltage Regulation capabilities.
Performance
We
have been using Panamax power conditioners for well over a decade and with each
new model comes more advanced features. While power in Los Angeles is fairly stable,
there have been times when power has fluctuated due to storms and utility transformer
failures. We can safely say that none of our electronic components have ever failed
when connected to a Panamax power conditioner. Furthermore, there is peace of
mind when expensive components are connected to utility power when using Panamax. Our
system performed flawlessly while connected to the Panamax MAX® 7500-PRO and the
unit flexibility allowed us to use other components we rely upon to control our
system such as our RTI T4 remote controller. We set up our Parasound A/V Controller
to trigger the MAX® 7500-PRO which then turned on other components. Both audio
and video were clean and the level of hum we sometimes hear in our main speakers
was minimal. Having the grounding options available on the Panamax MAX® 7500-PRO
also helps reduce 60 Hz video noise often seen on the screen. Conclusion
The
Panamax MAX® 7500-PRO is an advanced power filtration system featuring a true
720VA isolation transformer for digital source components and displays. By design
the isolation transformer prevents EMI or RFI contamination between the primary
and secondary windings. This can be a big advantage over power conditioning product
that lack this feature. The Voltage Regulation circuit proved to work well and
keeps the power to the components at an optimal 120VAC even with varying input
voltage. The ground isolation feature that mechanically interrupts potential ground
loops is a nice bonus. This solution is also ideal for multi-zone audio/video
whole-home automation and wherever remote diagnostics are needed. The MAX® 7500-PRO
is the company's flagship power product that will meet the needs of high-end consumers
as well as custom installation professionals. -
Kevin Nakano | 
