Furman Power
Summary
Abstract
Furman is the most commonly referenced power conditioner/distribution brand in the community. Their product range spans from basic rackmount power strips (~2000). The community consensus is that you do not need to spend a fortune on power conditioning — a basic Furman rackmount with a front switch and outlet gets the job done. Higher-end models add surge protection, voltage regulation, and noise filtering for studios with problematic power.
Key Characteristics
- Wide product range from basic rack power strips to industrial conditioning
- Basic rackmount Furmans: essentially power strips in rack format with switches
- Furman D10-PFP: power distributor without switches, good for daisy-chaining
- Furman Power Factor Pro: aggregates multiple rack Furmans, provides clean power
- Furman IT Reference 15i: high-end industrial surge protection and noise filtering
- Front panel switch and outlets are the most useful features on the basic models
Use Cases
- Rackmount power distribution for studio gear
- Sequencing studio power-on/off with switched outlets
- Surge protection for sensitive gear
- Noise filtering in studios with EMI or dirty power issues
- Live performance power conditioning
Settings & Sweet Spots
- Buy one with a front switch and an outlet or two on the front face
- Daisy-chain multiple Furman D10s for large studios
- Use a Power Factor Pro or similar to aggregate multiple rack units
- For serious surge protection (thunderstorm-prone areas), pair with an APC UPS
Comparable Alternatives
| Product | Price Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pyle PC0850 | ~$30 | Basic rack power strip, no-frills |
| APC UPS | ~$150-500 | Battery backup, different purpose |
| Power Conditioner (generic) | Varies | See dedicated page |
| Furman IT Reference 15i | ~$2000 | Industrial-grade protection |
Common Mistakes
- Spending too much on power conditioning when a basic Furman does the job
- Confusing basic Furman rack strips (glorified power strips) with actual power conditioning
- Not considering a UPS (APC) for battery backup in addition to a Furman
- Assuming a Furman will protect against a direct lightning strike — unplug during serious storms
See Also
Source Discussions
Zack Hames
“I’ve just got the classic Furman power conditioner, it’s worked great and has been helpful / not hurt anything. I think the only good advice I’ve gotten is that you don’t need to spend a fortune to get a more than adequate power conditioner/strip.”
Rollmottle
“Buy one with a switch on the front and an outlet or two on the front face. Everything else is gravy. Everything in my studio is routed through 3 rackmount Furmans.”
Eric Martin
“I have 4 of the Furman D10’s on racks and under the desk daisy chained together without switches, this lets me sequence the power on and off with only 2 switches for the studio.”
SoundsLikeJoe
“Most of the rack mount Furmans are just basic power strips in rack format… I went with a massive Furman IT Reference 15i between the wall and all our control room gear. It’s expensive and heavy but I think it will prevent catastrophic power surges well and filters noise well too.”