Furman IT Reference 15i Power Conditioner

Balanced Power for Video, a Reserve for Amplifiers

The Furman IT-Reference 15i brings an isolation transformer to a home theater or hi-fi rack. Two outlets are fed by a dual-screen transformer with Furman's Discrete Symmetrical Power. Furman says it breaks ground loops and hum bars between connected components.

It has 11 outlets in all. Two are symmetrical, for critical video gear or a preamp. Five are linearly filtered, and four are Power Factor Technology outlets for amplifiers and subwoofers. It needs a 15-amp outlet and fits a standard 2U rack.

The chassis is 4 inches tall, 17 inches wide and 15.625 inches deep. It weighs 50 pounds, so plan the shelf with that in mind. A detachable power cord and a rack-mount kit come in the box.

What the Transformer and the Reserve Do

Each symmetrical outlet carries 60 volts AC on both power legs, in opposite polarity, relative to ground. Furman says this balanced supply cancels hum-inducing noise and keeps a display's feed isolated from the amplifier banks.

Because both legs carry voltage, a ground-fault interrupter guards the balanced outlets. If it detects a fault, it trips and cuts power to those two outlets until you press the reset tab between them. Five milliamps is enough to trip it.

Common-mode noise falls by more than 90 dB from 10 Hz to 50 kHz. Linear Filtering Technology cuts differential-mode noise by more than 40 dB from 4 kHz to 100 kHz and more than 80 dB from 100 kHz to 1 GHz.

The four amplifier outlets hold a reserve of 4.5 amps RMS into a reactive load, with more than 55 amps of peak charge. Furman rates total output at 11 to 15 amps RMS, depending on the load.

Series Multi-Stage Protection is non-sacrificial and has zero ground contamination. It clamps at 188 volts peak with a 6000-volt, 3000-amp input. Extreme Voltage Shutdown cuts power above about 140 volts. Telephone and cable or satellite lines have protectors too.

Who Is This Power Conditioner Best For?

• You have a premium home theater — a transformer-fed outlet for the TV or projector makes ground-loop hum bars less likely
• You run a two-channel system — Furman suggests a preamp or SACD player on the symmetrical outlets, so source hum is handled at the AC feed
• You own power amplifiers — four reserve outlets give them current to draw on during peaks
• You want one box for the whole rack — five more filtered outlets take everything else, so you need no extra strip
• You have more than two critical components — only two outlets are symmetrical, so see the larger transformer-fed models in our power conditioners collection

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Plug the detachable cord into the rear inlet and a grounded 15-amp wall outlet. Use the two symmetrical outlets for a display, a projector or a preamp. Put power amplifiers, powered receivers and subwoofers in the four reserve outlets.

Everything else goes in the five filtered outlets. Use the rack ears for a fixed rack. Furman recommends rear mounting for a rack you will move, and offers an optional rear rack kit. Video first, amplifiers next.

Pairs Well With

Building your system? Here are some great companions for the Furman IT-Reference 15i:

• Power cables for the components you plug in
• Stereo amplifiers for the reserve outlets
• Home theater receivers to use the filtered outlets
• Audio racks built for a heavy 2U unit

Frequently Asked Questions

Which outlets should I use for what?

Put a display, projector or preamp in the two symmetrical outlets. Amplifiers, powered receivers and subwoofers go in the reserve outlets. Other components use the filtered outlets, including the front one.

What does the isolation transformer do?

It feeds the two symmetrical outlets through Furman's dual-screen transformer. Furman says it breaks noise-inducing ground loops and hum bars between connected equipment without compromising electrical safety.

Why is there a reset tab between the symmetrical outlets?

It resets the ground-fault interrupter. If it trips, find the faulty component by removing everything and adding each piece back.

Is it too heavy for my rack?

It weighs 50 pounds, and Furman says its feet suit any shelf that can support that. For a rack you will move, Furman recommends rear mounting.

What is in the box?

The IT-Reference 15i, a detachable power cord, a rack-mount kit and the owner's manual.

What is the warranty?

Furman backs the IT-Reference 15i with a five-year limited warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. Register within 15 days of purchase. Otherwise the term drops to one year.

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