Furman IT Reference 20i Power Conditioner
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Furman IT Reference 20i Power Conditioner
What You Need to Know
Why Furman, and why these models?
Every high-end audio and video component depends on clean, stable AC power — but the outlet in your wall rarely delivers it. AC coming into your home carries noise from motors, LED drivers, switching power supplies, wireless routers, HVAC systems, appliance compressors, and every neighbor sharing your utility transformer. That noise rides the power line into your gear, where it masks low-level detail, softens transients, and adds a faint haze to the midrange.
Furman has built AC-power products for professional audio, video, and broadcast use since 1974. The Elite and Reference series you're looking at are Furman's home-theater and audiophile lines — the same engineering discipline found in studios and live-sound rigs, packaged for a rack at home. In our experience, a good power conditioner will almost always noticeably improve the sound of any high-end audio system.
What makes the IT-Reference 20i unique
This is Furman's flagship home-theater and audiophile power conditioner. Three numbers tell the story of why it exists:
- 83 pounds. The IT-Reference 20i weighs nearly twice what the 15-amp IT-Reference weighs. Almost all of that is the custom dual-screen 1:1 isolation transformer, which is built to handle full 20-amp continuous service without saturating and has a dramatically larger, more heavily shielded core than the 15A version's transformer.
- 8 balanced outlets. Where the IT-Reference 15i has 2 balanced outlets (reserved for sensitive video components) and 5 separately filtered outlets for everything else, the 20i runs eight outlets directly off its symmetrical balanced secondary. In practice, every non-amplifier component in your system is fed by the isolation transformer — not just your video gear.
- 80+ amps of peak PFT charge, 9 amps RMS reserve. The Power Factor Technology bank on the 20i carries roughly twice the RMS reserve and 45% more peak charge current than the PFT bank on the 15i or Elite-20 PFi. The four amplifier outlets can feed a pair of mono power amps and a large powered subwoofer without compressing dynamics, because the PFT reservoir fills in the instantaneous current demand faster than the wall can.
LiFT filtering bandwidth widens again on the 20i — differential-mode attenuation starts as low as 1 kHz, with greater than 95 dB common-mode rejection on the balanced outlets. This is the cleanest AC Furman builds for a home system. SMP non-sacrificial surge protection, EVS over/under voltage shutdown, and zero-ground-contamination circuitry all carry forward from the rest of the line — the IT-Reference 20i is Furman's complete Powell-era technology stack, scaled up to reference-system current requirements.
Two practical notes before you buy. First, the IT-Reference 20i requires a dedicated 20-amp wall circuit with a NEMA 5-20R outlet. If your audio room is still on a 15A run, you'll want an electrician to pull a dedicated 20A line before the Furman arrives. Second, at 83 pounds and 3U tall, this is not a conditioner you move often. Plan for an equipment rack or a heavy-duty shelf that can take the weight and leave airflow clearance. Backed by Furman's 5-year Reference-series warranty.
One footnote worth mentioning: the engineer who developed Furman's SMP, LiFT, and Power Factor Technology circuits is Garth Powell. Powell spent years refining Furman's AC designs before moving on to lead power-product engineering at AudioQuest, where his work on the Niagara line carries forward many of the same design principles you see in the Elite and Reference conditioners. When you buy a Furman from this era, you're buying into that engineering lineage.
The technology inside the IT-Reference 20i
Series Multi-Stage Protection (SMP) — non-sacrificial surge protection
Most power strips and surge protectors rely on MOVs (metal-oxide varistors) that physically sacrifice themselves when they absorb a large spike. After a big surge, you don't know the protection is gone until your next spike takes your gear with it. Furman's SMP circuit is non-sacrificial — it clamps surges without destroying itself, which means one unit keeps protecting after hit after hit. SMP also avoids sending voltage to circuit ground, a common MOV side effect that can actively damage digital components.
Linear Filtering Technology (LiFT) with flagship bandwidth — noise reduction without choking dynamics
Furman's LiFT circuit is a linear low-pass filter engineered to attenuate AC line noise smoothly across a wide frequency band. On the IT-Reference 20i, the LiFT implementation reaches its widest bandwidth in the Furman line — transverse-mode attenuation starts as low as 1 kHz, with common-mode rejection exceeding 95 dB across the 10 Hz to 50 kHz range on the balanced outlets. This is the cleanest AC Furman builds for a home system, and it's delivered without the current-limiting that some "filtered" outlets impose on power amplifiers.
Extreme Voltage Shutdown (EVS) — protection from sustained over- and under-voltage
EVS monitors the incoming line and cuts power to everything downstream if the voltage drifts outside a safe window — too low (below about 85V) or too high (above about 140V). Brownouts and sustained overvoltage events cause more damage to audio gear than most surges do, and EVS is specifically designed to stop them before your amplifier's power supply ever sees them.
Zero ground contamination
Older surge-protection designs shunt surge energy to circuit ground, which sounds reasonable until you realize that your preamp, DAC, and digital sources all reference signal to that same ground. "Contaminated" ground shows up as hum, noise, and digital hash in the listening chair. Furman's design deliberately avoids this — spikes are clamped without dumping anything to ground.
Power Factor Technology (PFT) — current reservoir for amplifier peaks
Class A/B amplifiers draw current in huge momentary spikes on musical transients — a kick drum, a cymbal crash, a bass note. If the wall and the conditioner can't deliver that current fast enough, the amp's power supply sags, dynamics compress, and bass loses punch. Power Factor Technology places a large energy reservoir upstream of the amplifier outlets that provides surplus instantaneous current on demand, while simultaneously lowering the AC input impedance seen by the amp. The amplifier "sees" a much stiffer power source than your wall provides on its own.
Discrete Symmetrical Power with Dual-Screen Isolation Transformer
This is the feature that separates the Reference series from everything below it. A 1:1 isolation transformer sits between your wall outlet and your audio system, magnetically transferring AC from primary to secondary with no direct electrical connection. A precisely placed center tap on the secondary winding produces symmetrical (balanced) AC: two 60V legs, 180° out of phase, referenced to ground. Noise that appears equally on both legs — the dominant form of AC line noise in most homes — is cancelled by common-mode rejection inside the transformer and at each component's power supply. Furman's dual-screen transformer design extends this cancellation across a wider bandwidth than single-screen isolation transformers can reach, and the balanced secondary positively breaks noise-inducing ground loops between interconnected components.
Outlets and features
Outlet configuration
- 8 Discrete Symmetrically Balanced outlets, fed by the 1:1 dual-screen isolation transformer — intended for video components, front-end sources, and processors.
- 4 Power Factor Technology amplifier outlets with 9 amps RMS reserve and over 80 amps peak charge.
- Total 12 outlets across isolated banks.
- Requires a dedicated 20-amp wall circuit (NEMA 5-20R outlet) and matching 20A power cord.
Front-panel controls and displays
Power switch only — Reference-series front panel is deliberately minimal. No meters, no work lights.
Product specs
- Family: Reference Series
- Line voltage: 120V
- Maximum current rating: 20-amp
- Number of outlets: 12
- Rack-mountable: Yes — rack ears included
- Chassis height: 3U
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 5.75" H x 17" W x 15.625" D
- Weight: 83 lbs
- Protection: Series Multi-Stage Protection (SMP), Extreme Voltage Shutdown (EVS), non-sacrificial with zero ground contamination
- Over-voltage shutoff: 140V ±3V
- Filtration: LiFT Linear Filtering Technology + Discrete Symmetrical Power with Dual-Screen Transformer
- Power Factor Technology amplifier bank: 9 amps RMS reserve, over 80 amps peak charge
- Initial clamping level: 188 VAC peak at 3,000 amps
- Signal-line protection: 1 telco, 3 cable/satellite
- Compliance: C-ETL
- Warranty: 5-year limited
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really need a power conditioner?
The short answer: yes, almost certainly. Modern AC power is noisier than it has ever been, and that noise ends up in your listening chair as reduced detail and a flatter soundstage. The longer answer is in the "Why Furman" section above — the engineering case for AC conditioning is straightforward once you understand what's riding on the line. In our experience, a good power conditioner will almost always noticeably improve the sound of any high-end audio system.
Will a conditioner limit the current my amplifier needs?
It can, if the conditioner is badly designed. Cheap "filtered" power strips use series chokes that do restrict current — which is why audiophiles rightly worry about plugging big amps into them. Furman's LiFT filter is engineered specifically to avoid that trade-off, and the PFi and IT-Reference models go further by adding a dedicated high-current amplifier bank with Power Factor Technology that actively supplies surplus current on musical peaks. In practice, a well-designed Furman improves amp dynamics rather than limiting them.
What is Power Factor Technology actually doing?
Your power amplifier draws current in large instantaneous bursts on musical transients — not a steady draw. Wall wiring has real impedance, and when the amp calls for 30+ amps in a millisecond, the wall simply can't deliver that fast. Power Factor Technology places a large energy reservoir upstream of the amplifier outlets, sized specifically to fill in those instantaneous peaks. The amp "sees" a far stiffer power source than the wall provides on its own. The audible result is tighter bass, faster transients, and less dynamic compression on loud passages.
Why an isolation transformer, instead of just a filter?
A filter attenuates noise but still leaves your gear electrically connected to the wall. An isolation transformer physically separates the input from the output — AC is induced magnetically from the primary winding to the secondary, so your audio system never sees the wall directly. Common-mode noise on the incoming line is largely rejected before it reaches a single component, and ground-borne noise shared with the rest of your house is broken. It's the most aggressive form of AC cleanup in a home system, and it is the reason the IT-Reference series exists as a separate line above the Elite.
What happens to the Furman after a big surge?
Ordinary surge protectors sacrifice their MOVs on a major hit — after one significant event, the protection is used up even though the unit looks fine and the power LED still glows. Furman's SMP circuit is non-sacrificial; it clamps surges without destroying itself and keeps protecting afterward. Multiple large hits do not void the protection.
Which outlets should I use for what?
On an IT-Reference conditioner, the Discrete Symmetrically Balanced outlets are tuned for sensitive video and source components — plug displays, projectors, DACs, preamps, and processors there. The Power Factor Technology outlets are specifically for your amplifier(s) and powered subwoofer(s); those are the components that demand high instantaneous current. On the 15i model, the middle linearly filtered bank is fine for anything that doesn't fall into the above two categories.
What power cord should I use?
Your wall-to-conditioner power cord is the only one that sees raw, unconditioned mains — so this is where a better cable has the biggest audible impact. A high-quality shielded cord rated for the conditioner's input current (15A or 20A depending on model) is a sensible pairing. The captive cord on the Furman is fine out of the box, but aftermarket cords from AudioQuest, Shunyata, or similar can make a meaningful difference once the conditioner is broken in.
What's the warranty?
Furman backs the Reference series with a 5-year limited warranty — two years longer than the Elite line, reflecting the heavier build and the flagship status of these models. The warranty is only valid on units purchased from authorized dealers. Audio Advisor is an authorized Furman dealer, so your warranty is in place when you buy from us. Purchases from unauthorized internet dealers or auction sites do not qualify.
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- 12-outlet power conditioner ideal for video systems
- Improved, ultra-quiet power supply
- Discrete Symmetrical Power with dual screen technology cancels hum-inducing noise
- Five discrete power banks eliminate inter-component interference and noise
- 8 symmetrical balanced outlets
- 4 power factor corrected amplifier circuits (9 amps RMS reserve, resistive load, over 80 amps peak charge)
- Symmetrical balanced power cancels hum inducing noise from audio and video
- Power Factor correction provides surplus current for power-starved amplifiers
- Linear Filtering Technology for unequaled audio / video clarity
- Virtually maintenance-free AC surge suppression
- Detachable surge suppression module for telco and cable / satellite connectors
- AC Current Capacity: Input, 20 Amp capacity required; Output, 12-20 Amps RMS (maximum, all outlets combined, continuous)
- Linear Noise Attenuation: Transverse (Differential) Mode: > 20 dB from 1 kHz - 2 kHz; >40 dB from 2 kHz - 100 kHz; >80 dB from 100 kHz - 1Ghz (Linear attenuation curve from 0.05 – 100 ohms line impedance). Common Mode (video outlets): > 90 dB, 10 Hz - 50 kHz; 40 dB 50 kHz -1MHz
- Power Consumption: 8.5 watts for display and control circuits independent of actual load.
- Dimensions: 5.75" high, 17" wide, 16.25" deep (Standard 2 RU height without feet)
- Weight: 81 lbs.
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