{"product_id":"furman-it-reference-20i-power-conditioner","title":"Furman IT Reference 20i  Power Conditioner","description":"\u003c!-- ============ WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ============ --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat You Need to Know\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy Furman, and why these models?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFurman has built AC-power products for professional audio, video, and broadcast use since 1974. The \u003cstrong\u003eElite\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eReference\u003c\/strong\u003e 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. \u003cem\u003eIn our experience, a good power conditioner will almost always noticeably improve the sound of any high-end audio system.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat makes the IT-Reference 20i unique\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is Furman's \u003cstrong\u003eflagship\u003c\/strong\u003e home-theater and audiophile power conditioner. Three numbers tell the story of why it exists:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e83 pounds.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e8 balanced outlets.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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 \u003cem\u003eeight\u003c\/em\u003e 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e80+ amps of peak PFT charge, 9 amps RMS reserve.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLiFT 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTwo practical notes before you buy. First, the IT-Reference 20i requires a \u003cstrong\u003ededicated 20-amp wall circuit\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- ============ THE POWELL LINEAGE ============ --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- ============ THE TECHNOLOGY INSIDE ============ --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe technology inside the IT-Reference 20i\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSeries Multi-Stage Protection (SMP) — non-sacrificial surge protection\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost 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. \u003cstrong\u003eFurman's SMP circuit is non-sacrificial\u003c\/strong\u003e — 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eLinear Filtering Technology (LiFT) with flagship bandwidth — noise reduction without choking dynamics\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFurman's \u003cstrong\u003eLiFT\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eExtreme Voltage Shutdown (EVS) — protection from sustained over- and under-voltage\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEVS\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eZero ground contamination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOlder 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePower Factor Technology (PFT) — current reservoir for amplifier peaks\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClass 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. \u003cstrong\u003ePower Factor Technology\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDiscrete Symmetrical Power with Dual-Screen Isolation Transformer\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the feature that separates the Reference series from everything below it. A \u003cstrong\u003e1:1 isolation transformer\u003c\/strong\u003e 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 \u003cstrong\u003esymmetrical (balanced) AC\u003c\/strong\u003e: 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- ============ OUTLETS \u0026 FEATURES ============ --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOutlets and features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOutlet configuration\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e8 Discrete Symmetrically Balanced outlets, fed by the 1:1 dual-screen isolation transformer — intended for video components, front-end sources, and processors.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e4 Power Factor Technology amplifier outlets with 9 amps RMS reserve and over 80 amps peak charge.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTotal 12 outlets across isolated banks.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRequires a dedicated 20-amp wall circuit (NEMA 5-20R outlet) and matching 20A power cord.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFront-panel controls and displays\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePower switch only — Reference-series front panel is deliberately minimal. No meters, no work lights.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- ============ SPECS ============ --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eProduct specs\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFamily: Reference Series\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLine voltage: 120V\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaximum current rating: 20-amp\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNumber of outlets: 12\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRack-mountable: Yes — rack ears included\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChassis height: 3U\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDimensions (H x W x D): 5.75\" H x 17\" W x 15.625\" D\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeight: 83 lbs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProtection: Series Multi-Stage Protection (SMP), Extreme Voltage Shutdown (EVS), non-sacrificial with zero ground contamination\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOver-voltage shutoff: 140V ±3V\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFiltration: LiFT Linear Filtering Technology + Discrete Symmetrical Power with Dual-Screen Transformer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePower Factor Technology amplifier bank: 9 amps RMS reserve, over 80 amps peak charge\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInitial clamping level: 188 VAC peak at 3,000 amps\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSignal-line protection: 1 telco, 3 cable\/satellite\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCompliance: C-ETL\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWarranty: 5-year limited\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- ============ FAQ ============ --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-faq gsbp-ab3b28d\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDo I really need a power conditioner?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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. \u003cem\u003eIn our experience, a good power conditioner will almost always noticeably improve the sound of any high-end audio system.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill a conditioner limit the current my amplifier needs?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is Power Factor Technology actually doing?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYour 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy an isolation transformer, instead of just a filter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA filter attenuates noise but still leaves your gear electrically connected to the wall. An isolation transformer \u003cem\u003ephysically\u003c\/em\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat happens to the Furman after a big surge?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOrdinary 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhich outlets should I use for what?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat power cord should I use?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYour 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat's the warranty?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFurman 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- ============ WHY BUY FROM AUDIO ADVISOR ============ --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Audio Advisor?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"ec-titlebox-text\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/1f3b5.svg\" alt=\"music note emoji\" width=\"20\"\u003e \u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e40+ Years of Expertise\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e— Since 1981, we’ve helped over a million music lovers find the right gear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/1f504.svg\" alt=\"repeat emoji\" width=\"20\"\u003e \u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e60-Day Money-Back Guarantee\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e— Take your time. Listen, enjoy, and make sure it’s right for you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/1f4de.svg\" alt=\"phone emoji\" width=\"20\"\u003e \u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReal Experts, Real Help\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e— Our team is here to answer your questions at\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"tel:8009420220\"\u003e800-942-0220\u003c\/a\u003e, weekdays 9am–6pm EST.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/1f69a.svg\" alt=\"truck emoji\" width=\"20\"\u003e \u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFree Shipping\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e— On orders over $49, delivered to your door.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/1f4b3.svg\" alt=\"credit card emoji\" width=\"20\"\u003e \u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFlexible Payment Options\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e— Financing available so you can start listening now.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- ============ LEARNING CENTER ============ --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWant to learn more about power conditioning? Visit our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/learningcenter.audioadvisor.com\"\u003eLearning Center\u003c\/a\u003e for guides, tips, and expert advice on AC power quality and system setup.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Furman","offers":[{"title":"New","offer_id":45981513089197,"sku":"NEW-FUITRE20I","price":4645.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Demo","offer_id":45981513121965,"sku":"DEMO-FUITRE20I","price":2799.37,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Open Box","offer_id":45981513154733,"sku":"OPEN-FUITRE20I","price":2351.97,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Factory Refreshed","offer_id":45981513187501,"sku":"RFRB-FUITRE20I","price":5224.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/3708\/1773\/files\/FUITRE20I_01_2023__68050.1713541470.1280.1280_aaaf904c-0241-4c49-8a1c-4d4d7d2bbc34.jpg?v=1778115269","url":"https:\/\/www.audioadvisor.com\/products\/furman-it-reference-20i-power-conditioner","provider":"Audio Advisor","version":"1.0","type":"link"}