Guns N’Roses

REVIEW
REVIEW
176 TONE AUDIO NO.78
All in the Family
The RM series offers the ability to The latest addition to the
Torus makes a wide range of
withstand a power spike of 3,000 RM and AVR Torus lineup is the
units addressing the needs of
amps and 6,000 volts. I’m not TOT series, made for smaller living
spaces and smaller audio
the potential owner. Models in
putting out a lightning rod to test
both the RM Series and built-in
this, so I’ll need to take the Torus
team’s word on that, but the ers a continuous 7 Amps when
systems. The TOT mini deliv-
Wall/Floor Unit Series offer four
key benefits. First, an enormous,
and very specialized,
TOT Max, doubles that. TOT units
added security is welcome.
needed. Its bigger brother, the
Piltron transformer at the heart
Even Keeled
utilize three small transformers
of each Torus offers connected
inside, rather than one huge one,
Torus’s AVR series builds on all
equipment complete isolation
reducing their size and heft a lot.
the above benefits in the RM
from the wall circuit. The transformer
accounts for a very high
All remain under 40 pounds.
series functionality, adding automatic
voltage regulation, hence
Torus has just released a
percentage of the Torus unit’s
new member of the TOT family
the designation. AVR-enabled
size and weight. With supplemental
noise filtering capability
Dorgay reviews the TOT AVR in
with AVR functionality. While Jeff
units regulate voltage sags of
+/- 10 volts maintaining a steady
built in as well, quieter operation
of all associated gear is
comparative evaluation an AVR
his apartment, Torus included for
120–125 volts, optimized for electronic
gear. Should your home’s
made possible by Torus
15 Plus unit to test drive in my
power experience a brownout,
products.
own apartment. The “15” designation
refers to the unit’s optimi-
or exceed the Torus’s ability to
Secondly, Torus’s massive
current handling capability
zation for a 15-amp home power
accommodate it safely, the AVR
gear will shut down to protect the
feeds connected components
line. Similar numerical descriptors
gear connected to it. And their
with oodles of available power,
of 20, 45, 60, and so on translate
products are world compatible,
so gear can sip or gulp all the
into some serious power handling
available in any voltage scenario
power it needs to sound its
should building wiring accommodate
it. Our test unit’s “15 Plus”
necessary for wherever you live.
best. An amplifier might run
Merely peruse the Torus website,
or visit a local dealer for the
continuously using 5 amps of
designation suggests 20-amp
power, but momentary peaks
power can be utilized if the home
proper configuration.
may require significantly more
wiring and breaker can take it.
when dynamic musical transients
place demands on stereo
gear. The Torus keeps as
much as 400 amps of juice at
the ready to keep the most demanding
and thirsty amplifiers
quenched. Even Star Trek’s Mr.
Scott would be impressed.
Third, Torus products
include built-in surge suppression.
No matter what’s
conducting along your home’s
power wires, the Torus protects
your investment in audio gear.
The small and simple LED
readouts indicating incoming
voltage, outgoing voltage, and
the number of amps drawn by
attached gear is a welcome way
to monitor your system’s load.
Should you be inclined to connect
the AVR to your home network,
via an Ethernet cable, a
web interface allows the AVR’s
owner to control the panel readout,
and get a more comprehensive
picture of overall power
usage.
You can read more about Jeff’s
take on the TOT here.
Unlike Jeff’s lower-back–
friendly TOT, the AVR 15 Plus’s
80 pound weight 19" depth, 19"
width, and 8" height requires
the help of a friend to move.
Just remember two things: lift
with your legs, and beer is the
universal currency to compensate
friends helping move things!
Once in place though, any hard
work associated with the Torus
setup is complete. (continued)
AUGUST 2016 177