Austere – V Series Power 6 Outlet/Omniport USB 3000 Joules Surge Protector – Silver and Black

Customer Reviews (30)

1. 

   daytonadan – April 24, 2022

   Rated 4 out of 5

   If price is no object and you want a sylish, built-like-a-tank power strip, one could argue you need look no further than this Austere V Series power strip.

   It IS a nice looking and clearly well-manufactured bit of hardware, with a solid stainless steel housing, a nice long heavy-duty power cable and a thoughtful design, with six outlets properly space to accommodate most bulky power bricks side by side. That simple concept somehow has been missed by makers of many power strips.

   There is also a strong power surge protection built in and internal hardware designed to clean up messy power line anomolies and thereby keep all the electronic gadgets you may have attached to it running smoothly.

   Bright blue lights on top tell you the status of the surge protection, which wears out over time, whether the outlet it is connect to is properly grounded, and whether it is turned on.

   Finally, there is a row of five USB power ports along one end, with a decided Apple bias, since three of them are USB C. USB A rules nearly everywhere else for now, and you only get two of those. (You can buy USB C to USB C cables to make use of them. )
   It is all very nice. But in the end, it really is just a power strip, not radically different underneath than any other model costing many times less. That’s according to a friend of mine who is an electrical engineer. So he should know.

   So you have decide if the well-manufactured nature of this thing, along with its styling is worth the cost.

   Those who pony up do get a few more extras: It comes packaged in a VERY nice and very sturdy box. And Austere also promises to replace any device that is damaged via a surge for 5 years from the time of purchase.

   Ah, you may ask, but what about that whole “lifetime” guarantee thing that is mentioned on the box? Well, let’s be honest, that is a bit misleading since Austere is essentially referring to the lifetime of the power strip (which it says is about 5 years), not your lifetime. That’s also explained in the fine print. “It is recommended to replace this unit every five years.”

   That’s true of all power strips, by the way, and some may even lose their surge protection properties sooner. Austere contends this model will last longer in that regard, than most lesser power strips.

   So in conclusion, a very nice, well built power strip that will meet the needs of almost everyone who buys it. But it’s pricey.

2. 

   jkj1 – April 24, 2022

   Rated 4 out of 5

   This is an excellent, low profile, heavy duty surge protector. It has the added advantage of having 2 USB-A and 3 USB-C rapid charging ports. The brushed aluminum housing gives it a high quality appearance. The “PureFiltration” feature insulates the power signal from external sources to deliver excellent audio and video quality.

   Traditional surge protectors function for a year or two and then lose the ability to protect. The Austere surge protector is rated at 3000 joules and comes with a “Lifetime” warranty. Austere defines “lifetime” as the expected life of the surge protector, which is 5 years. When it wears out the blue protection shield icon ceases to illuminate.

   It was much larger than I expected – 16.25 x 8.5 inches. From the Best Buy website pictures I looked at prior to purchasing, I expected something small enough to put on the kitchen counter to charge the cell phones, laptop and tablet. It was actually about twice the expected size. It was too big to put on the counter and even too large to use for my PC, monitor and printers, due to the available space. There are holes in the back to hang it on a wall, but that wasn’t something I wanted to do.

   I ended up using it for the TV, CD player, amplifier and other components, but it was fairly complicated to install in my situation. Due to the configuration of the entertainment center, I have very limited space to work with. All the wiring comes into a 5 inch deep shelf under the TV and I was working in the semi-dark. Several of the plugs did not want to go into the outlets and had to be forcefully jammed in. The prong orientation is different on the two sides of the surge protector. There wouldn’t be any problem seeing that in the light, but I expected both sides to be the same and in the dark it was difficult to tell why one row of plugs weren’t going in. The fancy “WovenArmor” cable was a nightmare to work with. It’s great for what it’s designed to do, but it’s not very flexible. In the small space I had to work in between the cabinet and the wall, it kept fighting me when I tried to plug it into the wall. It wanted to orientate itself upside down and it took me 5 minutes or more to finally get it plugged in.

   Because of the thick, inflexible cable and because the outlets are in the middle of the unit, I wasn’t able to position the surge protector near the front of the cabinet as I had hoped. So it’s buried behind the sound bar where I’ll never be able to access any of the 5 charging ports. If the outlets were positioned at the end by the on/off switch I would’ve been able to do it. I needed that extra 4 inches or so.

   It’s too early to tell if it will protect the equipment and enhance the signal as stated. I haven’t noticed any difference so far, but I don’t have any doubt that it will perform as expected. The biggest disappointment was that I couldn’t use it as a charging station because of the size and the humongous WovenArmor cord.

3. 

   emiliosic – April 25, 2022

   Rated 5 out of 5

   The unit is really well built with an aluminum casing and armored power cable.
   It is substantial piece.

   Packaging is impeccable, unboxing this leaves quite an impression.

   Besides the good looks, this model provides the expected Surge Protection, but with 3000 Joules from factory so it can better protect an expensive home theater.
   As per the manufacturer, it uses ‘Flameless MOVs’: The Metal Oxide Varistors that won’t catch fire when directing a large surge to the ground cable.
   And it also provides noise interference from the power line (But not within components on the power strip).

   There are three blue LEDs that indicate power status, Ground and Protection (Which means the Surge protector circuitry is still working). The LEDs are not dimmable.
   The six 110V outlets are placed on three rows and opposite on each side (Unlike a standard outlet in which both outlets are on the same orientation).

   The armored cable is 6 ft long, but bear in mind that it’s a bit stiff because of the gauge of the wire and the additional sleeve.

   It also has five USB outlets on one side: Two USB-A and three USB-C. Each outlet provides 5V 2.4A. I’m disappointed here that none of the USB-C plugs are ‘USB-C PD’ (Power delivery), so they don’t provide enough amps for fast-charge.
   The wireless magsafe charger for an iPhone did not work because the USB-C ports don’t provide enough power, when connected to one of the USB-C ports on the side.

   Overall is an excellent choice for a home-theater setting because of the power protection and line noise filters.
   I would have preferred that the outlets were more spaced out considering that the unit is already large, and expected that the USB-C ports would support PD; although this might not be needed in a home theater, it limits the applications.

4. 

   Patrick – April 27, 2022

   Rated 5 out of 5

   At first I thought it was going to be a bit difficult to review the Austere V Series Power 6-Outlet with Omniport USB (boy that’s a mouth-full), because after all, how was I even going to know it was doing anything, right? I was wrong…there is a lot to say.

   First of all, I was a bit hesitant about connecting two televisions (a 51″ and a 70″) plus at least one laptop, in addition to three other devices. I thought it might be too much for it to handle. But as far as I can tell, it could handle several more if there were ports enough.

   My TVs are basically stacked. The 70″ sits on the floor, and the 51″ is mounted directly behind and above it, attached to the wall. I purchased what I assumed was a very good quality power strip from one of the big box stores. It cost almost $60, which for a power strip, that is a lot of money. The laptop sits on a table adjacent to the TVs. So after unpacking everything, reading the directions, and then unplugging everything from the old power strip and reconnecting it all to the Austere, I turned everything on.

   At first I thought it was simply my wishful imagination, but the sound from my laptop actually sounded so much better than before. It seemed louder, sharper, and crisper. So, to make sure, I disconnected it from the Austere and connected it back into the old power strip. My gosh, I was literally stunned by the difference. The sound was richer, and crisper. Now don’t get me wrong, I thought the laptop speakers sounded pretty good to start with, and had no idea that the Austere power conditioner would make any difference at all. Well, it does!

   I next tried out the TVs. The 70″ is connected to a soundbar with subwoofer. And yet again I was amazed at the difference in sound quality. Ditto for the other TV as well. THE ULTIMATE TEST: Austere’s description made mention of how not even a vacuum cleaner would disturb the power, so I put them to the test on this issue. I plugged in a vacuum, and turned it on. Not a flicker. Seriously…not even a tiny little spike.

   I understand that the Austere is NOT sold as sound equipment, but if it can make this much difference in home sound equipment, I can only imagine what it would do for amps, mixers, and the like. For this, and this alone, knowing that it truly is “cleaning” and conditioning the power to my equipment, I would absolutely recommend the Austere to EVERYONE. There is not one good reason to trust your equipment to the cheaply made and inadequate power strips.

   PROS:
   The unit itself is museum grade. It’s beautiful, well made, sturdy, hefty, and well thought-out. I love the colors.
   Plenty of cord length
   Six USB charging ports! SIX!!
   The Price. Yes, I know some will say that $150 is a lot to pay, but after witnessing firsthand just how amazing it is, it is worth every single penny!

   CONS:
   This is going to sound bogus, but I honestly cannot think of one negative thing to say about this device. It does EVERYTHING it is supposed to do, does it well, and is a quality piece of equipment from top to bottom.

   I said it once, I’ll say it again, I highly recommend the Austere V Series Power 6-Outlet With Omniport USB to anyone who owns a piece of electronic equipment they want to protect and truly enjoy.

5. 

   Beradon – April 28, 2022

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Surge protectors these days are basically a dime a dozen, there’s literally nothing about one surge protector over another that makes it worth buying in most cases. You’re just looking for enough plugs and occasionally some USB if you have need of that sort of thing, and even with the USB, you tend you be limited for whatever reason to one that runs full power, or if you plug in more items, they tend to run at half power or less – something I’ve never really understood.

   Enter the Austere V Series surge protector. Now it may seem odd to introduce a surge protector in this way, I mean, it’s just a thing to plug stuff in to, why does it need pomp and circumstance, but let me tell you… I’ve never used a surge protector built like this one in my 20 years as an IT professional.

   First, the thing is built out of metal, which sure, isn’t that uncommon, but usually metal surge protectors are clunky and ugly taupe colored things that sit under your desk at work. This is a sleek powder coat finished silver and it’s nice, there’s no two ways about it.

   The braided cable and 6 outlets oriented in such a way to each be able to handle a brick are well appointed, and honestly, while some of those surge protectors with 15 plugs on them exist, who actually uses (or safely needs) one with that many plugs. On the edge there are 5 USB ports, 2x USB-A and 3x USB-C all of which provide full power to the ports (2.4amps). As I mentioned before, this is a rarity, as usually in these types of devices, there’s one full power port, which may be reduced if you plug in multiple devices to consecutive ports. Not the case here.

   Honestly, if you needed to buy a surge protector that you didn’t mind having on your desk, this would be the one.

   Now I’ll admit, this is a bit pricey, but with 5 full power USB ports plus standard plugs, it offers something that I’ve not seen before, and I actually spent some rather extensive time looking for this.

   I heartily recommend this to anyone that needs a good looking surge protector with multiple full power USB ports that they wont mind seeing every day.

6. 

   Maddie – April 28, 2022

   Rated 5 out of 5

   This Austere power surge protector is not your average or ordinary power switch. Right from the box, you can tell this is good material not the cheap ones you usually see around.

   This is strong, very well made, I would even say it looks elegant. It’s amazing, I would never think we would “love” a surge protector, but we really love this.

   You can feel, see and hear the difference. The cable is strong and woven. The space between outlets make everything plugged in fit nicely, even when using all 6. We were so excited about this that we just ordered one to replace the regular surge protector we use for the tv, cable, Xbox area. Once you this, it doesn’t feel safe using the regular one anymore. And it works perfectly. I usually have phone, a laptop and large external monitor plugged into it most times and randomly other items that need to be plugged in too. I love that is has 6 outlets, 2 USB-a and 3 USB-c charges as well. This makes it so convenient to use when we have company over who need to charge phones. You’ll not want to go back to using your common surge protector, after using this. It just feels safer for our family.

7. 

   hotice – April 29, 2022

   Rated 5 out of 5

   This is a high end surge protector from the packaging to the power cord!

   Features
   The included information says the protection is good for about five years where as many other surge protectors are only good for one or two years. I don’t know but it wouldn’t surprise me if that’s true. The oversize “SmartFit” outlets are pretty good. They’re big enough for most power bricks and pug designs that need to be plugged in. I was surprised the six items I wanted to plug in all fit together. There’s really a lot of room the way they’re spaced out. The USB ports on the end work great for charging phones and other smaller devices. I tested the USB type A ports and C. I was glad to free up a few power outlets with those. The ability to charge/power up to 5 USB powered devices along with the six A/C power outlets is great! Lastly but not least the Austere V power strip also does line noise filtering. It can be hard to find something that does that. It’s good for any electronics but especially can be important for audio/video work. I tried to figure out a way to test this but I wasn’t able. The cord is also impressive. It looks cool and is braided as well as very heavy duty.

   Lights
   It has very bright blue LED lights. I’ve had other power strips where they are hard to see. That’s not the case on this. I may even cover them with tape but I’m glad they’re not dim. There are three. One tells you that it’s powered on. One tells you it’s correctly grounded. One tells yoyu that the protection is active. The included information says the protection is good for about five years. After that, it will continue to provide power but no longer will provide protection. I’ve had other surge strips that use one light on, off, or flashing in different ways to indicate different things. I prefer the three separate and very clear indicators.

   Ease of use
   This is a power strip and as easy to use as any other. Just plug something in and it will work. There’s a combined power switch and reset button at the one end of it next to where the power cord goes in. There are no special outlets that need to have a powered device for other devices to receive power. Those have been a pain for me on other power strips and I was never in a place where I needed one.

   Packaging
   This may sound ridiculous but the Austere V comes in packaging that’s usually reserved for expensive laptops. From unique design and materials of the packaging to the overall look. When I opened it (by first removing the two pieces of tape at the bottom and then sliding out the inner box from the side) I had the feeling I was not opening just another power strip. I’ve included few pictures though it’s more impressive in person.

8. 

   BiggE – April 30, 2022

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Seeing this in the box you know it’s built to work. This is heavy and has a lot to offer for the price. I know you are thinking well i can buy a cheaper one and it will do the same. Well if your going to use this with you expensive electronics then you should protect them. It’s kinda hard to review a surge protector because it just charges your stuff. there is no buttons to play with or sounds it makes. Well it does stuff you can’t see so let’s list it.
   6 smart outlets the only bad part about this is the spacing i wish they had them facing other directions. Because when you have your phone charger or tablet it comes with a USB and a plug to use for the wall. Well when you plug it in the wire sticks out and cover the next outlet. If there was space or make it so they turn it would help this out. But this all works ok.
   This has a lifetime warranty yo don’t see that on many products.
   It has 3 led light on it a Ground indicator power and Protected.
   It has Rapid Charge 2 USB and 3 USB C.
   It has to holes in the back to mount on the wall the power cord is heavy wrapped.

9. 

   ricks – April 30, 2022

   Rated 4 out of 5

   The Austere surge protector is so sleek looking that you’ll want to showcase it instead of burying it behind some furniture. Six well-spaced outlets lets you plug in multiple large plugs without getting in each others way.

   It can protect against spikes up to 3,000 joules. There’s even a 5 year component guarantee that holds Austere liable for any damage regardless of the value of the components plugged in. Handily, there are 2 USB A and 3 USB C charging ports for other types of devices.

   Unlike typical power strips, the cord on the Austere is flexible woven fabric instead of stiff rubber. Not only does it match its modern appearance, but makes it much easier to manipulate in tight spaces.

   Another key feature is the power strip conditions the line and removes noise from EMI and RF interference. That said, there was no noticeable improvement in the sound or picture of my TV and sound bar. That may be because my lines were already clean enough.

   The main downside to this surge protector is the indicator lights are extremely bright at night. I had to buy some screen dimming film to tone it down.

10. 

    Cipher469 – May 2, 2022

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Don’t let the name fool you, this device is anything but “austere.” In addition, it comes in an exhibition box which usually indicates something great inside. Open the box and find the best-looking surge protector/charging device you have ever seen. After the “wow” moment, you wonder if it performs as good as it looks. No worries.

    Installation is quick and easy, plug it in and turn it on. You should then see three blue LED lights lit up on top of the device. These indicate Power, Ground, and Surge Protection are all at proper operating level. Next, you can connect as many as eleven devices: six charging outlets on the face and five USB (2 A’s and 3 C’s) ports on one end.

    Other features of this exceptional device include:
    • The compact design and low weight allow wall/or similar surface mounting.
    • External EMI/RFI disturbance filtration to minimize interference from other devices.
    • Power circuit protection to minimize danger of electrical fire.
    • Six-foot armor covered power cord with “flat” 3-prong plug.
    • A lifetime performance guarantee on the device plus a 5-year replacement guarantee for a device damaged while plugged into the charging center.

    If I wanted to find a nit to pick to with this great charging center, it would be that the outlet placements aren’t friendly to the oversized plugs that come with some electronics today. However, for what it does offer, I’m good! Run, don’t walk, and get one (or more) for yourself!

11. 

    KMont1234 – May 2, 2022

    Rated 5 out of 5

    No more hiding your power outlet behind a dresser. The Austere V Series Power Strip is a really nice addition to my set-up. Unboxing was a nice experience. A lot of effort went into making the packaging feel premium and simple. The power strip itself is very high quality. Made with aluminum, its very durable and looks very nice. Also the braided cable gives it even more class. It has 6 power outlets, 3 USB C ports and 2 USB A ports. I was able to get rid of my USB C power adapter for my iPad and just plug it in directly to the power strip. All the outlet connections felt strong and secure. Another benefit with this power strip is that it is a surge protector. I have my gaming PC connected to the strip and I feel confident that my devices will be safe in the event something were to happen. Something Austere also mentions is their PureFiltration technology. It helps “clean” the noise that goes through power lines. I haven’t noticed any difference yet, but its good to know I’m getting the cleanest power to my devices.

    I’m very pleased with the Austere V Series Power Strip. Even though it is just a power strip, it’s one of the best I’ve ever used.

12. 

    CPWoody – May 2, 2022

    Rated 5 out of 5

    I selected the Austere to replace one of my older power strips that I was confident had seen better days. Initially I was apprehensive as this particular location has a number of larger, odd sized power adapters and most surge protectors I’ve used lose an outlet or two to hold them all.

    In this case the outlets on the Austere are spaced ideally and I was able to maximize my utilization plus change how i charge my phone and watch in the process. Having the USB and USB-C ports on the front makes this unit infinitely more useful. Charging my devices off these ports seems to take the same amount of time or less than when using the manufacturer supplied power blocks, and the whole thing is just cleaner thanks to how the ports are located.

    It is evident that this is a higher end product from the minute you take it out of the box. The design is heavier and well built, which gives me a sense of quality compared to the garden variety surge protection devices out there. I think you’ll get what you pay for with the Austere for sure.

13. 

    Shae – May 3, 2022

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Who would’ve thought that unboxing a surge protector would be an experience. Wow on how thoughtful Austere is when packaging their products. I was just as impressed with that, as I was when I saw the product inside.

    I could only hope that with such care, they stand behind their product as they state they do when the product ages in 5 years or so. I didn’t know that surge protectors lose their ability to protect what’s plugged in after a couple short years.

    This protector makes it easy to spot when there’s an issue, or when it has aged. The blue lights on the protector will continue to light and let you know that it’s working and depending on which light goes out, it will make you aware that it’s no longer functioning at the capacity it should. Evening if it no longer protects against surges, it will still operate.

    The quality and build is superb. It’s heavy, solid and has holes on the back for hanging on a wall and off of the floor. My favorite features are the usb c and other charging ports on the side. It offers fast charging and I can plug and go without the need of looking for the charging adapters.

14. 

    UnkinB – May 3, 2022

    Rated 5 out of 5

    When we first think about any power supply/ surge protector is I have to many devices for the wall plug so let me get a surge protector and I can plug up everything that I need. That might have been the way it was in the past when devices were not specialized and were replaceable. Now with all of the high end devices that have way more circuitry and aren’t cost effective to replace, you need to have a high end protector to prevent issues on your high end devices. The Austere V Series fits the bill. It has 6 outlets that they have spaced appropriately so your plugs and transformers can be easily attached. I always seem to find a surge protector, and everything is cramped together, and you are having to spend more time arranging the plugs than you should have to. It also comes with 5 USB rapid charge ports, two USB-A and three USB-C.
    On of my favorite features and it will be yours also if you are an audiophile, is the advanced line filtering technology. This eliminates external noise in the power lines caused by Electromagnetic and Radio interference. I also like the fact that it has a LED display that lets you monitor if your plug is grounded, protected, or has issues with the incoming power. It also comes with 3,000 joules of protection from spikes and surges.
    I hate to call it a surge protector because it is so much more. It is more of insurance plan for your devices, where I live we have terrible lightning storms where our power goes off without a moment’s notice. I am planning to rework my audio setup to maximize the use of the Austere V Series Power Outlet and make my listening experience much more enjoyable.

15. 

    EricJay – May 3, 2022

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Calling the Austere V Series a “surge protector” just doesn’t seem to do it justice. Sure, at its core, this is a surge protector, but the feature set, build quality, and design all go way above and beyond any other I’ve seen before.

    It’s impossible to not notice just how thoughtfully designed this surge protector is. The standard AC outlets are spaced comfortably apart, with plenty of room for bulky charging blocks to not get in each other’s way. Then, there are the USB — three USB-C and two USB-A – conveniently placed on the side so that the AC cords go one way and the USB cords go the other. The entire thing is wrapped in a sleek, metal housing that feels like it could take a beating.

    The cord is 6 feet long, and has a tough woven exterior. It’s flexible, but clearly protects what’s inside. The plug is right-angle from the wall (so it fits in tight spaces like behind furniture), and the cord is offset so it doesn’t block the outlet below.

    For those who need to be sure that everything is working correctly, there are three separate indicator lights, one to show that power is flowing, another to show that the outlets are properly grounded, and another still to show that the surge protection is active.

    I can’t think of anything really negative to say about this, but I will add a couple of notes:

    First, this thing is on the heavy side, so if you’re planning to mount it on a wall or under a desk, be sure to use sturdy fasteners.

    Second, the USB ports are described as ”rapid” and listed at 2.4 amps, but this model doesn’t have USB-C PD (Power Delivery). If you need to charge a laptop or something similar with just a USB-C cord, consider the next model up.

    Overall, the this brings surge protection to another level in terms of assembly, style, and functionality. Sure, it’s probably overkill for someone whose priority is their budget, but if you’ve invested in premium equipment, and want premium protection to go with it, check out the V Series from Austere.

16. 

    Trobadour – May 4, 2022

    Rated 5 out of 5

    — SETUP —
    The setup for the Austere V series omniport USB outlet is a simple plug and play to any outlet.

    — FEATURES —
    This surge protector is equipped with PureFiltration (EMI/RFI), overcurrent protection, “woven armor cable” that is flexible, and 5 rapid-charging ports (2 USB-A and 3 USB-C).

    — PERFORMANCE —
    This surge protector is perfect for a TV /video game console / surround sound system or a gaming PC setup. I installed mine as part of a new computer and a QLED monitor. I was easily able to connect my tower PC, my monitor, a light source, a gaming monitor speaker, and 2 lightning cables to charge my iPhone/iPad, and one USB cable to charge my headphones.

    — EXPECTATIONS —
    As expected, everything worked as intended. The second day that I had installed this protector, we had a heavy storm hit overnight. I usually walk away from my PC and forget to turn things off. This had occurred that same night. In the morning, the PC was in standby mode and I hadn’t lost any progress on the work I was doing. Everything was fine and, even though we didn’t lose power, I had a peace of mind knowing that my tech was safe.

    — VALUE —
    Though on a pricier side of your everyday surge protector, what you are paying for here is a high-end device that can not only keep up with high-powered tech of today, but also prevent it from getting damaged by unexpected surges.

    — APPROVAL —
    I highly recommend it for the techie person who has too many things that need connecting close to each other. Extremely ideal for gamers.

17. 

    TechGeek – May 4, 2022

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Well-built powerful “smart” power strip with surge protection (4000J). Unlike the ones I used in the past, this one is rugged and has an aluminum body with Kevlar (wrapped) cord for durability and fire protection. Has 2 mounting holes for wall mounting option. Boasts flameless MOV (Metal Oxide Varistor) circuits and thermal protected outlets to protect from home fires. This is a perfect power strip to connect your expensive home entertainment systems or PC with ton of peripherals that need additional power source and noise supression. Isolates noise (prevents interference – EMI/RFI filtration) when plugging multiple devices i.e. TV, Monitors, PC, etc. Three LEDs that light blue when active – Power, Ground, and Protected.

    Specs:
    6 grounded AC ports that are well spaced
    2 USB connectors
    2 USB C connectors
    1 USB C is PD port with 45W (and 60W peak) rating that is good enough to charge most laptops. I didn’t have a problem charging my surface pro via the PD port. It does support rapid charging if you are looking to charge your cell phone!

    I did a quick test unplugging the ground to see if the detects and the ground LED and Protected LED didn’t light up! Comes with a lifetime guarantee. I rather have it overspec’d than under to protect my expensive toys.

    Expensive power strip but worth the money if you have expensive home entertainment system or laptop with ton of peripherals (need noise suppression!) that you care the most. This is one of the newer models that Austere just released!

18. 

    dstracker – May 4, 2022

    Rated 5 out of 5

    The Austere Power Strip V Series is so much better than the standard everyday Power strip. Its solid slim design makes it perfect for under or on top of desks.

    The Austere Power Strip’s AC SmartFit outlets allows plenty of room for the larger transformer type plugs from Computers, Printers, and other peripherals. It can fit up to 6 transformer type power supplies easily. Most other power strip outlets don’t have enough room between the outlets to allow for many larger sized transformer plugs.

    TECHNOLOGY:
    According to Austere, the V Series Power Strip uses “PureFiltration” technology. This technology cleans noise and artifacts that can travel through power lines and keeps these from impacting your devices. In addition, the Omniport USB provides rapid charge and protection for low-voltage devices. Austere also employs flameless MOV circuits (Metal Oxide Varistor-Low Voltage suppression) and thermal protected outlets. These keep you safe from a home electrical fire.

    The Austere Power Strip has 2 USB-A ports and 3 USB-C ports on the front of the strip for easy access. The fact that this power strip has 5 USB ports make it very convenient for charging my phone, Anker Portable Charger, and tablets at the same time. The power strip has 3 LED lights that illuminate blue when the strip is properly connected. It has a Power Indicator LED, Ground LED, and Protected LED all indicate that the Austere Power Strip is working to protect anything that’s plugged into it. The Austere Power Strip also has a woven armor cable further protecting it from damage to the cord.

    I have my Austere Power Strip located under my desk. This allows me access to all the ports and outlets I need for my laptop, printer, scanner, and other devices that I use. The Austere Power Strip’s slim design allows me to place it just about anywhere I need it.

    I highly recommend the Austere V Series Power Strip for protecting your expensive and delicate electronics. You won’t be disappointed.

19. 

    MrPHD – May 4, 2022

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Very rarely do I get excited on surge protectors, but I was tired of moving power bricks around and unplugging a few when I need to plug in the my shredder because my previous strip could not handle it.

    I don’t have to worry about that now, as this is powerful enough to handle a shredder without having to unplug anything else.

    The spacing on each of the 6 outlets is pretty good, will definitely handle your power bricks for phones (be it iPhone or android) and any device with that kind of a footprint, including the new larger/wider Apple Watch Series 7 power brick. However, the beautify of this is you can ditch some of those power bricks and use the USB-C ports (there are 3!) or regular USB ports (2), leaving the top standard outlets available.

    It is much nicer/cleaner to have those top outlets available and ditching the power bricks. I should point out that the USB-C ports are not USB-PD(power delivery) ports, which is required if you have an AppleWatch Series 7. Not that big of a deal, just means I have to use 1 power brick for the Apple Watch, which is not a big deal now I have 5 other outlets available, since I’ve using the 2 USB ports and 1 USB-C port.

    Another unintended bonus out of this is the 3 blue lights(Power, Ground, Protected LEDs) are pretty bright and work as a nightlight for me, and will always let me know everything is working correctly.

    The power plug for the outlet is 5 feet, which is also great, the strip that I replaced only had 3 feet on it and kept getting in the way of furniture of where I had it placed, I no longer have to worry about that!

    I have had no issues so far in charging my PS4 controllers, my phone, my air purifier, my watch, my portable speakers, wireless headsets, webcam light, and even my paper shredder – it can handle it all. My previous power strip could not handle my shredder along with another device charging, so that’s also a relief.

    Pros:
    Outlet spacing accomodates most modern power bricks
    Clearly visible LED lights letting you know you’re protected (and your wall outlet is grounded)
    3 USB-C ports
    2 USB ports
    5 ft power cable
    Mounting holes on the bottom
    Nice coloring scheme

    Cons:
    Has some weight to it, a little like a UPS, but without having a battery inside
    USB-C port will not charge AppleWatch Series 7 (but will charge previous versions)
    Outlet spacing won’t allow for a larger brick (like a VoiP power supply) next to another power brick.

20. 

    Njmomof3 – May 5, 2022

    Rated 5 out of 5

    This is basically a surge protector on steroids. The omniport power is especially efficient as it charged all of my smartphones with the “fast charging” icon. Usually this is contingent on the adapter being the carrier provided one, but this charged my phones very fast —- fully charged my phone from 13% to 100% in slightly less than 40 minutes. My regular charger doesn’t even do that.
    I was especially impressed with the packaging of this item though. It comes in a customized case that you can store it in whenever you need to pack it up for any reason. Now I can’t go back to a standard surge protector when I have seen that I can have one that is dependable and even more powerful with several devices, plus has an omniport for charging several smart devices (has USB-A and C ports!)
    My only con, if any would be that it is indeed a little big and bulky, but again you are getting a lot of power with this device. Plus it has the hooks on the back where you can hang it up on the wall behind a mounted TV.

21. 

    MrBill250 – May 5, 2022

    Rated 5 out of 5

    The Austere packaging is elegant and top notch. When you start to open it, you get the impression that you have something special, the best of the best. Expectations are set high from first touch. The Austere V Power Unit is elegant in appearance, feel, and its functionality is top notch. Too nice to hide behind a cabinet.

    At home, you want something beyond a tacky looking budget power strip that detracts from your expensive electronics. One that can filter out line noise and prevent power surges from damaging your expensive video and audio gear.

    The Austere V is rated at 3,000 Joules of protection. What does that mean? A joule is a unit measurement of energy (Watt-seconds). As an example, 60 joules is like leaving a 60-watt bulb on for one second. The more joules your surge protector has, the more energy a surge protector can absorb before it stops protecting your devices against power surges. The number of Joules in a surge suppressor decreases with every power surge it absorbs from lightning strikes or transients. A rating of at least 2,000 Joules is recommended for expensive electronic equipment. The Austere V meets this need.

    Surge protectors use Metal-Oxide Varistors (MOV’s). MOV’s absorb power spikes. During an extreme power surge, or as an MOV degrades, the chances of excess heating and thermal runaway increases, which can result in a fire. The Austere V protects against this threat with “flameless MOV protection”. This thermal disconnect feature, think of it as a fuse, provides added protection from catastrophic failures and fire hazards. Chances are your old cheap plastic power strips do not have this level of protection.

    The circuits in your audio and video gear do allot of processing to convert the data into sound and video. To get the best sound and picture, the power going into these circuits needs to be clean. You get out what you put in applies to electronics as well.
    The Austere V not only regulates the power coming in to remove power spikes, but also filters and cleans noise and artifacts from the power line. Growing up, I remember our homes TV picture becoming scrambled when my Mom would run the mixer or vacuum cleaner. Wish I had one of these back then! With the increasing demands on our aging power grid, increasing storms, and the growing number of electrical devices in our homes, the ability to get stable clean power is only going to get worse for the foreseeable future.

    Most surge protectors give you no indication when they are worn out and no longer protecting from surges. Unknown to you, they then continue to work only as a basic power strip. The result is you find out when they are out of Joules when something expensive plugged in suddenly dies after a large appliance turns on or there is a storm.
    This is not the case with the Austere V Series. The blue protection shield LED on it will cease to illuminate once the protection has been used up to let you know. There are two other LED’s, one that lets you know the outlet the Austere is plugged into is properly grounded. Outlets must be properly grounded to work properly and safely. The last LED is a power LED. If your protection is used up and the outlet is not properly grounded, this lets you know the power strip has power, through compromised.

    It seems every detail has been thought out and taken to the max. It’s a heavy power unit that will stay where you put it. The case is metal, elegant brushed aluminum. There are some silicone strips on the back to keep it from sliding on a smoot surface, and holes for mounting it to a wall or other object. Unlike the budget power strips, the cord is long, about 6’ (2 meters). The cord is very flexible and does not hold onto a twist like those cheap strips. The cord has a woven Kevlar (wow!) cover Austere appropriately calls “woven armor”. Not only does it provide extremely durable protection, it also provides a high-end look and feel. The Austere V Series will not flail onto its side like a dead fish due to cord twist.

    The six outlets have good spacing and can accommodate most, but not all AC adapters without overlapping a neighboring outlet. With all the space available on the power unit, I feel that Austere could have separated the three sets of outlets, or at least put one set way out to accommodate super large AC adapters.
    This is my only gripe as I have one large AC adapter that overlaps its neighboring plug. The workaround is to use a short foot long extension cord. This negates wall mounting more than a foot off the floor as the large heavy AC Adapter is left dangling. At this price, there should be no workarounds needed.

    In addition to the 6 AC outlets, there are 2USB-A and 3 USB-C ports that deliver up to 2.4 Amps of power. These free up an AC outlet from a power adapter for small devices like remote control docks, Bluetooth adapters, charging a tablet used to control an AV system, or just your phone while enjoying your AV system. No need to worry about your expensive phone getting hit by a surge while relaxing.

    I’ve handled numerous power strips of most every brand in over 30+ years working in IT. I was expecting to be underwhelmed by a glorified, overpriced power strip. The more I read up on it and tested it, the more impressed I became. Pricey for an ordinary power strip, but it’s not ordinary. It’s good insurance for against a catastrophic power problems. A pricey AV system should have more than some cheap plastic power strip with just basic protection. To sum it up, this is without a doubt the finest power strip I have ever encountered, truly next level.

22. 

    jpatterson34 – May 8, 2022

    Rated 5 out of 5

    The first sign that this surge protector isn’t like others is it’s presentation. It’s comes in a box similar to a fancy laptop. It’s defintily one you can resuse to store stuff or package something to gift someone somthing. This surge protector also does a bit more than your normal surge protector.

    – Isolates the power signal so it won’t be disrupted from external sources (vaccuums etc.)
    -Regulates the fire/power from outsire sources
    -It has a nice blue woven high flex cable
    -It has fice rapid charging ports (2 USB-A and 3 USB-C
    -Covers products plugged into the surge protector if the power estip is responsible for the damage.

    This fits perfectly behind my television and fits all of the items we need to plug in. Inlcuding a sound bar, the TV, cable box, DVD player, Apple TV, and another system. Living in Florida, unfortunately, we have lost electronics due to the lightning. I don’t mind investing a little extra in a product that is going to protect our expensive electronics. This is a great product to do that for us.

23. 

    D1maddog1 – May 10, 2022

    Rated 5 out of 5

    This was a pleasure to test. It was boxed like a high-end component and presented great when it was taken out of the packaging. Unlike any other power strip, this was heavier than others, and had ‘substance’; extremely aesthetically pleasing with the brushed aluminum and blue trim. The 5′ power cord was perfect. The status LEDs are good; I like the fact that they are one color (blue).

    Under some circumstances, when I charge my iDevices near my subwoofer, I randomly hear the woofer thumping, presumably due to RFI & EMI. I plugged my subwoofer’s power cord into the strip, as well as my iPhone and iPad chargers and began charging the devices. I didn’t hear the subwoofer ‘flutter’ at all. As an engineer, I assume that the RFI & EMI circuitry did it’s job and filtered out the unwanted interference.

    There are two negatives:
    [1] The lack of mounting screws and perhaps a screw template for distance between the screws. It was extremely irritating given the price point of the surge protector. I had to dig around my tool drawer looking for screws & plastic wall anchors, the level, the carpenter’s pencil, and measuring tape. There should not be a decision on whether to include it or not. The two screws and paper template would have cost like 4 cents!
    [2] 3,000 Joules of surge protection is great, but considering that stereo equipment and the like will be plugged into it, it could be a bit higher.

    The product is great, it’s built to last, and I trust it to do what it is supposed to do. Well done.

24. 

    JStory17 – May 11, 2022

    Rated 5 out of 5

    First, the presentation with the box opening is on the same level of opening as an IPhone, which was very unexpected.

    Next, I see this huge surge protector and then all the USB slots on the side of it.
    I have never seen such a beautiful and stylish surge protector in my life.

    I have it plugged into my office area and here are the following items I have used with this protector:
    USB for PS4 Controller
    USB for Apple Watch
    USB-C for IPad
    USB-C for IPhone
    Power Outlet for laptop
    Power Outlet for Paper Shedder
    Power Outlet for Printer
    Power Outlet for Work Desktop
    Power Outlet for Wifi Node

    No issues with all these items plugged in at the same time!
    The surge protector has some weight on it, but in my opinion, that’s a good thing. It’s sturdy and won’t be accidentally kicked.
    The LED status lighting on the top is another plus feature.
    Status showing power, grounding and protection

    Outstanding product!
    The price may be a little higher than I would normally pay for a surge protector, but this product is worth it.

25. 

    Mikepas – May 15, 2022

    Rated 5 out of 5

    This Austere surge protector is excellent! It’s very well built and feels like a solid option to protect your electronics from dangerous power surges. The design is also pleasant to the eyes which is important if you want your desk or entertainment center to look sleek and modern. The six power ports on the top are well spaced so that if you have a larger plug or wall wart there is room for them. That is a pain to me with other surge protectors. You plug in one device then have another power port blocked effectively reducing the number of devices you can plug in. No so much a problem here! I’m sure that if I really wanted to I could find a way to block other ports but for what I’m using it for this has not been an issue. The addition of two USB-A ports and three USB-C power ports on the side are an added bonus that has been coming in handy for me. I can plug in my Qi phone charger to one of the USB-A ports while plugging in some USB-C charging cables for my iPad Pro and my rechargeable mouse and keyboard while keeping my standard plugs free for other things.

    Overall I highly recommend this surge protector!

26. 

    Anony – June 13, 2022

    Rated 1 out of 5

    “Joules–the protective layer of energy that defends your components–are finite. And when they are gone, it leaves your system completely unprotected from shock or surge.”

    No. No. No. This is not true. Joules are a measurement of energy over time. With such obvious misinformation in the description, I would not trust this device at all.

27. 

    BigDog01 – June 28, 2022

    Rated 5 out of 5

    I saw a review for these surge protectors on an audiophile website and was intrigued. Did some more research and put them on my ” must have” list. When they went on sale as a Deal of the Day, I pulled the trigger on the purchase. They are everything the articles claimed, and more! They easily accommodate several oversized plugs at the same time. So far everything looks good. Have already noticed less ‘noise’ on my television.

28. 

    MThreeZeroto167 – July 4, 2022

    Rated 3 out of 5

    This surge looks nice but is lacking where it counts in power. I bought this for my home office and expected USB-C ports to be able to accommodate powering a new iPad Pro via USB-C and it can’t.

29. 

    Tony – November 1, 2022

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Between the great Best Buy price and the features that this item offers, I couldn’t resist buying it! Also the ability to mount it in multiple ways is a plus.

30. 

    martillo – December 5, 2022

    Rated 2 out of 5

    don’t even get me started! I heard about this power/surge protector and it’s brushed aluminum housing, please, it’s silver plastic ,a friend at work praised the stainless steel encasement. it could have been gold and the fact that the first one I purchased quit after only a week. I returned it for another one and right out of the ridiculous box the led on the toggle switch would not light up.I wanted to like the product so I contacted austere customer service directly through e-mail twice with no response all week. I just went and got a refund