Skip to content

Best Uninterruptible Power Supply Review & Buyer’s Guide [2023]

Best Uninterruptible Power Supply Review & Buyer’s Guide [2023]

Uninterruptible power supplies are great to use for a computer in a studio or home studio setting. However, because of the vastness surrounding the subject, people may feel overwhelmed when deciding which one is for them.

In this article, we’re going to help you understand which one is best for you. We picked five of our favorite UPS systems and the pros behind each one. As well as a few minor cons behind them.

After the five products we picked, we’re going to go over our buyer’s guide and common questions surrounding the subject.

Table of Contents

Best Uninterruptible Power Supply Comparison Chart


Best Uninterruptible Power Supply Review

As noted, down below are a few of our favorite products in this subject. We’re going to go over a positive review of each one, as well as the pros behind each, and a few minor cons. APC UPS Battery Backup & Surge Protector with USB Charger, 600VA Uninterruptible Power Supply (BE600M1)

APC UPS Battery Backup & Surge Protector with USB Charger, 600VA Uninterruptible Power Supply

This is a fantastic power supply. As noted with a UPS system, it’s great for routers, cable modems, network switches, and other aspects of things that need power while recording.

Since computers are such an important part of a studio, having the proper UPS system behind them is important.

This UPS is very easy to set-up and use. Once you unpack it, you plug in the internal battery. After that, the battery slides in perfectly and re-attaches with very little effort.

Overall, it’s a product that is perfect for a plethora of reasons. For example, if you need something to replace an older model then this is a perfect unit for you. For internet purposes, a model like this can give several hours of backup for a modem and wifi router.

Other factors include the ability to adjust audible alarms by using the PowerChute application on a USB attached PC.

The brand itself is a very well-respected brand. It is one of the most popular brands for these type of power supplies.

In conclusion, this is a fantastic uninterruptible power supply. It can work for several needs and wants of power situations. Allowing you to fully utilize this product for what it can do.

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Respectable Company
  • Versatile
  • Company Supplies Great Communication

Cons

  • Slightly Difficult Set-up

CyberPower AVRG750U AVR UPS System, 750VA/450W, 12 Outlets, Compact

CyberPower AVRG750U AVR UPS System, 750VA/450W, 12 Outlets, Compact

This is a fantastic uninterruptible power supply. It’s a great unit that can get just about any job done. It’s affordable, energy-efficient, hardly any noise level, and is very easy to install.

Everything should power as you’d like. Similar to other UPS systems on this list, it has a wide range of tasks it can accomplish.

Rather than using a usual surge protector, definitely check this product out. For example, it has half as many outlets on the battery.

Like other products on this list, if you plug a computer, monitor, and network boxes to the battery, it can work in a black-out. Even if everything goes out, your computer and network will still be on.

Because of this, you can easily save what you were working on and shut everything down properly. Saving you time to deal with stress on everything.

The battery supply is so versatile that you even plug in your own dying cell phone to charge.

It’s a truly fantastic product.

In conclusion, if you spend a lot of time on the computer working in a professional or home studio setting, this is definitely a must for you. You never know when you might need it in emergency situations.

Pros

  • Great for Emergency Situations
  • Lasts for Awhile
  • Versatile
  • Respectable Company

Cons

  • A Bit Pricey for What it Does

CyberPower CP1350AVRLCD Intelligent LCD UPS System, 1350VA/815W, 10 Outlets, AVR, Mini-Tower

CyberPower CP1350AVRLCD Intelligent LCD UPS System, 1350VA/815W, 10 Outlets, AVR, Mini-Tower

This is another fantastic uninterruptible power supply. It works for a variety of situations and allows people to fully use it for its full potential.

All of the function buttons are larger and easier to press in comparison to other products. One of the best features of the product is the clearly marked mute button.

The entire system has a smaller profile in length and height compared to similar products by the company.

This is a necessity for emergency situations. For example, if a massive storm rolls in and you lose power, you can rely on this product to save your computer.

The display on the system is great as well. The CyberPower display has a better contrast as well. Making it bright and easy to read the input voltage, hertz, load, and battery life.

To fully understand how great of a product this is, it can hold power for an entire night. Allowing you to properly shut everything down without an issue.

One of the most interesting aspects of the product is the warranty behind it. Allowing you to have a full three-year warranty in case anything happens.

In conclusion, this is an incredible product for any recording engineer or musician to use. Don’t be afraid of the price. It does a lot more than you realize it can do.

Pros

  • High Quality
  • Respectable Company
  • Warranty
  • Easy to Use

Cons

  • Relatively Expensive

APC UPS, 1500VA UPS Battery Backup & Surge Protector with AVR, Back-UPS Pro Uninterruptible Power Supply (BX1500M)

APC UPS, 1500VA UPS Battery Backup & Surge Protector with AVR, Back-UPS Pro Uninterruptible Power Supply (BX1500M)

This is a great uninterruptible power supply. It’s easy to install, has a great battery supply, and has a good team of tech support behind it.

This system is one of the best products out there. If you have the money, you truly can’t get much better than this.

You owe it to yourself to protect all of your equipment. So why wouldn’t you get something as great as this?

As noted, if an awful power outage occurred, you can protect your equipment all the time with this. If you figure how much a decent or custom system and peripherals would cost to replace it, this is definitely a necessity.

A musician and recording engineer need a backup for horrible situations.

This system can carry a PC with a ton of wattage. After several months of heavy capacity and run time, you shouldn’t run into any major issues.

When you configure the product, make sure you turn the sensitivity all the way up in PowerChute. Always remember to check it once a month so you don’t run into random issues in the future.

In conclusion, this is a fantastic high-quality product. It can work for a variety of reasons and is needed for studios and musicians who need a backup for their gear and computer.

As noted, don’t be afraid to buy this product because of this product. With great products come a heavy price and expense. However, always know that it’s worth it in the end.

Pros

  • Top Quality
  • Great Company
  • Versatile
  • Easy to Install

Cons

  • Relatively expensive

CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD PFC Sinewave UPS System, 1500VA/900W, 10 Outlets, AVR, Mini-Tower, Black

CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD PFC Sinewave UPS System, 1500VA/900W, 10 Outlets, AVR, Mini-Tower

Just like all of the products on this list, it’s another fantastic uninterruptible power supply. The material quality, battery life, and durability are all top-notch.

One thing to keep in mind with this product, if you have a modern computer and it won’t work with a cheaper product when the power fails it’s most likely because your computer has a PFC type power supply. Meaning it won’t work on any type of waveform other than a pure sine wave.

Demonstrating how this product is superior to cheaper versions because of how well it works with all computers.

Another great feature of the product is the lack of smell. Unlike other units, this product doesn’t give off any smell, no matter how long it’s used for.

One thing to keep in mind is that the backlight goes off very quickly. However, this may be seen as a positive since it’s energy-efficient.

Just like other products on this list, this product can be a lifesaver in horrible incidents.

If a storm or something of that nature causes a power mishap, you’ll be at ease knowing you have a product like this backing up all of your power needs.

In conclusion, this is a great product. As noted, it’s versatile, easy to use, and great for the purpose it serves. Definitely check it out and see how you like it. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

Pros

  • Energy Efficient
  • Easy to Use
  • Versatile
  • Great Material Quality

Cons

  • Slightly Expensive

Best Uninterruptible Power Supply Buyer’s Guide

APC UPS Battery Backup & Surge Protector with USB Charger, 600VA Uninterruptible Power Supply (BE600M1)

In case you couldn’t tell, the main function of an uninterruptible power supply is to help your computer work properly during a blackout.

This is important since when a computer suddenly shuts down, several bad things can happen. Such as an unnecessary amount of damage to the hardware, which is the main reason why computers fail. It also damages data in a few different ways.

Basically, at any given moment, you could lose all of your work or lose your entire computer because of one blackout.

To further this, we’re going to go over UPS and power conditioners, voltage rating, performance, connections, noise, batteries, and other information surrounding the subject.

UPS vs POWER Conditioners

The main difference between a UPS and power conditioner is their functionality.

A UPS is something that has a backup battery that provides a certain amount of time for a computer during a blackout.

Meanwhile, a power conditioner is something that distributes power to different types of gear.

Both products can offer a ton of different options, but the main difference is that a UPS has a battery and a power conditioner doesn’t.

Definitely check out the advantages of each product to see which you’d prefer.

Voltage Rating/Run-Time

No matter how the UPS is designed, the output is determined from a volt amp rating (VA).

In most circumstances, the higher the VA number means a longer run-time. Allowing you have more time with your computer during a power outage.

In simple terms, choose the UPS with the highest VA system. However, keep in mind what your budget is and don’t let this be the main determining factor.

There are a plethora of factors that go into the run-time, but the VA is what you should look into if you want the highest run-time possible. Just remember to keep this in mind.



APC UPS, 1500VA UPS Battery Backup & Surge Protector with AVR, Back-UPS Pro Uninterruptible Power Supply (BX1500M)

Performance

Modern UPS products offer a ton of details surrounding their performance. Meaning that you’re able to discover problems instantly. Saving you the fear of realizing there was an issue when it’s too late.

Older UPS products didn’t offer this solution, which caused a major flaw among them. However, this isn’t as begin of an issue now because of the more modern UPS systems.

In simple terms, make sure you always double-check on how your UPS is performing. Otherwise, you may run into an issue later on.

Connections

Most UPS systems have around five to eight outlets. However, some of these are connected to the battery for backup power. So keep that in mind if the outlets are a deciding factor for you.

Keep in mind the importance of the connection for UPS systems. Without a proper connection, the system won’t work properly. Always make sure your connection will work to its full potential.

AmazonBasics Standby UPS 400VA 255W Surge Protector Battery Backup, 6 Outlets

Noise

This obviously depends on your rig, but the UPS may cause noise that might sound concerning.

For a general rule, small UPS systems don’t require a fan, whereas large ones do. Meaning that the larger ones are more likely to generate more noise.

If you need absolute silence then remember to keep this mind. Always double check if the UPS system has a fan or not.

It’s important to note the overall noise of the system to fully encompass how noisy it’ll be for you.

Batteries

Since there are batteries in UPS systems, they need to be replaced. However, the bright side is that a lot of batteries in UPS systems usually last around three-plus years.

Once that time is up, you can either replace the battery or buy an entirely new UPS system. The option is completely up to you.

Keep in mind that changing the battery is a lot more affordable than replacing an entire unit.

However, a lot of the cheaper units don’t allow this feature. Meaning you’ll have to buy a new UPS anyways.

Other Information

As noted, there are a ton of UPS brands out there. In this article, we talked about CyberPower and APC which are two of the most popular brands for this subject.

Besides the information listed, always check out the warranty behind each project.



“Q & A’s”

Tripp Lite 1500VA 900W UPS Battery Back Up, AVR, LCD Display, Line-Interactive, 10 Outlets, 120V, USB, Tel & Coax Protection, 3 Year Warranty & $250,000 Insurance (SMART1500LCDT)

As noted, we’re going to go over some common questions related to uninterruptible power supplies. Down below are a few common questions surrounding the subject and short answers to all of them.

“What UPS is best for home use?”

Determining what UPS is best for you all depends on what you need it for. For home use, the UPS depends on the type of rig you’ll need it for.

Playing factors such as harmonic distortion, frequency variation, line noise, over-voltage, under-voltage, brownout, blackout, and surge behind it.

Basically, you need a UPS that is large enough to support all of the equipment plugged into it. You’ll need to look into the UPS capacity to figure how which one is best for you.

In simple terms, get something larger than what you need. Don’t go crazy with it, but enough to get the job it.

“Can a UPS power a tv?”

A UPS can’t technically power a tv 24/7 without electricity. However, just like a computer rig, a UPS can keep a tv running in the event of a blackout.

All you have to do is plug it into the wall and connect it to the tv. Just like a computer rig, the battery will charge the tv during a blackout.

Not just a tv or computer too. Any sort of tv, light, or electricity piece of equipment can be used for it.

“How do I choose a UPS capacity?”

As noted, in order to find the exact UPS capacity you need, you’re going to need to calculate the load of your rig.
A load is a combination of power from each of the equipment. Essentially the added sum of how much power you’ll need.

To fully determine this number, make a complete list of the equipment involved with the UPS. Add the total watts of each piece of equipment. Make a note of this total number to figure out what the UPS needs to support.

In simple terms, just determine the amount of power you need for everything and use that as a minimum base for what you need.

“How much should I spend on a UPS?”

As noted, the amount you should spend depends on how big of a system you need. If you need something nice and simple then don’t worry too much about it.

However, keep in mind that the cheaper the UPS is, the higher the maintenance will be for it over time. Meaning you’re going waste more money than you originally would with buying a more expensive UPS.

Now if you have a rig that requires a lot of power, then don’t cheap out on a UPS. You want something that’s more than enough for your rig.

Besides that, you should always consider a UPS for your rig. It’s something that might not seem like a necessity, but in reality, it can save you a lot of trouble in the future.

When it comes to a UPS, don’t underspend on it, however, don’t spend your entire budget on it. Otherwise, you might waste money on something that isn’t as important as other factors of your rig.

“How much power does UPS use?”

Most desktops have a power usage around 80 and 250 watts of active use. These numbers are some of the minimum statistics you might find on a UPS.

In reality, you can find a UPS system that is more than ten times as much as these. Some people have insane rigs that require a lot of power.

With a lot of power comes giant UPS systems that need to provide enough total UPS.

As noted, the overall power of your UPS depends on what you need it for. Always keep these factors in mind when you determine everything.

HERE IS A ARTICLE YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT  Neumann TLM 103 Condensor Microphone Review


Conclusion

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. Hopefully, you were able to determine what UPS system is best for you. Allowing you to fully understand the information behind the product.

To go over everything, we went over five UPS systems that we recommend. All of which were made from either CyberPower or APC. Two of the highest quality brands.

After that, we discussed a buyer’s guide to this subject. Starting with UPS and power conditioners. Going over their differences and similarities.

Next, we went over voltage ratings, run-time, performance, connections, noise, batteries, and other information surrounding the subject.

After that, we discussed common questions regarding the subject. Such as UPS capacity, how much you should spend on a UPS, and what it can power.

Without repeating it too much, you’ll a UPS system to prevent something horrible from happening. If you work on a computer in a studio and all of sudden everything gets shut down, you’re going to need a proper UPS so you can save everything.

In conclusion, you should be more comfortable with deciding what UPS is best for you. Taking in all of the factors behind it. Leaving you less frustrated behind a subject like this.

About the Author

Michael-B
Michael-B

Michael-B is a Music Producer, Musician, and Formally Trained (and was Certified by the Recording Institute of Detroit in 1986) Recording Engineer. As of to date, He's built 3 home recording studios go back to 1987, where he wrote, played all the instruments, and recorded his music. Michael B is also a Writer, Chief Editor and SEO of TrackinSolo.com