Power furniture — SOtM mT-1000

The SOtM mT-1000 is a six-outlet AC power distributor from SOtM, the digital audio company based in Cheonan, Korea, and it sits in the Advanced II group of the SOtM range next to the sMS-200ultra streamer and the sPS-500 power supply. SOtM developed it for high-end audio devices and sells it in US, EU and UK outlet versions. Instead of inserting filter components in series with the mains, the mT-1000 places a specially shaped filter block around the power line, a passive component SOtM designed specifically for audio power lines.

Key specs that matter

Mains enters through an IEC C14 inlet rated 15A/250VAC at 60Hz under UL/CSA and 10A/250VAC at 50Hz under IEC. Internal wiring is 8 AWG stranded copper with a 200 A rating. The six outlets carry IP54 protection against dust and splashed water, and the ratings depend on the version - 16A/250VAC for Schuko, 15A/125VAC for the USA and Canada type, 13A/250VAC for the British type, with other outlet types available on request. The aluminium housing measures 106 x 75 x 526 mm and weighs 1.7 kg. The unit is specified for operation and storage between 0 and 60 degrees C at 10 to 90 percent humidity.

Engineering and use context

Because the filter block surrounds the conductors rather than interrupting them, nothing is added in the middle of the current path between inlet and outlets. SOtM points out that this technique is rarely found in power strips. The case sits on small adjustable spiked feet, which the company specifies to minimise vibration and to prevent long-term abrasion of the surface underneath. The box contains the unit and the operating instructions, so the mains cable is bought separately, and SOtM gives one year of free warranty service against design or production defects. The manual sets out a simple connection order - switch off every component, plug them into the outlets, then connect the mains cable to the mT-1000 inlet last and power the components up in the sequence each one requires.

Pairing

The supply cable needs an IEC C13 plug to mate with the inlet, so any standard detachable mains lead fits. Outlets are numbered from left to right, and SOtM advises putting the most demanding load, such as a power amplifier, on outlet 1 at the left end. The long, narrow aluminium body is intended to complete a digital playback setup, so a streamer, a network switch, a USB regenerator and their external power supplies can all be fed from one point, with the remaining sockets left for a DAC or an amplifier.

Alternatives

For a different approach to clean power, SOtM offers the sPS-550, a power supply with multiple output voltages that can run several audio and computer audio devices from a single unit.