Do I need upgraded power cables?

Puritan Labs PS 106 is reasonably priced power conditioner/surge protector, $1300.  Yes, I run one on a smaller system.  Patrick Cullen power cords are price/performance terrific.  Yes, I run those in the same smaller system.

Balance need be struck considering your system.  Nothing outrageous in price.  Enjoy the ride and results.  Cheers

 Maybe my components aren't audiophile enough to justify purchasing upgraded power cords. 

You won't know until you try it. Do you buy from dealers, or used? 

If you have a relationship with a good dealer see if you can borrow a good demo ($1000+) high current capable power cord from them, put it on your amp, plug it directly into the wall and see what difference there is. 

If you hear a difference you will have to decide whether that is worth the asking price, and that will answer your question "Do I need upgraded power cables". 

People knowledgeable about electricity will tell you a power cable is a power cable and won't make any difference. People that are members of the church of audiophilia will tell you the differences "aren't subtle" (a favourite). 

There are times though (especially in dense musical passages) that the sound is stage is a blur - as if of all the instruments are coming from the same place.

A good power conditioner can sometimes help individual images pop by reducing noise.  Here’s an EQUI=CORE 1000 if still available you could probably get for $600 I’d think. 
https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650092255-core-power-tech-equicore-1000/

Also, how are your speakers positioned relative to the back and side walls, how far apart, how much toe in?  Speaker positioning can also be a big factor in improving imaging and soundstage.

If you are asking the question, the answer is no. 

Audioquest’s thunder cable improved my sound. Use it on the integrated. Seems background more quiet, better dynamics. Idk, Maybe I’m imagining it. I also swear by cableworld’s Electra 7 on a preamp. Using audioquest’s Niagara 1200 pwr cond and Edison receptacle. A AQ z3 PC from Pwr cond to Edison, 20 amp dedicated. Do what you want, have fun.

So great questions! I will start by saying “everything makes a difference or nothing makes a difference.”

The question for you is, it worth the money in the end? Again, already stated above, you will have to decide and make sure you have a return option.

So for me in my system the upgrade from the very same Panamax to a Audioquest Niagra 1200 was not subtle! you are correct the Panamax is basically surge protection, no noise filtering or suppression.  After that I proceeded to change out the power cable  to the Niagra, then to the amp. The next would be your digital power and or pre amp. A great way to do this is using the lending library at The Cable Company!  Call Steve, tell him what you have and pay to loan them out for two weeks. If you can’t tell any difference, return them and you had a nice forced listening session, if you did hear a difference you buy new or demo and apply your loan fee toward the purchase. A win win for very little money.

I will leave you with this, sea salt tastes different than mineral salt, and pink salt tastes different still!  They are all salt!

You ask good questions. Your system seems pretty well balanced.

Looking over your system. I think the biggest bang for your buck would be a good quality power conditioner... I recommend Shunyata or Isotec. It has the advantage of improving much of your system. If you plan on upgrading your system, then getting a good one will provide benefits far into the future. Since modest audio components basically scrimp on power conditioning in the component, external power conditioning can do a lot. Audiophile products like CDs, DAC, preamps tend to weight 30 + pounds... mostly from internal power conversion and conditioning... so that is one of the aspects not fully addressed in modest equipment.

Your integrated should be plugged directly into the wall. All power conditioners limit the amp. So, you are likely to get a notable improvement with a good quality power cord.

If long term you want a much better system, then the question of when to stop doing little tweaks and upgrade components. You don’t want to put too much into cords and wires when you could upgrade a component.

Having said that, if you want to upgrade your system sooner vs later... I would recommend a power conditioner now... then stop and save up for... a better preamp... which you would plug into the power conditioner and only use the amp portion of your integrated. Then as money permits upgrade other components.

If you simply want to get the very best performance out of what you have, then power conditioner and power cords. I found inexpensive ~<$200-300 are not generally worth it. Try used... used cables dot com. The integrated will get a pretty good boost from a good high amp cord. sThe rest of your equipment... not sure. You may have to try it to find out. 

Sorry, lets talk cables. Honestly always like to encourage first timers to consider making their own using high quality shielded cables from Parts Connexion.

In an area of heavy use of network and Wifi I like to make sure any cables I build are shielded to reduce the chance of noise coming in, especially after it’s already been cleaned up by a power conditioner.  If you build one and hear no difference at all, or hear a great difference you will have learned a great deal without spending too much green.

Hi OP,

Panamax and Furman are owned by the same company, and while some features have transferred some have not, and the mix of features per model is maddeningly complicated.

Key features for noise reduction are LiFT and the other is SMP.  Lift is linear filtering and SMP is series mode surge protection.  The latter also happens to work much better for noise reduction due to a variety of technical issues.  Panamax still lists Linear Filtering as a key compnent of some of their models.

Another feature I am fond of is voltage regulation.  Panamax and Furman both have some models with this features.  I believe, but am not 100% sure that the better value among these features is either this one (15A) or this one (20A) but they lack some consumer features like switched outlets.

I _think_ Panamax at one point had a series mode protection model but if so I can no longer find it.

For noise and surge related issues I don't plug any equipment into the wall without them.  Warranty's be damned, I'd rather prevent a surge than file a claim.

Thanks so much for all of your comments. In response to your questions:
“What and why do you want to change?” Most of the time I'm pleased with the sound of my equipment. The sound stage is wide enough. Voice and instruments are detailed and separated enough. But could it be just a little bit better with the proper tweak? There are times though (especially in dense musical passages) that the sound is stage is a blur - as if of all the instruments are coming from the same place. But maybe this complaint should be directed at the recording not the equipment. Anyway, I hope I answered the question sufficiently. 

“1) do you like your current SQ? 2): are all current power cables original? 3) does the wall outlet have significant IR drop, dimming light etc. when high current load is applied? vacuum cleaner turned on etc.” 
I do like the sound quality of my system. All of the power cables are original. I don't notice any IR drop.

Thanks soix for the recommendations but the Equi=1000 is out of my price range. I liked the Equi=Core 600 but I need 5 outlets. You mentioned Pine Tree Audio - what do you think of their Iso-Power 15A Power Filter?

And thanks to soix and jl35 for pointing a finger at the Panamax.

Again, thanks to all of you

You have a nice system and good cables.  What and why do you want to change?

The Panamax certainly isn’t doing you any favors. I’d replace that first with a good conditioner as that would benefit all your components at once and then address individual power cords when you can after that. The EQUI=CORE 1000 offers balanced power at an attractive price and worth a look.

https://www.underwoodhifi.com/products/equicore

Both Ice Age Audio and Pine Tree Audio offer high value power cables if you want to explore those. Hope this helps, and best of luck.

@bzawa I would love to help you if you’d tell: 1) do you like your current SQ? 2): are all current power cables original? 3) does the wall outlet have significant IR drop, dimming light etc. when high current load is applied? vacuum cleaner turned on etc. 

I felt my Panamax degraded sound quality, as do many power conditioners./surge protectors...I do like the results of my Cerious power cords (all 3 levels) in a wide range of systems...yes much debate, argument, and endless threads on this topic, many of which end up quite nasty...

You will find members split on this question.  Many believing power cables add to the sound and soundstage, while others will say it's all confirmation bias and PCs do nothing but move current from point A to B.  Only your personal experience matters, so buy one that can be returned and see if it makes a difference on your system.  Cheers.