power conditioner

Would like to directly answer the question posed at the start of the thread. My opinion is yes, power conditioning is important and no, it does not - or more accurately should not - improve the sound quality.

As I’ve stated elsewhere on this forum power conditioning is more appropriate for piece of mind and general health of the components in that they can be surge protected, under/over voltage protected, regulated (more expensive), etc. If sound is noticeably effected then there is something wrong other than power supply. Any change of sound should be subtle at best.

My system is dead quiet when "idle". I’m using a relatively low cost ($350) approach of dedicated (separate breaker) 20 Amp outlet >>> Emotiva CMX-2 (D/C filter + RFI/EFI/Noise reduction) >>> Panamax MR-4300 (same manufacturer as Furman 95% as good 65% of cost) for RFI/EFI/Noise/Surge/Over/Under protection >>> my entire A/V system.

@falconquest to your point "And it's not like they wear out so your investment can last for many many years" this is true, however, in the case of an actual surge I come to learn (by talking to electronic repair shops, not first hand experience) that the overwhelming majority of conditioner use some kind of MOSFET and those components can only withstand one (1) surge and then they are of no value (i.e. they have sacrificed themselves to save the rest of the gear). Further, and from what I've read and been told, trouble is "small" surges that you may not notice could also do irreparable harm to the MOSFET without the end user even realizing the protection is gone.

One electronics guy told me if one gets a direct lightning strike there is no in-home surge protection device that could withstand that. The voltage could simply arc across whatever stands in its path and literally fry anything "in its way".

Still, I agree its better to use surge protection than not have it at all.

@toolbox149 while it's always best to have dedicated space for components (to which I categorize a power conditioner),if push comes to shove you can place the Furman on top of another component or another component on top of it PROVIDED the component on the bottom has no vents and the component on top fits correctly. 

@ptss I looked at the site and without reading more than 10 minutes or so I'd say at face value their products (they have many models) seem viable.  The technology is toroidal transformer isolation which is already known as being very good. Not sure about the overall value because some models are many thousands and at that point an Audioquest Niagara or similar could be considered. I'm interested to monitor this thread to understand the opinions of those with more knowledge than where the Torus are concerned. 

@toolbox149  

turn on and off even if that means on your hands and knees

@lostbears 

power conditioners are not designed to address hum (if coming from your amps transformer). This is why you need a DC filter.

I recommend - what I use - an Emotiva CMX-2. Besides the fact that it "works", it is inexpensive (less than $100 if you wait for sale which Emotiva runs regularly) and doesn't limit current in any practical sense (i.e. technically it is not 100% passive but is 99, given the meaningful LEDS)

@lostbears okay, I read ya. Curious though because in any case fluorescent lighting can be a cause of DC on the line, and in particular if there are any dimmers involved. Also, it doesn't necessarily matter that any "offending DC item" be on the same breaker. DC and anything connected to the same panel is enough to permeate through your entire house. But if as you say you've isolated the issue to the Furman because you didn't have the problem with the Adcom, question then is does the Adcom provide DC filtering? You probably want to do something about the fluorescent lighting in any case.