Power Conditioning on the Cheap

There are two transformers in a Puritan PSM-152 to allow free flowing amperes.
Fused circuit protection, banks of capacitors to remove DC effectively.
Two stage individual shunting inductors that shunt high frequency hash from both the active and neutral to ground, individually on each outlet. While leaving the sinusoidal waveform intact and without impeding current flow.

A highly regarded device, discussed many times in Agon and the one I decided to drop the money on.


 

If you monitor the voltage coming in from your distribution panel, you can determine if you have line sags or over voltage.   The range allowed for your line voltage is quite large, so any changes will readily show up on a voltmeter.   What you can't see are short term voltage spikes or HF noise - most DMMs are not fast enough to catch them.

You don’t know what you don’t know… until you do.

I think he is saying you cannot fix a non existent problem @carlsbad  

@elliottbnewcombjr Are you saying you can identify a problem by looking at voltage?  If so, please explain how.

 

You cannot improve a lack of a problem, and most people, myself included, do not have a problem.

Thus it's about confidence.

dedicated circuit is good, isolate refrigerator, ac compressors, anything else

I bought a Furman P-1800, here's an open box listing

 

It's the capacitors that are sending the juice, and you don't need to over-do it, only part of your system is on at any one time. you could theoretically fill the capacitors with filthy power, they send the same out. your quality equipment has transformers, capacitors, ... 

take a look at the diameter of the wire in the fuse before you buy power cords larger than garden hoses. the furman monitors/shows incoming voltage, if you had a real problem, temp or permanent, it would be easily revealed. I use it as a power center, 1 switch for all equipment, the preamp and amp power switch's will stay in on position. walk away for 20 minutes. then turn on selected source equipment via it's switch. they still get powered via the Furman.

@jayctoy The wisdom power ES seems as close to plugging directly into the wall as you can get. It is wired almost exactly like I wired my my wall boxes (except I consider cryo as snakeoil). It doesn’t surprise me that it sounds better than the old PS300 because many power conditioners do more harm than good. --Jerry

Puritan PSM 136.

My PS300 is a very good power generator, but it’s old and still running, Finally I have to give it rest, and I also want to save electricity, I decided to buy Wisdom power ES, did not expect anything, To my surprise it surpass my PS300. It’s so quiet and very natural sounding.Its excellent. You can call Jim the owner , he can give you more info, he knows what he is doing.

I have an older Shunyata Hydra 6 (probably about 10 years old) and my experience has been very positive. There has been no degradation of sound whatsoever, to include the preamp and amp being plugged into it, and it has performed flawlessly preventing any surge damage.  The sound overall is much more dynamic and open as well.

I tried an expensive PS Audio power regenerator and it had no discernible effect, whatsoever. The dealer who'd brought it over agreed. 

Given your stated  budget limitations, you could buy something from a vendor that offers returns and try it out for yourself for a month.

FYI: Audio Advisor carries Furman. 

the old Shunyata Venum blocks I disassembled contained metal oxide varistors, which I and another poster have found to squash dynamics, particularly with amplifiers. I am not sure if the current models continue to utilise them, but it‘s definitely something I would look into

despite claims of elaborate filtration all they contained was a varistor and a capacitor

I'd go with the Shunyata combo if you need the extra outlets, if not just the Defender. I've added Defenders in 2 systems even beyond my power conditioners and realized additional SQ benefits.

While a dedicated power line is always beneficial, getting a basic AC filter is simpler.

I suggest you opt for a low-cost, pro Furman device like this one (or similar) and take it from there. You will most certainly hear an improvement.

I second @mitch2 opinion. It’s always better to start on solid, proven ground. Later on, you can add a conditioner. The better your power, the less hard the conditioner has to work to clean it. You should start here. Good luck. 

For the money, you may consider dedicated power lines to your listening area if that is possible for your situation.