IMHO I believe that starting with a line conditioner is paramount even one as simple as the monster HTS 5100. If you believe that jamming an expensive cord into a wall outlet improves the quality then by all means go right ahead and do so. Just remember that a chain is as strong as it's weakest link.
Example:
If a 1/2" water pipe represents your AC outlet.
Now if a 3/4" pipe represents your aftermarket power cord, by connecting the 3/4 pipe to the 1/2 will only yeild the water of 1/2 pipe. It's smaller pipe and that's where the source comes from. Further more it's still the same quality water.
What you want to do is filter the source first just like you would filter water. That's what a line conditioner does. It filters the AC current coming out of the wall outlet.
So IMHO spend the extra $$ on a line conditioner first. Then if you want to try different cords from the conditioner to your equiptment it may make a differance.
Cheers
Example:
If a 1/2" water pipe represents your AC outlet.
Now if a 3/4" pipe represents your aftermarket power cord, by connecting the 3/4 pipe to the 1/2 will only yeild the water of 1/2 pipe. It's smaller pipe and that's where the source comes from. Further more it's still the same quality water.
What you want to do is filter the source first just like you would filter water. That's what a line conditioner does. It filters the AC current coming out of the wall outlet.
So IMHO spend the extra $$ on a line conditioner first. Then if you want to try different cords from the conditioner to your equiptment it may make a differance.
Cheers