I am in the power conditioner use camp. I use prof audio grade Furman power factor correcting conditioners (PF Pro R) that have built in capacitance to aid in current surge demands form the equipment, particularly the power amps. I have one condiitoner for the power amps and one for the low level circuitry. Using both of these has always sounded better that straight from the wall.
I too am also concerned about RF and line surges. My solid state power amps are too expensive to have them damaged by power line crap (an advantage for tubes I guess). It only takes a few micoseconds to destroy most semiconductors.
I did have a Furman line conditioner (AR-12 II) that my CD deck (Cambridge Audio 840) did not like at all. I got noticable distortion in one channel that was removed when I changed conditioners. But this conditioner was a line voltage control device that used a multi-tapped transformer to keep output AC voltage at 120 V.
I too am also concerned about RF and line surges. My solid state power amps are too expensive to have them damaged by power line crap (an advantage for tubes I guess). It only takes a few micoseconds to destroy most semiconductors.
I did have a Furman line conditioner (AR-12 II) that my CD deck (Cambridge Audio 840) did not like at all. I got noticable distortion in one channel that was removed when I changed conditioners. But this conditioner was a line voltage control device that used a multi-tapped transformer to keep output AC voltage at 120 V.