I just recently conducted the very same experiment. I unplugged my Hegel H590 integrate amp from my Audioquest Niagara 3000 and plugged it directly into the wall socket outlet. I wanted to find out for myself and I went back and forth just enough times to make a determination on what sounded better, overall. Plugging my amp into my power conditioner was the winner for overall better sound for my system. However, this was not always the case when I conducted this same comparison in the past. In most cases, direct into the wall sounded better, depending on what conditioner I was using at the time. I purchased the Audioquest Niagara 3000 conditioner specifically because of it's ability to not constrain an amps power and it appears to be extremely effective in not doing so.
Should I bypass my Shunyata Hydra power conditioner?
I live in an apartment building,so I thought a power conditioner would be benificial.I'm running my Shunyata Hydra HC power cord through a Shunyata power conditioner.O.K. ,sounds pretty good. Recently bypassed the conditioner,and pluged straight into the amp ( Hegel H20 ) The music seems to sound better,especially the bass. Still using the conditioner for the DAC, and the CD player. Looking for feedback on this.