When using a power conditioner, why is it advised to run amps directly to the wall?

PS - Worth checking your conditioner's voltage display with a reliable meter.  While I trust them to be relatively accurate, in absolute terms I've seen them be 2-3V off.   This is not usually a problem unless you are seeing values at the edges of the range and are not sure if the voltage is still OK.  

@devinplombier 

The P300 you mentioned, like the current PS Audio Power Plants, are able to recreate sinewaves that can better the output signal from your AC outlet. Harmonic distortion be damned!

The "regenerators" of PS Audio simply recreate what you already have. And if you have voltage that fluctuates, all one needs is a voltage regulator.

So it really seems like overkill to me and while it has been some time (1999); a P300 sold for less than $1K back then. The cheapest PS Audio Power Plant is now $3,000. Unless you are renting (Think NYC), you are far better off installing a 20 AMP dedicated line and 20 AMP circuit breaker and purchasing a passive conditioner (voltage regulator with surge protection) if you feel the need. All of that should be substantially lower than $3K. 

While 25 years may explain a large price increase, what PS Audio did was insert "regenerators" into their conditioner lineup to fill the lower price voids. Capitalism at it's finest! You would have to explain to me how one of their regenerators is better than a $500 Furman voltage regulator. 

As @ditusa pointed out, headroom for transients is part of your home infrastructure (dedicated line; 20 Amp circuit breaker), something that a regenerator - or anything that simply duplicates what you already have - is not going to improve upon.

I based on readings here, I plugged my Allnic power amp into the wall instead of my longstanding PS Audio P10 power regenerator. The enhancement in sound quality was immediately noted. It replicated the experience of zlone reported in the Forum.

@erik_squires 

Thank you for the clarification.

I did look up the definition of "regenerator" and this is what I got:

re·​gen·​er·​a·​tor ri-ˈje-nə-ˌrā-tər 

1: one that regenerates

So you were spot on! lol (did you cheat?)

The stable AC voltage is what you can get on the cheap - as you propose! The rest is debatable as all things but I feel these products are blurring the lines between bluster and value. In other words, these regenerator products have hefty margins. 

My voltage rarely moves. Have seen it at 119 & 122 but generally constant 120. When they built our home in a large horseshoe fashion here in PA, PECO added a new plant just for the 150 homes that were constructed in 2012. Last year, all the homes across the street from our development went dark for 48 hours during a storm. Nobody on this side of the street was harmed.

I remember similar situations that I had when I had DSL back in the 1990's. Your speeds depended on how far away you were from the Central Station. Electric, data, it's all about the infrastructure that surrounds you and it just seems PS Audio is not really looking to inform buyers about that fact. 

Thanks for sharing your knowledge, Erik. While I designed and built my basement listening room/bar I neglected to put in dedicated lines because I just did not know any better then. I don't know that I will fix anything by doing it, but do believe that 20 AMP lines make a difference as I had my nephew do it for his basement and his entry-level electronics sound clear and concise, even at volumes where they should not.

@audphile1 Wrote:

 Properly designed amplifiers with good power supplies don’t need power conditioning. Just isolate your digital from the amp using two dedicated circuits and you are good to go. 

I agree! The quote from Vinnie Rossi audio in my post above says it best.

I have four dedicated branch circuits for audio only. One for each mono amp, one for analog and one for digital. All four dedicated circuits consist of 10 AWG MC galvanized steel metal clad armor cable with solid copper conductors, insulated ground and galvanized steel electrical boxes. MC galvanized steel cable provides better shielding then 10AWG Romex. All four dedicated branch circuits are on Line 1 at the electrical service panel. Also, the service entrance cable from the utility pole to the house electrical panel is 200 Amp solid copper. All audio equipment is pugged directly into Hubble wall receptacles #5362W 20 Amp see here. 

FWIW, total cost for four dedicated branch circuits for audio only $1000.

Mike