It's very simple. It depends on the amp. You have to try it to determine if it works or not. That's all.
Example:
I had 3 different McCormack amps where the Shunyata Hydra was an improvement.
Now wih my Pass Labs X250.5, Hydra slows the amp down and limits dynamics. It still does work good for source and preamp. But not for the Pass amp. I prefer it directly into the wall. Although I live in NYC and the power is crap, the X250.5 amplifier deals with dirty power without any issues. I can not determine any noise floor that is apparent. If it's there, it is no higher than it is with the amp plugged into hydra.
As far as protection, there is a magnetic breaker/switch on the back of the Pass amp that functions like a fuse. Bottom line is, you need to try a conditioner in your system. Until then, it's a guessing game.
Example:
I had 3 different McCormack amps where the Shunyata Hydra was an improvement.
Now wih my Pass Labs X250.5, Hydra slows the amp down and limits dynamics. It still does work good for source and preamp. But not for the Pass amp. I prefer it directly into the wall. Although I live in NYC and the power is crap, the X250.5 amplifier deals with dirty power without any issues. I can not determine any noise floor that is apparent. If it's there, it is no higher than it is with the amp plugged into hydra.
As far as protection, there is a magnetic breaker/switch on the back of the Pass amp that functions like a fuse. Bottom line is, you need to try a conditioner in your system. Until then, it's a guessing game.