Should Amps be plugged into a power conditioner?

It depends… it depends on the “conditioner” it depends on real world needs. I live in Colorado where lightning is very real, even in winter at times… (thunder snow) all of my gear is plugged into some sort of protected system. The big stuff a Shinyata Hydra AV and the rest into a Furman unit. Unlike @erik_squires  I don’t particularly enjoy cooked electronics! ;-)

I’ve done direct wall to power box comparisons and find zero SQ difference between the two. In a perfect world I create a dedicated circuit with whole house protection. That is on the list of things to do this summer. Even then though, I’d probably still use the Shunyata just to have the backup.

Hey @geof3 - I’ve researched and written on the subject of whole-house vs. point of use surge protectors.

TL;DR - Keep your point of use protectors even after getting a whole house unit, the main reason is the high (~ 600V) let-through voltages most whole house units have. Whole house makers and the NEC do not recommend substituting the whole house units for surge protectors for sensitive electronics, but in fact recommend you use both.

Whole house units are recommended in large part to protect things that can’t be protected otherwise like fire alarms, house automation, GFCI outlets, and major appliances but also the internal house wiring.

Living in South Carolina I have lost 1 laptop I left charging overnight without a surge strip. 

I wouldn't put a conditioner in front of my amps.

Though I do have dedicated lines, as well as a whole house surge protector at the box, and I own my house, so YMMV.

Bob

Even though I did not find reduced dynamics with my Everest, I just put together a battery inverter system, and the dynamics, energetics and bass control are on a much different level than when the Everest was plugged into the wall. I still plug everything into the Everest, but the Everest is now plugged into the inverter. A major improvement to my system.. everything about the sound presentation has been improved and I didn’t know that it needed improving.

This was a really illuminating discussion.  I have always had a McIntosh power amp (currently a MC 312) plugged into a Furman Elite 15 power conditioner and never thought much about it.  After reading this discussion, I tried plugging the amp into the wall and it does indeed seem much happier -- and as a result, so am I. Thank you everyone who participated in this discussion.  (Now, I just have to keep an eye out for errant thunderstorms like we had in the Northeast last week).