The best power conditioner for less than $1K?

Sorry, but I don't agree with the above posts, due to my own experience.
Your electricity NEEDS TO BE CLEAN...(crap in = crap out)
First I would suggest a dedicated line WITH it's own grounding rod. (cheap AND effective) If you already have this, or can't due to living in an apartment, THEN I would suggest a P-300 with MWII. The MWII removed glare from my system that I did not realize I even had. (at first I had MWI) Plug all front end equipment into the P-300. Amps direct to the wall.
Another item that will help the ENTIRE system is a Quantum Symphony Pro emf stabilizer. This unit works so well that I have two.
People have stated that my all solid-state system "sounds like tubes".
Hope this helps.

I agree with Tweakmenow. Everybody has dirty AC to one bad degree or another. Installing PROPER line conditioning is absolutely foundational to any system.

In fact, once you've become accustomed to listening with excellent line conditioners you soon find out just how difficult it is to listen to any system for more than 5 or 10 minutes without proper line conditioning.

Moreover, with proper line conditioning, you also discover just how much sonic harm some line conditioners induce in your system. Not to mention that without proper line conditioning you will never know your component's and system's true capabilities with this foundational piece missing.

With that said, I've been using the Foundation Research passive and dedicated and bi-directional filtering line conditioners for the last 5 years. Late last year I became a dealer and in so doing, I also became a dealer for the top flight Foundation Research product line.

-IMO

I have been using the PS Audio Power Plants P600 and P1200 for the past 3-4 years and don't like my audio or video as well without them. The room treatment is very important first though to balance everything out and the power plants are icing on the cake. Remember that some conditioners actually restrict components and protect very little. If you want some good Q&A on power issues, log onto www.psaudio.com and check out their approach.

I would still want my electric to be as good as I could achieve before I started with room treatments. I would put your source on a dedicated line with an Audio Magic Mini Digital and listen. I have used the Hydra, but prefer the AM line. Sound Application, even used, is out of your budget. Room treatments? Maybe, but I would prefer to have electric nirvana before I started going that route...IMHO...