PS Audio vs. Monster - cleaning up the power

I was blown away by the improvement to both audio and video by the addition of a Monster 5000 to my HT system. Perhaps other power conditioners are even better but the Monster meets my needs very nicely and the price on the 5000 is definitely right as it has recently been discontinued but tons of them are still available in dealers' inventories.

will

Try both...you have to decide when the sound is better. Do not plug your amps into the Monster though, they will compress the sound. I even blew my 2500 plugging amps into them.
Unless you have real dirty sounding power, use the UOs and the Juice bars, without all the circuitry these are likely to sound better even on your front end then the Monster.
Good luck!
Tom

If you prefer the monster route, I would take a look at buying a used MIT Z-Center. The monster power conditioners are based on the Z-Center. Z-Centers sold new for 1500, and can be picked up used for 5-600.

I will suggest you buy a used PS Audio PP-600, plug it in one of the outlet of the dedicated 20-amp line, and plug all your front-end audio equipment to the pp-600. I will than plug the power amp to the other outlet of the dedicated 20-amp line. This will give you a regulated power and isolation for the sensitive front-end and a star grounding connection of all your equipment. Star grounding is the key to eliminate ground-loop problem.

The PP-600 will cost you a few hundreds more but the cost/benefit ratio is much higher than UO+Monster. You don't even need the latest PP-600. A used one without powerport should run about $1500 on Audiogon.

Sidssp. What is star grounding? I have two dedicated 20 amp lines with a common ground back to the panel. I already have a Juice Bar and would buy used Monster. Just can't swing the $s for the PP600 right now. For now I'll plug the amp (Musical Fidelity M3 integrated) directly into the wall using a Virtual Dynamics cryoed Audition PC.