Power Strip vs. Line Conditioner

I agree whole-heartedly with Mezmo, it all depends on what your electrical situation is. I live in NYC, too. The first block to ever have electricity is in NYC. Once wiring is in place, there has to be a really good reason to spend the money required to go back and dig it up or rip it out. Much of this city was wired at a time when a couple light bulbs and a radio were the extent of electrical appliances; people had "ice boxes", not refrigerators. Well, those circuits are not loaded down with refrigerators, air conditioners, etc., and the refrigerator in the neighbors' apartment can make your lights dim. Power conditioners are almost a necessity. My building was built in 1937, and has not been rewired since. I grew up in the suburbs where everything was wired in the 1960s, however. Line conditioners there might be considered over-kill.

I see a lot has been said about a wiremold power strip here, but I can't seem to find the WEB site. Can someone please point me in the right direction?

Oops: Found the site and feel stupid now.

Hello, MSW26 (strange name!)

Whether you live in the city or the suburbs or wherever isn't a deciding factor as to whether or not a good power conditioner will make a difference. I live in the suburbs and the impact of power conditioning is tremendous for both audio and video. I don't go for subtle tweaks because it's easy to spend a lot of money and never be certain you REALLY heard a difference. If I install an "improvement", listen to it for a few hours or longer, and don't seriously miss it upon removal, I don't bother with it. A decent power conditioners can easily pass that test. The only way to find out whether your setup will benefit is to try it.

I also use a Monster HTS-2000 conditioner with good results in an apartment in LA. It only improves the sound in my setup. I am considering running a second one in series off of the digital power outlet of the first. I would plug my amp into the first one (in the "amp" outlet) and then run the digital gear from the second conditioner plugged into the appropriate digital outlets. If it does not further improve the sound I still have a use for it with our mini system (that needs a conditioner as well). I am also considering the Vansevers Unlimiter that Sedond is trying out, for the amp in our main system. I am afraid to run the gear (amp) unprotected (straight into the wall) due to the power situation in CA. I have tried zip strips from RS that are supposed to be designed for audio as well as various industrial extension cords and they all screw up the sound in my setup.