@rareace,
I agree with @dvdboulet on the power conditioner. While I do not have much experience with power conditioners (Brickwall was the only other one before this), I can say with confidence that this product literally transformed my listening experience. Why it works the way it works - I do not know. But it does and it mesmerizes me. Based on that experience alone I went ahead and decided to get the LS-2404 bi-wire speaker cables (Bob was insisting LS-1204, which are cheaper). "I am satisfied with these new cables", would be an understatement. You can read my mini review of that on this forum where I have detailed my experience about these cables.
But I would say, even the speaker cables beat my existing cables and I think that difference would have been evident even without the power conditioner. My plan is to get the ICs to replace my existing ones. You can say, the Inakustik products (Referenz series) have gained my faith.