Least Expensive Power Conditioner/Surge Protector That Won't Worsen Sound

Ah yes, as erik mentions above . . . I still rigidly decouple the entire deal from energized during lightning storms.  But my power issues were interstingly enough not to do with electrical storms so much as reductions in power followed by surges.  That Audioquest seems to handle them in that no damage.  That didn't happen when I first moved into this place with no protection and I had a $$ Plinius repair bill to deal with.

+1 on Chang Lightspeed

Brick wall out of PA for $300, matched several-line conditioners in the $1500 

range andSterphile used to have it in class-B  which is respectable ,I bought 2 and find them pretty effective ,I upgraded mine by upgrading  several internal capacitors 

and installed a Furutech power cord to make it better still , most everything can be bettered if you look inside it ,whst most Audiophiles don’t realize is Thst on average 25% of the-cost goes into the build ,the rest R&D  overhead,and dealer mark up.

If they are doing it right, parts are marked up 5 times in manufacturing. The other costs you mentioned should be marked up 3 times, including labor. Then, that price is doubled twice before the point of purchase. The margins in audio are what makes it all go round. 

I avoid using the AQ Niagra high current outputs and now plug my amps directly into the wall socket- Proves to be sonically inferior through the AQ Niagra

To me this unit was a total waste of money .