Marakanetz: I tried a couple of RS power strip/surge protectors and they sounded really bad (I now use them on the TV's).
For $100-$130 you can buy a Monster HTS-2000 conditioner (used or new/discounted) for the source gear and you might like the sound enough to keep it for the long haul.
Some complain that the HTS-2000 reduces the dynamic impact of power amps, but I do not find this to be the case with any of my gear (now that I use a separate HTS-2000 for power amps only - see my listed system). When you plug everything (including amps) into a single unit (they have 12 outlets) then it will soften the sound of transients a bit, this I have noticed.
Each unit has two special outlets/plugs for amps, that according to Monster do not limit current flow. There are also "medium" filtered outlets for preamps, and such, and additional "heavily" filtered outlets for source gear. I now use the outlets as recommended after experimenting with various mix/matches.
I have read that the less expensive HTS-1000 is the same design as the HTS-2000, but have never felt like popping the $80, or so (discounted) to find out if it "sounds" the same. I think that Garfish has both models (was that you Garfish?), but he had not done an A/B comparison the last time I asked (maybe a year ago). The HTS-2000, specifically, was designed by an EE who no longer works for Monster (read that he went to MIT afterwards) which could partly explain why this particular model may be sonically different from others in the line.
A friend recently borrowed one of my HTS-2000's and discovered that it sounded much better/clearer than his HTS/2500 in their two channel system (the HTS-2500 is now doing HT duty and I let him keep the HTS-2000 - found another one @ a local thrift shop for $5 during the interum:-).
The only thing odd that I have noticed is that the two that I use sound better when they are run from the same dual wall outlet. I have another outlet on the same line with the same upgraded P&S plug, but it just sounds better/quieter when I use the same outlet for both of the conditioners (either one outlet or the other). This doesn't make any sense to me as either way they should be sharing a common ground, but the added noise of separating them is quite audible when I place the CD player on pause with the volume up, the added noise, though slight, also effects the way the music sounds.
Anyway, this may be a cheap alternative and some feedback on the less expensive HTS-1000 (compared to the 2000) would also be nice.
PS: Though it voids the equipment warranty that Monster offers there is also the option of upgrading the plugs in the Monster units. Blake @ this site (forget his moniker right now) has had good results doing this with his conditioner (not a Monster) and this makes perfect sense. I actually have two new outlets to try out in this application (Blake sent me an Arrow-Hart and Bruce/Brulee sent me a Hubbel - thanks again guys), but I have not gotten around to doing the upgrade yet. Kind of interesting to use different outlets in the same unit as the A-H's are said to be very smooth (perhaps for digital) and the Hubbels are said to be more detailed (might be nice with my SET amps or the TT).
