Use of Power Conditioners vs. Direct into the Wall


I'm considering the purchase of some quality power cables and maybe a Shunyata Hydra-8. A couple questions:

1. Should my Amps (Parasound Halo JC-1 Mono's) go into the Hydra--or direct into the wall?

2. I have Seven total components (amps, pre, phono etc.). Is it advisable for all of them to go into a single Hydra? I saw a review comment in Absolute Sound that seem to indicate usate of the Hydra-8 for front-end components...and Hydra-2 for the Amps. (Separate Hydra 2's or just one for a pair of mono's?)

Thanks.
128x128earzona
One Hydra 2 for a pair of monos and one HydraX (however many outlets you need up to eight) for the front end.
You should first determine how many dedicated lines you have available for your system prior to considering distribution. If you have a second, separate line (dedicated circuit breaker) you should separate the amplifier from the rest of the electronics on that line. Amplifiers and low-current, noise sensitive electronics -- always-- benefit from being isolated from one another, even more than isolating analog from digital.

If you do not yet have separate AC lines you should strongly consider adding a second line for amplification prior to adding distribution. Putting in a dedicated circuit/s for amps will usually be a relatively inexpensive but extremely worthwhile upgrade. Make sure the AC wire from each dedicated outlet running to the AC panel is exactly equal in distance to the others so you do not introduce ground-loop hum.

Once that is settled, you should first compare and choose distribution for your line and source electronics. Keeping the amp on its own AC line, try it with/without its own distribution to determine which works best. In most cases, the difference will be obvious whether for better or not straight away.

Regards,

Grant Samuelsen
Shunyata Research
Earzona - I use Furman Elite 20PF. I don't know how it compares to Hydra but it has three separate banks of 4 outputs each: High Current for power amps, Audio, Video. Each of banks has separate appropriate filters.
I have a Panamax similar (apparently) to the Furman above. It has, in addition, an isolation transformer of 400va, which is used for all low current / digital stuff.

Amps? They have there own circuit and PSAudio Soloist outlet.

I can turn my stereo up all the way with no input and it is dead quiet.
My experience is Ive only seen improvements using power conditioners when the speakers were inefficient. Otherwise useless to me.