Amp Power Conditioner or not?

i have been through this too and it can be very frustrating. there is so much rhetoric on these forums and the audiophile press that can convince anyone that these products have no ill effects. you get them in your home and there is usually a wow factor right off but after a few days or maybe even weeks you notice something is not right, maybe it's dark, highs rolled off, bass is tubby, a metallic edge...just something sounds weird...then you read about the latest greatest...same story...

i have found one device i really love but hard to call it a power conditioner, more of a power bar with a potting mix that is supposed to work some magic. the acoustic revive rtp ultimate is the only power device i have found that does what it says it does. interestingly enough, it is probably the one that sounds the craziest if you read about it. pretty amazing product, sort of like the power conditioner for audiophiles who have given up on power conditioners. i have one for my front end and i just ordered one for my amp. i like it so much i ordered their power cable to try too. they drive me nuts too but thats another post...

there is no doubt that our systems cause havoc on the lines which already have issues when we plug in. it just comes down to how you want to balance the fixes and the problems.

A good way to test your system/power is to play at it 2 in the morning or some off hours. If it sounds better than during the day time, than you may want to try a power conditioner. Not sure about using amp though. I have mine plugged into a Running Springs Jacco. However, I have not tested this conditioner with an amp against the amp plugged into the wall outlet. I intend to, but freaking power cords can be so hard on the outlets sometimes.

This thread raises the question, what exactly is "bad" power? Voltage fluctuating beyond some limits? That's a common criterion I see frequently cited as something a power conditioner can fix. What else might characterize "bad" versus "good" power? I'm asking because it would be helpful if there were a way to measure the goodness/badness of the power, before investing in a device designed to correct the badness. The logic is pretty simple: If test reveals no badness, then do not purchase a device designed to correct such badness (tacit premise: don't purchase something you don't need). Look, I know many will respond, "You have to listen to your system to hear the effects of bad power and what a power conditioner can do." If that is the response you want to make, please refrain. Unless I am way off (in a way that is hard for me to comprehend), I believe power conditioners are designed to correct certain, clearly defined and testable conditions in the AC power coming out of the wall. What *exactly* are they fixing/tweaking/adjusting in the power, and how can I check my power to see whether the electricity coming out of my walls needs such fixing/tweaking/adjusting?

Another reason to use a power conditioner and the reason that I do is not to clean up the AC but to protect my system from spikes. I live in an area where the power gets knocked out at least 2 or 3 times every winter due to storms and when lines get knocked out it creates voltage spikes thru-out the entire system.

Jiminlogansquare...it's my understanding that power conditioners do not just fix/tweak/adjust, to use your words, the power from the wall but also address issues created by our equipment as well as interaction between all the equipment as a whole. as far as how to measure it, i have no idea...