It really depends on the condition of the power grid in your area. If you have a fairly steady state of power, with ample wiring, transformers that don't get stressed and little weather related electrical incidents, it's sort of importan.
If you live in a very hot, humid area, one with a stressed residential grid, or an area of regular electrical storms (entire US Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida as an example), then it's one of the most important components you have.
I live in Houston, and between the weather (unbelievably Hot and Humid) and wet with tons of rain and thunderstorms, the stressed part of the residential grid I am on, and the swings caused by electric load on the system, I found that I had to have a very, very good conditioner.
I have lost 2 very expensive oven (Thermador) control units due to power surges and strikes we have had. So all of our electronics have some type (house-wide too) surge protection.
I tried Shuyunta, Richard Gray, Monster, Panamax, PS Audio (I still have the Soloist outlets in the walls) and ended up with an APC S15 for all of my gear except the power amps which use a PS Audio Duet. The APC is also a battery back up, surge protector and power conditioner, and it has made the biggest difference in sound (positively) of almost any component I have ever used.
I find it interesting that other power products ask you to turn off your gear during a lighting storm??? Why have it then? I'm a huge believer in the APC stuff. I had a VPI SDS for my turntable and it never made any difference because the APC did such a good job of regulating the power without it.
Good luck.
If you live in a very hot, humid area, one with a stressed residential grid, or an area of regular electrical storms (entire US Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida as an example), then it's one of the most important components you have.
I live in Houston, and between the weather (unbelievably Hot and Humid) and wet with tons of rain and thunderstorms, the stressed part of the residential grid I am on, and the swings caused by electric load on the system, I found that I had to have a very, very good conditioner.
I have lost 2 very expensive oven (Thermador) control units due to power surges and strikes we have had. So all of our electronics have some type (house-wide too) surge protection.
I tried Shuyunta, Richard Gray, Monster, Panamax, PS Audio (I still have the Soloist outlets in the walls) and ended up with an APC S15 for all of my gear except the power amps which use a PS Audio Duet. The APC is also a battery back up, surge protector and power conditioner, and it has made the biggest difference in sound (positively) of almost any component I have ever used.
I find it interesting that other power products ask you to turn off your gear during a lighting storm??? Why have it then? I'm a huge believer in the APC stuff. I had a VPI SDS for my turntable and it never made any difference because the APC did such a good job of regulating the power without it.
Good luck.