Electrical Power Outlet advice

Don't run more than one circuit. The induction into two circuits is not identical and the delta may be enough to induce ground noise between interconnected components, particularly if phono is involved.

@retiredfarmer 

please detail how you determined the sonic deltas between the terminal platings.

That's the way we wired studios. Some studios went all the way to the street with separate panels for the lights, air/con, coffee makers, etc. and 100% separate for the audio.

In my systems, the audio and entertainment are 100% separate and only one powered at a time.

Buy American. The stuff from China is utter garbage.

You are better off to have an overcurrent circuit [20A] and multiple outlets closely connected that spread outlets on multiple circuits. That being said, a 12ga / 20A circuit at full current drops a tiny fraction of a dB in power capability. Most audiophools have not a clue about HiFi A/C power requirements. See ieLogical CableSnakeOil A/C Wiring. Music has next to  Z E R O  temporal synchronicity with mains Hz. Current peaks are supplied by the amplifier power supply capacitors.

Depending where you live a surge suppressor is a probably waste. In all probability, it will fail when needed most. Good ones C O $$$$$$$$$$$ T !!

DO NOT additional grounds rods. It can reduce the effectivity of what little protection against a lightning strike they provide. It will cost B I G $$$$$$$$$ to engineer and install something more effective than NEC requirements.

First I'd have to eliminate the myriad things which affect sonic impressions:

power line variance, temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, voice coil temperature, CBLF inconsistencies, etc.

I've been at this game for more than ½c. and experienced the mentioned deltas without doing anything more that replugging the connectors or listening at a different time of day or getting a better night's sleep.

Breaker’s normally will trip at about 80% of the stated value

Breakers run for several of seconds at several multiples of the rated value. Trip at rated current is likely a defective breaker. 

How long depends on the Trip Curve. See Understanding Trip Curves - c3controls