First off, I would like to thank Redkiwi for exhibiting a good dose of common sense. So often in this hobby (obsession?) we get so tied up in numbers and worse- other people's opinions that we forget the reason why we started this thing in the first place. Now to respond to your query... I personally have had good experiences with line conditioning. I do live in an area with a notoriously erratic power supply as well as frequent thunderstorms. I noticed a significant quieting of my background noise in my system with the addition of a line conditioner to my system. I had much less impressive results with new relatively expensive power cords (Marigo reference RMX. As far as isolation cones, etc., I did not notice any difference in sonics with them (vibrapods) under my preamp, so I subsequently did not buy any more. I have a pretty solid rack (Salamander Archetype), so maybe it was not needed. Many people swear by them. My system is relatively hi end, but not obscene (around 20k), so maybe with better stuff, it would be more noticeable. As far as silver vs copper, they do have very diffent sonic characteristecs. i don't know why, but they are very different- not better or worse. Use your ears to determine what you like. To my ears, silver is brighter and sometimes a little too splashy. This can be used to your advantage, however. For instance, I use both types in my system. My D/A is a little laid back (EAD 7000 Mk III), so I use a Kimber KCAG from it to my pre. The rest of my system is very neutral sounding and through much trial and error, I have settled on a copper wire (Nordost Red Dawn) and really like it. the bottom line is use your ears. Some people probably would not like my choices, but they are my choices, as yours are yours. One little floobie dust that I do believe in, incidentally is Optrix spray. It gives a marked improvement to CD's. I still don't understand why, but it is a BIG difference. Anyway, I hope this helped you some and I will get off my soapbox. Happy listening
"Feng Shui" and "Floobie Dust"
These titles were once used in an edition of Stereophile reporting on some miscellaneous items from a CES show. Do things like Shun Mook disks, Shakti stones, silver vs. copper wire (the resistivity of silver is only a little greater, so is it the grain structure?), power conditioners (for example, there was a fairly interesting article in the current issue of The Absolute Sound debunking most power conditioners and filters), etc., make a difference? Is there any physical basis (in terms of an understanding of the physics) for the claims made by the manufacturers?