Please keep me out of the Rabbit Hole - Power Strips

I ran the NR vs XC debate by an associate of mine who has a long history with Shunyata.  Furmans, like Panamax, Monster, etc, are considered as non-passive devices and have found to be unpredictable with NR of any sort - even as the NR is passive.  He has experienced greater success with XC from the wall to power conditioner.

@jrareform Could be, there is only one way to find out- get an XC and compare. Maybe I’ll give them a call in the next year, I had some other questions for them as well. 

 @audiostick 

 He has experienced greater success with XC from the wall to power conditioner

Ok, thanks for letting me know. It is a little confusing how they have an XC or "extra current" cable, so one thinks they should use it on the amplfier as well as the power conditioner, but then Shunyata suggest the NR "is excellent on amplifiers. "and yet they now have a QR cable which is "particularly suited for high powered amplifiers"

But this is right from Shunyata’s website: 

SIGMA-X XC
SIGMA-X XC was designed specifically for use as a wall-connection power cord for use with Shunyata Research power distributors. Due to the extensive levels of filtering in Shunyata Research designed power distributors, NR filters are not needed at the wall connection. For use with other manufacturers power conditioners, the NR models will likely provide a performance benefit.

Bottom line is I can assure you my system doesn’t sound like the current is restricted in any way. But hey, not doubting the fact that maybe the XC is better. 

@mclinnguy I'm super curious myself.  I don't doubt Shunyata, considering they are the creators.  But I am wondering if sometimes the engineer's intention gets lost on the way to marketing/customer service. 

I appreciate your curiosity on this matter.  Because yea I've always felt like XC would mean power amplifier too right?  Matter of fact I've only tried XC shunyata stuff to the power amps I've had based on the dealer recommendation.  And it never touched my Cardas parsecs.  But now I'm wondering if NR is better for power amplifiers.  And if so, maybe I misjudged the gamma and theta power cables for the power amplifier and need to try an NR with my Pass Labs amp instead!  Curious if in the case of power amps if it's an "XC or NR" kind of thing and may depend on the amplifier.  I trusted the dealer as he has worked with Shunyata for a long time and he said they recommended XC at the time for power amps.

@jrareform 

If you preferred the Parsecs over the Theta's I would be happy and leave well enough alone, as the Cardas are 1/3 the price of the Shunyata Theta's! 

But yes, curiousity usually gets in the way, that is why we are audiophiles. 

I just received and set up my Shunyata PS10 and Defender.  Their impact on sound quality was far more dramatic than I would have thought possible. (I already have had installed a whole house surge protector in our electric panel.) They have yielded a “blacker” background, better tonal qualities of instruments, better definition and clarity, and a modest improvement to the sound stage, which was already quite good—maybe “finer definition is a more precise term, without the granularity becoming distracting.  I am now hearing things in performances of favorite songs that I missed before, such as the gentle touch of a wire brush on a cymbal or snare drum.  The positive impact of these two products is far more than I anticipated.