where to invest???

No. i was just thinking entry level... small.. not pricey... to find out if you felt it was a qualified improvement and if so, another step or two up the food chain would then be a more likely move... Rather than going all in on a $500 - $1000, "something or other" you've not tried yet.

There is also the prospect of buying accordingly to the component (s) on hand. Many have difficulty with adding a $1000 power cord to a $500 amp... or even a $1000 amp. I had a lot of trouble justifying such expenses a while back and still do sometimes.

In fact I've got a $1500 power cable on a $1300 power cond. A $900+ pc on a $1200 HT receiver... from time to time... and so forth. Why? 'Cause I can and it sounds better. Dig?

Sure, as I said, all will be different but the flavor of many product lines is visible in much of their products, from the least expensive on up to the more or most, expensive.

While on that PLC/PLF note... I prefer a separation of filters/conditioners... One type for sources and low current components, and another for amps and preamps... when ever possible. but that's just me. it may wind up being I use two identical conds, but with different supply cords, as the only difference. Well... it works for me.

Many folks do have success with the 'one size fits all' approach. Prefering to use one unit for every component plugged into it.

The poster who prefers not to use the conditioners is not alone. The better the power supply itself feeding the home, and as well, on the power train, amps, or preamps, the lesser the effect the majority of power filters will have upon it/them.. usually. Some so called non current limiting units do in fact limit current, BTW. Current limiting cmoes off as restricted dynamic thrust. The overall effect however may wind up being simply a trade off, and the result can be one of improved sound, regardless.

I agree too, that power cable upgrades are a just about necessity and a slam dunk easy enough place to begin. All alone, you should realize noticeable gains then and there.

Natuarlly results can and do vary... and again, why I said "wade in, rather than dive in head over heels" right off spending money unecessarily.

Everything matters. Systems are a mix, a concoction, or stew if you will, add different things to the same stock and you'll wind up with something different each time.

BTW... This is my exp... not simply my advice. I began with a set of power cords, then others, then PS Audio plc, then a Hydra.. then isolation, rack, and somewhere just lost my mind and went a whole different route when things were the best I'd ever had! So just have fun and good luck.

Clear as muc now?

thank you sir, for your being so thorough and to everyone else. my "dive in" philosophy is based on my reality, unfortunately. there's a cupula bucks available so i need to spend it or...if the roof leaks its gone, a car tire goes its gone, my daughter asks for new shoes its gone. you get the idea. my wife does the financing and while there would be other methods to finance such inevitabilities, the audio budget goes first! feel me? here's what i've come up with today:
2 blue circle PLC thingees, 1 plugged into each of my dedicated lines outlets, so i can isolate certain components with their yalu surge protector into the other socket of each outlet. then...
vibrapods under everything. live with that for a bit, swap out some isolation every now and then cuz individually they can be cheap(expensive too i know!), and then when another another large(everything is relative)chunk of change comes along play with cables. the bluejeans cables i have are regarded well. wat do y'all think of that direction? ......or treat the room. whoah can of worms.

btw, i am following the "dumped power conditioner thread" which is in line with your thoughts mr. green. very interesting swing of the audio world pendulum i feel. it was suggested in another thread that powercords have the most impact outside of major system component upgrades as well.

Look for a power cord for either end.. source or amp. In fact, the supply cord to the Blue Circle filter/cond will be as good a spot to begin too.

Bright Star nodes, while a mite priceier than 'pods' at near double their costs, will firm up the sound, and have it more tactile and not as soft.

Wood blocks from any local hobby shop of wood working shop... like Ebony, Mahogany, Teak, etc... found in off size pieces can be cut to equal sizes and used as near no cost footers, with suprising results. Ask if you can check out their refuse bin.

Audio Art, and Micro Pearl, ICs aren't expensive (< $100 pr. new) and do an eye opening job. Also I think a pair of Cardas Neutral Ref ICs should be issued to every audio hobbyist. AZ Matrix ref, SR Alpha Quad, Kimber Hero, MIT Shotgun S3, and others are pretty good non wallet busting signal cables.

I currently use the AA & MP, and have owned nearly all of the others I listed here. Older Synergistic Research & Audience Conductor, cables too are quite good and often traded here... and there's tons of DIY cable making threads online.

do you refer to goertz micropurl? i was vey interested in goertz but the amp oscillation thing shyed me away. i also looked at audio art and rs audio for IC's. but for my first foray into boutique cabling i was hoping to stay within 1 companies products to see if i could learn to hear their sound and switch things in and out 1 at a time, just having fun and experimenting. others i was looking at were kimber 8tc and pbj, pnf, MIT avt1 series, anti-cables. it was a toss-up between the nodes and pods, really and arbitrary choice at this point without listening. i could easily go with the nodes instead. anyway, thanks again, lots of food for thought. so, between upgrading power and isolating all my components(maybe could do both right now, but might have to choose one, and i'm pretty sure, while everything looks very nice, my componenets are speakers are not sitting on stuff that is very good for fidelity)which would y'all choose?