[Pirakaphile]

  If you want to get an amazing power conditioner and are willing to do a bit of searching you can find industrial strength Topaz Line 1 or Line 2 Power Conditioners for a steal. These things retail for up to thousands, but can be had used for cheap. There's always a risk they hum a little bit, but when you're getting something for 10% of its price then that's a risk you might want to take, and with headphones you'll be unlikely to hear it anyway. I have two of these protecting the two channels of my stereo setup and I rest well that I can leave it on 24/7 and never worry about anything getting through. . 
 
Here's a number that are on eBay currently. They're used and sometimes a bit beat-up, so they're not audio eye-candy, but they were built for very sensitive industrial or laboratory equipment, so are very well made.  YMMV of course, but I love these things. 
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Topaz-Line-2-power-conditioner-model-02406-01P3-1kW-used-works-/251656503126?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a97e57f56
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Topaz-Power-Conditioner-4-line-output-computer-electronics-protection-/291432902970?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43dac1313a
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Topaz-Line-2-Power-Conditioner-120VAC-6-8-6-Hz-8-3A-Model-70303-/191433180734?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c924e863e
 
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2055119.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xtopaz+power+conditioner.TRS0&_nkw=topaz+power+conditioner&_sacat=0
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Topaz-1KVA-120-Volt-10-Amp-Line-2-Power-Conditioner-02406-01P3-/191542260264?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c98cef228
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Topaz-line-2-power-conditioner-/281652882186?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4193d1eb0a

They tried pretty damn hard to make some of the most generic and boring looking pieces of equipment on the market, didn't they? I like the prices, and I'm trying to find specs on their site.

 

[ButtUglyJeff]

.....August is 4 months away.

 

[Pirakaphile]

  .....August is 4 months away.

Do you need me to mail you some pokemon games? Start on those little bastards and every time you look up a week will have passed.

 

[DigitalFreak]

  From what I can tell, the Furman Elite 15i is about the cheapest ($300) power filter and conditioner that would be considered 'audiophile' quality. But that's just my budget range that I've found and it's at the very top of my willingness to part with cash on a power related thing. I'm sure there are tons of others that'll perform as well but I've only spent one day on research so far.

Its really 300 bones?!?!?!?!

 

[drgajet]

And it still doesn't regulate voltage, just shuts down if too far over or under.

 

[DigitalFreak]

And it still doesn't regulate voltage, just shuts down if too far over or under.

Really?? Ok, Obviously power conditioners work far more differently then I originally thought, My apologies for being such a silly noob.
Is that kind of voltage swing normal though????
 

 

[DigitalFreak]

Hmph, looks like I really put my foot in my mouth.
@drgajet Looks like your model of Fermon is one of the more well regarded conditioners on the market
 

 

[MattTCG]

This thread has gotten somewhat weird for me. I just want to chime in an say the Carbon with Mr. Speakers Ether was simply sublime and the star of the show for me and many at the Nashville meet. I've found my end game with these two pieces and a good dac. Call me done. 

 

 

[Emerpus]

  This thread has gotten somewhat weird for me. I just want to chime in an say the Carbon with Mr. Speakers Ether was simply sublime and the star of the show for me and many at the Nashville meet. I've found my end game with these two pieces and a good dac. Call me done. 

 

 
Did you, by any chance, auditioned the Carbon with the Alpha Prime?

 

[MattTCG]

^^ I'm sorry to say that I didn't. I was completely engrossed with the Ether and Carbon combo. 

 

[ButtUglyJeff]

  This thread has gotten somewhat weird for me. I just want to chime in an say the Carbon with Mr. Speakers Ether was simply sublime and the star of the show for me and many at the Nashville meet. I've found my end game with these two pieces and a good dac. Call me done. 

 

 
I'm hoping to hear the same pairing at the November NYC Meet.  It would seem the Ether begs for a dead quiet amp...

 

[MattTCG]

  ^^ I'm sorry to say that I didn't. I was completely engrossed with the Ether and Carbon combo. 

 
The Primes were plugged in the Carbon on several occasion but I can't remember who was listening. Maybe they will chime in though.

 

[doctorjazz]

Have the Furman 15i in my main rig, no problems, seems to perform well

 

[DigitalFreak]

whoa

 

[money4me247]

This thread has gotten somewhat weird for me. I just want to chime in an say the Carbon with Mr. Speakers Ether was simply sublime and the star of the show for me and many at the Nashville meet. I've found my end game with these two pieces and a good dac. Call me done.   

+1. thank god for some real impressions. not sure why other ppl are already looking to invest a lot of money in power cables or conditioners or whatever other random accessory for an accessory. I thought the whole point of the carbon was to be affordable. would make more sense to me just move up to a pricier amp if you have the extra money.