Very nice.... So what you're saying is, correct me if I'm wrong, those people who have crazy expensive amps like Pass etc... all they need is one strike and they're garbage? I thought that's what the surge protector is for.
Nothing will protect you from 10 million volts plus, which is what a direct strike is.
However thunderstorms in the vicinity, can and do produce damaging spikes. Strip type protectors plugged into a wall outlet, provide a very low level of protection.
A good whole house unit is best.
However out here voltage fluctuations in thunderstorms and ice storms are very damaging to equipment that contain micro processors.
The best protection comes from whole house surge protection and battery UPS devices that go to battery backup in 1 to 5 msec of an out of range situation.
I have everything vulnerable protected this way, upstairs and down. Here where there are long lines from the power stations in western North Dakota going hundreds of miles across the Norther Plains, my UPS devices cut in frequently summer and winter.
Generally I would say people over estimate the stability of their power. Almost certainly it is a lot worse than they think.
My power company, who are a Touchstone cooperative have been good enough to monitor the situation with a recorder at my meter of a long periods. The results were not pretty and I suspect similar to most situations in the US.
In my view this is an issue not given the respect and attention warranted by most members.
Nothing is full proof, but you can protect against the majority of events that could do serious damage to expensive equipment.
If your grounding and general layout of your system is proper, then don't expect it to change your sound, this is not it's purpose. The purpose is to increase the reliability of your system and reduce expensive repair bills and the need to prematurely replace equipment. With a little thought that goal is easily achieved and worthwhile.
