whole home surge protection

No, whole house surge protection will not affect sound quality. The protection is in parallel with the AC line.

I installed one and noticed no change in sound quality. But, like you I was wonderin'

overkill...lightening suppressor, yes. Surge protector on that dedicated line for your audio/video is always a very good idea. I try to keep my audio on one dedicated line and the video on another. My thoughts on that are you're running one may as well take two there but different phases and depending on the panel load.

A lot of us run dedicated lines etc.

Just wondering if adding one of these at the panel would affect sound quality?

Lacee,

In general I would say no. That is for name brand sold SPDs.

What ever brand you decide on make sure it is UL 1449 3rd Edition Listed.

If external mounted to the electrical panel enclosure make sure the electrician installs the device as close to the main breaker as possible and keeps the connecting leads to the branch circuit breaker, the SPD will connect to, as short as possible.

Here is some reading material on SPDs.


Power Quality
Surge Protective Devices (SPDs)

http://www.hubbell-wiring.com/press/pdfs/WLBPQ001.pdf
.