If you live in your own home then I'd recommend that you have an electrician install a 'whole house' suppression device. That's installed either at the circuit breakers or at the meter.
However, if that's not an option, then you'll have to install something that's going to protect everything in your HT setup. In other words, since the cable coming in goes to the TV, which may be connected to the receiver, it all needs to be protected.
Now if you're not also looking for some kind of power center also, that's going occupy a space in your rack and provide things like meters, switched, unswitched, delayed turn on, etc. features, then things get a lot simpler.
Most surge suppressors use MOV's (Metal Oxide Varistors) and they work on the principle of diverting an incoming surge to ground. Due to the nature of MOV's, they experience degradation as a function of the magnitude of the surge and the number of them. Hence, it's a good idea to get a surge protector with the largest 'Joule Rating'. This Joule rating is related to the robustness and size of the MOV being used. As the size of the MOV goes up, it's life expectancy increases exponentially. This all makes sense I think.
OK. So a search for a surge protection for your equipment should have as its priorities...
1) joule rating
2) sufficient outlets for your equipment
3) protection for your incoming cable.
A very good candidate that meets these requirements is one from a company called Stratitec. Since you're in Indianapolis, and we know 'that it don't rain in Indianapolis in the summertime', you've got several Sam's Clubs around you. They carry
this model for under $20. I think you'll be hard pressed to find another unit with as many outlets and a 3050 joule rating. If you're not a member of Sam's Club, maybe you know someone who is. I don't recall if you can get a 'one day temporary' membership, but even at a nominal, say 10% or more markup, this is a bargain.
