Finding proper or even the best line conditioner is like looking for a needle in a haystack but it's out there. There are certain criteria that should be met to be considered proper and especially best:
o The ideal line conditioner must induce no sonic harm of its own. (You'd be surprised at how many drop out of the picture right here. Especially some of the more popular name brands.)
o The ideal line conditioner must actually cleanse the dirty AC and thereby significantly improve the music presentation. (Most fall way short of this goal.)
o The ideal line conditioner should be passive so as not to draw current away from high-current drawing amplifiers and thereby squash dynamics. (Many do not meet this standard since they are active drawing current to themselves).
o The ideal line conditioner should provide bi-directional filtering. This is critical since digital sources ie cdp's, DAC's, etc. generate digital noise which is bi-directional. This digital noise will go back into the wall and all the way back to the service panel and then into other circuits throughout the house inducing digital noise (sonic harm) into other components even if they are on their own dedicated AC circuit/line. (Most do not have this feature)
o The ideal line conditioner should be dedicated one per component. For several reasons but one reason is because it is the only way I know of to take advantage of dedicated circuits/lines. (Again, most do not meet this criteria).
This should narrow down your choices to perhaps 2 or 3 manufacturers. Using this criteria should help you determine who really takes line conditioning seriously.
-IMO
o The ideal line conditioner must induce no sonic harm of its own. (You'd be surprised at how many drop out of the picture right here. Especially some of the more popular name brands.)
o The ideal line conditioner must actually cleanse the dirty AC and thereby significantly improve the music presentation. (Most fall way short of this goal.)
o The ideal line conditioner should be passive so as not to draw current away from high-current drawing amplifiers and thereby squash dynamics. (Many do not meet this standard since they are active drawing current to themselves).
o The ideal line conditioner should provide bi-directional filtering. This is critical since digital sources ie cdp's, DAC's, etc. generate digital noise which is bi-directional. This digital noise will go back into the wall and all the way back to the service panel and then into other circuits throughout the house inducing digital noise (sonic harm) into other components even if they are on their own dedicated AC circuit/line. (Most do not have this feature)
o The ideal line conditioner should be dedicated one per component. For several reasons but one reason is because it is the only way I know of to take advantage of dedicated circuits/lines. (Again, most do not meet this criteria).
This should narrow down your choices to perhaps 2 or 3 manufacturers. Using this criteria should help you determine who really takes line conditioning seriously.
-IMO