Some power protection devices offer connected equipment warranties, giving you an actual dollar-value of coverage. A line conditioner might be your best choice if you’re using it for a TV or sound system. An uninterrupted power supply is good for a desktop computer, since if the power goes out you can continue working until you can save your work and safely power down. And surge protectors safeguard a wide range of gear — some even double as line conditioners.
It’s a good idea to use power protection for TVs and monitors, desktop computers and plugged-in laptops, gaming consoles, streaming sticks (Apple TV, Roku, etc.), routers and modems, sound bars and wireless speakers, powered speakers and subwoofers, and other A/V components like CD players, turntables, DVD and Blu-ray players, cable boxes, digital video recorders, receivers, amplifiers, preamplifiers, and external DACs.
Power protection devices defend your electronic gear against lightning strikes and dangerous power surges that could destroy their circuitry. And since the AC power coming from your outlet fluctuates above and below the standard 120 volts, using a voltage-regulating line conditioner or uninterruptable power supply (UPS) also reduces both visual and audio noise.
Line conditioners clean up the fluctuations of your home’s incoming AC power and filter out power noise, like EMI (ElectroMagnetic Interference) and RFI (Radio Frequency Interference). So do uninterruptable power supplies, which also feature backup battery power so your gear will function smoothly even if your power goes out.
