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Upsamplers, DACs, jitter, shakes and analogue withdrawals, this is it.

FOr power conditioners.. problem with my recommendation, but

I would say you have to just do some research. I started out with an Adcom one long ago. Then a smaller Monster Cable. Then a bigger Monster cable one. Then I lucked into a used Furman REF 20i for a great low price. And i still use the Furman for the main non digital equipment for over five years now.

For my digital gear...

The conditioner which I am really glad I was able to find was not so much brand name as the fact it is able to adjust the output frequency.
Adjustable AC output frequency is a very very rare bird in a conditioner.

The PS Audio P600 I found used (and long out of production) had an added (optional when new) board which allows it to output any frequency AC sine wave from 60Hz to 120Hz.
I am using this AC regenerator at a 110Hz Sine AC output on only my digital components.

I read about 'alternate' AC frequency use in a blurb in Stereophile years back. The gist of the article was the higher AC frequency power input made for better sound. It made so much sense to me I decided I just had to try it. But finding any conditioner with such an ability is tough to do!
(I would guess liability of not using 60Hz is part of the problem for the makers, plus endless queries about HOW and WHY to use it.. PITA I would think. Plus certain types of power supplies do not play well with this sort of alternative AC)

The PS Audio P600 normally was not able to do this, but with an optional board (originally designed mainly for turntable use ?) I am able to adjust the entire output of the P600. The P600 was just about the ONLY regenerator with this even as an option. I know of no other AC conditioners capable of alternate Hz output (added: apparently the PS Audio P300 also had the adjustable AC out as an option). AND the board option was not common, and is no longer available even if you find a P600 without it.
So, that really makes it near impossible to find such a device.
So.. How can I recommend a device you cannot buy? (Plus I paid $1000 for it 5 years ago and considered that a steal! What with its rarity and uniqueness)
With this 110 Hz in I found my old Adcom DA700 is the equal of a new $2,200 unit. Not better, but equal (My Sony SCD777ES is a tiny bit better than the Adcom and a $80 used CD changer off eBay, Barely.

SO... MY recommendation is go find the rare needle in the haystack, which if it breaks you will be totally SOL... LOL

I am surprised no conditioner makers have such a product. It does need to be a regenerator to do this. And PS Audio is the main product maker for this type. Someone should ask them for this AC variable frequency to be added to the current product line!!

Anyway, long read.. But I suggest starting with any easy to find cheap used conditioner. You have to just read up on them, and watch the adverts.
Then some power cords. Pangea or Shunyata both have low priced good cords.

Conditioners are just like most stereo products. They have a sound you may like or hate, all different. The main single feature I would say is they add clarity and reduce grain, but at the expense of thinning out the sound.
In general they (almost) all do this to some extent. (big bucks for ones which don't at all) If you system already sounds thin.. You will be unhappy 100% with adding a conditioner. If your system sound is full and rich, adding one may or may not make you happier.

Added: my conditioners all made me happier because I am a clarity nut. I LIKE clarity and want more all the time. No mud or grain for me! So even though the sound is slightly thinner, I am happy. For others, this would not be the case. My system is just near the point of being lean. Which is OK. But I cannot get any 'leaner' or it sounds wrong..! So it is a balancing act. All I can say.



Edits: 03/24/16 03/24/16

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