Mains spikes and surges come most obviously from lightning strikes but can also be caused by household equipment such as fluorescent lights, refrigerators, and washing machines switching on and off. You don't actually 'hear' high voltage spikes through your speakers, but we believe you can hear their effect. In the presence of high spike activity, we've heard music sounding flatter, less dynamic and sounding more distorted. Spikes can also shorten the life of your system. Our range of spike-protecting components are designed to improve the sound quality of your system by absorbing surges.