The apartment has a crappy mains installation, with only a few grounded sockets. I think this is what leads to voltage swings when turning on an LED or fluorescent lamp.
This has always caused some minor issues with any USB audio devices, as in them resetting and stopping audio. This is an apartment-wide issue, it can happen with any lamp or appliance that causes a spike.
Right now I have a Schiit Eitr USB->Coax converter and I’m worried these voltage swings might damage its delicate circuits. Or any of my equipment.
I have all audio gear connected to a power strip that’s surge-protected and even supposed to “attenuate mains fluctuations” (yeah right, I’m sure it competes with power plants at 80$)
Anyway, it’s no help. How can I protect my equipment from such “minor” electrical faults? Should I even be worried or is this just a nuisance?
You use the term ‘spike’. To me that means sharp overvoltage condition. But what I suspect you really mean is a sag in the mains voltage. In my high rise pad the only time I’ve observed a temporary sag is when adjusting a dimmer control. I admit I have a lot more than a power strip protecting my equipment, I have a line stabilizer, but I don’t see any threat to your gear from a temporary sag. Keep in mind inside your Schiit box there is likely to be a regulator anyway. A regulator can temporarily lose control when its input drops below a threshold, but that’s not a damaging condition. When it sees input power back within its control latitude all is well again.
Relax and enjoy.