The Altaira makes a significant difference, even with the Everest and Shunyata power and interconnects. The noise level is lowered which translates into a clearer more articulate bass, greater resonance and better "decay" for string instruments and piano, more separation and somewhat improved (or more noticeable) soundstage. I do not know how much difference there would be between the different levels of grounding cables (eg alpha, sigma, omega) since I have not had the opportunity to do this experiment. Hopefully, I will be receiving some sigma grounding cables to compare with the alpha cables I am currently using. I would think that the "best" ground cable should go from the altaira to the ground point (in my case, the Everest's grounding plug). This does raise the issue as to where the ultimate ground is located-- obviously need a good ground point for the altaira to connect to. If you have a Denali or Everest, use that ground plug.
As to connecting components to the Altaira, this can be done in several ways:
(1) If the component has a ground plug, use it, e.g. my phono amp's ground plug has both the turntable cable's ground and the altaira ground;
(2) Any chassis screw that with a ohm meter measures a "ground" between the third pin on the power cable's connection and the screw;
(3) Shunyata also makes adapters so you can plug the grounding cable into a RCA or XLR "port" or connection on the component. BUT, you should check that there is no current coming out from the connection. Richard at Shunyata has compiled a list of many components and the best way to connect them to the Altaira.
Of course, whether you will hear a difference does depend on the resolution of your system, and its constituents. My system consists of : AMG Viella turntable with Soundsmith Strain Gauge cartridge and its associated "phono amp", dCS Rossini apex DAC, ARC Ref6SE preamp, Rogue Audio Apollo Dark mono block amps and Sonus Faber Il Cremonese speakers. Now all cabling is Shunyata except the tonearm cable with is Cardas because Shunyata does not make a DIN connector.