fatscoobyfella

Like i said in an earlier thread..i got some keilidhs from Linn that i use on a Naim pre/power and CDi as a 2nd system..sounds brill for cheap money..The keilidhs are an excellent speaker in many ways IMHO..

Alan C

As per my post a little way below. Has anyone got any direct mains conditioning experience to share?

tiggers

Alan,

I have played around with the mains supply quite a bit over the years including trying the whole solid core thing. In the end this is what I have - not saying it's the best, but it made a demonstrable difference to my system.

Separate fused spur dedicate to my hi-fi wired with oversized cable. Direct connection via soldered, but fused outlets to my equipment. No plugs, no filters, none of that - works very well. Sound noticeably better at night as well as noted by others on here.

Not exactly what you were looking for, but you wanted at least one reply yeah?

Cheers,

tiggers.

hades

Other options is any of the nordost mains cables. They range from not cheap up to silly money, but generally I have liked every bit of nordost kit I have used.

Cheaper option - I have a 6 way "blackcurrent" distribution block, from here. I'm sure it won't compete with a dedicated mains spur, but IMHO it works very well, completely blew away a similarly priced campaign audio mains block in a little head to head we tried once. Speak to the guy there (Alistair) - he offers decent advice, has played with a lot of stuff himself, and from my dealings with him, I do believe him when he says he wants repeat business rather than hard sell.

Alan C

Ever had that feeling your post was invisible?

Thanks guys...

Tiggers.. great story, but waaay past my needs just yet. Plus the landlord wouldn't be too happy.. Nontheless a good indication what dedication and audiophilic tenedencies can do to a person... it seems I may just be on that path myself... Do they do an AA (Audiophiles Anonymous) for serious cases?

Hades.. I'll hopefully be speaking to Alistair to get his take.. I'll search the link now.. ta..

tiggers

What are you trying to say?

tiggers.

Alan C

Nothing my friend... but if you ever feel the need to talk... you know where I am!

We could setup our own counseling group... 'My names Al. And I'm an...an... Audiophile' (cue round of applause and some crying... )

Vegescoob

Yes and peddling this addiction should, of course, be made a criminal offence!!
Lock up all HiFi reviewers.

tiggers

It all started because my father used to abuse my mother.....'s ears with an Alba record player .....



tiggers.

TelBoy

Unfortunately, i don't have a dedicated mains ring for the hi-fi - the cost to convert an already-built house was prohibitive. But i've experimented with all aspects of the mains from the wires behind the socket forward.

First step - change your sockets to MK unswitched sockets. Get yourself some De-Oxit, or better still Pro-Gold, clean all the terminii and the copper cores of your mains wiring, and tighten them up nice and securely.

Next step - mains cables. Yes, all the doubters love this bit, but on high end equipment the difference really is noticeable. Personally i use Kimber Hi-Current, and would upgrade to Silver if i could afford it, but as with all these things, buy the best you can afford. I use XLO on my smaller system and that works well too.

Then sort yourself out a decent distribution block. If you're still using something from Homebase, slap yourself round the chops and put a decent one on the Crimbo wishlist. Again, silver wired items are the sweetest, but many are well over £500, so it takes quite a level of commitment to go to that level.

And lastly, mains conditioners themselves. If you have modern wiring, no dodgy fridges and so on, then strictly speaking a conditioner won't provide much other than a "different" sound, but they're well worth experimenting with. Many people with an LP12 will have a Lingo, it's the same principle. Personally i use a Trichord conditioner for the CD transport, and couldn't live without it now. The sound is more solid, bass deeper, treble sweeter. Again, worth a go, especially since they can cost as little as a couple of hundred pounds.

That's most angles covered!

tiggers

Call yourself an audiophile

Luckily I was rewiiring my house anyway and even more luckily I was doing it myself so I could experiment with a dedicated mains supply, cables, connectors, consumer units etc. without some electrician looking like I belonged in the funny farm

tiggers.

ProperCharlie

Tel - can you recommend a distribution block? I'm thinking of investing. I while back I bought some mains cables from trichord - was a bit p*ssed off when they arrived as they where just normal mains cables, but with rubber rather than pvc insulation, and a braided outer cover. I wrote to trichord asking how in hell they could justify £30 for these things, but I had to admit that they did make a difference to the sound. trichord responded along the lines of "everyone else thinks they are ok" . I had to send one back as they had ommitted to solder the wire onto the plug.

TelBoy

PC, well personally i'm using the Russ Andrews Silvers. Which pains me to be honest, as there's something about that company which always makes me think i'm being ripped off, for some reason. But i have to say, it really DOES sound superb.

A lot of companies modify the metal box units made by Osram (it's not Osram, but i forget the name - something like that anyway) because they're metal-cased, look impressive and can be dressed up cheaply and sold expensively. But in my experience there was little, if any difference to the sound.

Russ Andrews blocks are made in-house, and whilst it still seems a lot of money for what you get, the result IS noticeable, which is the main (lol) thing. But the difference between their "ordinary" item and the silver-wired item is a big step forward - definitely worth saving up for, in my opinion.

ProperCharlie

Cheers Tel - Just had a lok at the Trichord products. It looks like I'd need one of their Powerblock 1000s for the pre/power, and one of the Powerblock 500s for the low current stuff. At over £800, that's mabe a bit more than the missus had in mind for my stocking fillers! Although I guess these are full on conditioners rather than just distribution blocks.

TelBoy

Yes, they are. Which is all very well - IF you like the sound they create! Many "purists" scoff at the idea of conditioners, but, like TV signal boosters - if they work, why knock them?!

Vegescoob

Come on. We really should have a(n?) HiFi forum. Next to DIY. Or call it Addicts Corner.

TelBoy

Nah, then only those who are bonkers into it would look, whereas in here, some people who might otherwise not give it a second thought might do something, however small, to improve their system, which can only be a good thing, imo.

Vegescoob

So thing to do is get several threads on the go. Like I've got £???? what do folks suggest. How to improve mains. etc.
Cos I've got a bit lost in this one.

Alan C

Vege.. Good idea mate... There appears to be a lot of interest amongst a well informed, friendly bunch for a series of Hi Fi info....

I'm about to start one on supports & isolation..