does mains cables like clearaudio copperline aplha improves the sound?
- Thread starter peterpan
- Start date
OK, I'll bite...
In my experience, yes they make a difference. But only you can say whether you hear it or not and whether you think it's better or not.
In my experience, yes they make a difference. But only you can say whether you hear it or not and whether you think it's better or not.
What Bodfish said...
They can make a small difference but whether you believe it to be worth the outlay is another matter. It seems that people get more success in this when they spend more than the minimum, i.e. buy a Copperline not Alpha. You can send it back if you don't think it's worth it.
EDIT, just for the record I've got a Chord Superscreen and a Silver High Breed Accord.
They can make a small difference but whether you believe it to be worth the outlay is another matter. It seems that people get more success in this when they spend more than the minimum, i.e. buy a Copperline not Alpha. You can send it back if you don't think it's worth it.
EDIT, just for the record I've got a Chord Superscreen and a Silver High Breed Accord.
plastic penguin
Well-known member
- Apr 28, 2008
- 6,700
- 3,310
- 36,570
I could be wrong, but I'm sure I read or heard somewhere (about a year or so ago) that specialist mains leads, as opposed to kettle leads, are also dependent on the mains source. Some areas have a stronger or cleaner power supply, and from memory, it pretty much equates to a noticable sound difference. But how one goes about finding out the purity of the mains is another subject altogether. As I said, I could've misunderstood the info...
Different opinions and different strokes. Someone will say the mains purifiers filter out (say) RF noise, another will point out that hifi equipment already does that, so why bother and so the arguments go on.
Simplest thing to do is, as igglebert said, get a hold of some, try them out on a loan basis from a dealer and then either buy or return. You might have to hand over some return postage if there isn't a suitable dealer nearby, but other than that, the risk is minimal.
Simplest thing to do is, as igglebert said, get a hold of some, try them out on a loan basis from a dealer and then either buy or return. You might have to hand over some return postage if there isn't a suitable dealer nearby, but other than that, the risk is minimal.
Short answer yes. Not by making your kit better ,but, by preventing interference from the mains cable (EMI / RFI) affecting the delicate signal within the pre amp section or in the interconnects (hence why these too are shielded).
Try one on a 60 day money back if not happy deal. Nothing to lose really
Try one on a 60 day money back if not happy deal. Nothing to lose really
I heard an instant improvement on installing a Clearaudio power cable in a previous system. Everything sounded more together. Definately worth a try !
Agreed. They can make a difference but this is dependent on what you buy. There are good ones and bad ones, the latter you may as well not have.
Furthermore spending £50 on a lead for a CDP worth £20 could possibly be better spent by upgrading the CDP to a £70 one.
Furthermore spending £50 on a lead for a CDP worth £20 could possibly be better spent by upgrading the CDP to a £70 one.
Ok, here's the problem, there are people that swear up and down that a rounded lump of metal placed strategically on top of their speakers make them sound better. Other people are positive that elevating their speaker cable off the floor on little cable footstools makes their system sound better. Other people are even more convinced that demagnetizing their non-ferus CDs make them sound better. Yet other people believe that anti-vibration cones place under solid state amplifiers which contain no moving parts make the amp just a bit more pleasant to listen to. Other people are positive that coiled speaker wire produces audible inductance which degrades sound quality. Oh, yet other people claim that two different lengths of speaker cable audiblly degrades sound quality even though the electrical signal travels at .6 the speed of light (some pretty fine grain hearing there).
The majority of these people are honest decent people that truly believe they hear improvements and my point is not to take issue with them. My point is that surely it's possible and maybe even easy for a person to fool themselves into thinking they hear improvements. I think most people will agree it's not only possible, but not uncommon.
Therefore, unless hifi expenditures are chump change to you, a bit of caution and skepticism is in order. I'll leave it at that.
The majority of these people are honest decent people that truly believe they hear improvements and my point is not to take issue with them. My point is that surely it's possible and maybe even easy for a person to fool themselves into thinking they hear improvements. I think most people will agree it's not only possible, but not uncommon.
Therefore, unless hifi expenditures are chump change to you, a bit of caution and skepticism is in order. I'll leave it at that.
Just to put a different spin on this ~
Ive recently used a 'balanced mains unit' which has made an unbelievable difference to my system. So much so I even had to turn the sharpness down on my tv!
Using one of these (And assuming you dont have major airbourne EMI/RFI problems) this will clean your mains supply up better than anything else going AND be powerful enough to fit ALL your equipment to (Though youd need a decent mains block as theres only 2 plug sockets).
As for mains cables, yes they make a difference in my system. Ive found 16 core braided cables to be the best to use personally (24 would be better, but very expensive)
Ive recently used a 'balanced mains unit' which has made an unbelievable difference to my system. So much so I even had to turn the sharpness down on my tv!
Using one of these (And assuming you dont have major airbourne EMI/RFI problems) this will clean your mains supply up better than anything else going AND be powerful enough to fit ALL your equipment to (Though youd need a decent mains block as theres only 2 plug sockets).
As for mains cables, yes they make a difference in my system. Ive found 16 core braided cables to be the best to use personally (24 would be better, but very expensive)
Like Igglebert, I also use a couple of Chord SuperScreens for my current setup (Inca Katana CD-transport, Union Research Unico amp, JM Focal Lab 3-way floormounts, Atlas Hyper 2 cables) they produce a noticeably brighter soundstage, a greater depth of vocals and a tauter bass at the lowest audible frequencies.
The Chords are only just being run-in and, even at this early stage, I can highly recommend them for the price.
The Chords are only just being run-in and, even at this early stage, I can highly recommend them for the price.
If you want to hear a difference you probably will. However, if you look at it from a scientific point of view, how could the last metre of wire make any difference?
And why would kit costing several thousand pounds be supplied with a regular kettle lead, if clearer audio et al cables made any difference.
It is a clever marketing ploy by Clearer Audio, as you seem to have nothing to lose. I bet not many leads are actually returned though.
In my opinion, save your money
And why would kit costing several thousand pounds be supplied with a regular kettle lead, if clearer audio et al cables made any difference.
It is a clever marketing ploy by Clearer Audio, as you seem to have nothing to lose. I bet not many leads are actually returned though.
In my opinion, save your money
Id say yes they do make an improvement.
With them just think of how much you want to pay and try some.
I use supre lorads now for everything, 2.5mm and 1.5mm's.
Oh yeah just another one, the screen on some of the upgrade leads, only stop interference coming out of the mains lead, affecting other cables. I think thats right but others may totally clarify...
The tacima before my cdplayer impressed me the most, with a chord powerchord/supra connected. Very clear sound.
With them just think of how much you want to pay and try some.
I use supre lorads now for everything, 2.5mm and 1.5mm's.
Oh yeah just another one, the screen on some of the upgrade leads, only stop interference coming out of the mains lead, affecting other cables. I think thats right but others may totally clarify...
The tacima before my cdplayer impressed me the most, with a chord powerchord/supra connected. Very clear sound.
Similar threads
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram