Going to play with the mains today...

[roger06]

No, not an attempt to kill myself!

I'm just going to see what a minor / cheap change to the mains sockets makes by replacing two of the 2 gang sockets for ones without switches. I'm told the switch is resistance so hopefully switch-less ones should be better. They're only 6 quid each and I'm only expecting a marginal difference, if any, but I'll report back.

 

[Anonymous]

No, not an attempt to kill myself!

I'm just going to see what a minor / cheap change to the mains sockets makes by replacing two of the 2 gang sockets for ones without switches. I'm told the switch is resistance so hopefully switch-less ones should be better. They're only 6 quid each and I'm only expecting a marginal difference, if any, but I'll report back.

You have more faith than I do. I'd expect no difference.

 

[roger06]

No, not an attempt to kill myself!

I'm just going to see what a minor / cheap change to the mains sockets makes by replacing two of the 2 gang sockets for ones without switches. I'm told the switch is resistance so hopefully switch-less ones should be better. They're only 6 quid each and I'm only expecting a marginal difference, if any, but I'll report back.

You have more faith than I do. I'd expect no difference.

Yeah, you may well be right. If it was a difficult or expensive experiment I certainly wouldn't bother...

 

[chebby]

If you are of the same opinion - of a lot of Naim users - that the gear takes a long time to recover/recondition after a period switched off, then you are are going to have to wait for some time (hours, days?) afterwards until you can assess the difference your experiment has made.

I cannot envisage the additional 'resistance' of the mains switch being more significant than the resistance of the thin fuse wire in the plugs.

If you strip the mains cables back to fresh copper - when attaching the new two gang socket - then how do you differentiate any improvement that makes, from any improvement you might get eliminating the switches?

There will be no opportunity to do any quick a/b comparison either. So, unless the difference is stark. you are going to struggle.

Either way, I recommend MK fittings. (Naim go to the trouble of providing MK plugs so you may as well compliment that with the same brand of mains socket.)

 

[roger06]

Well, I've just competed the task and of course many will say I 'want' to hear a difference. But it is a slight improvement. Spinning Patty Larkin's "Coming up for Air" on CD – great track if you're wanting to test separation of vocals and strings – then her voice is just that little clearer, the bass a bit more controlled.

Could I be imagining it? Yes, I'll concede that's possible.

Was it worth it ? well yeah, for £12, half an hour of my time and only one minor electric shock then yes, hi fi's all about minor tweaks and I'm glad I've done it.

BUT - could it also be I've also taken the trouble to untangle the mess of mains, interconnects and speaker cable that's built up behind the cabinet? Yes, that could also be true.

Still, I'm a happy chap!

 

[roger06]

... and hey it's better than my next task which is to sort out the laundry room!

 

[Anonymous]

... and hey it's better than my next task which is to sort out the laundry room!

Now that will make a genuine difference

 

[CnoEvil]

Well, I've just competed the task and of course many will say I 'want' to hear a difference. But it is a slight improvement. Spinning Patty Larkin's "Coming up for Air" on CD – great track if you're wanting to test separation of vocals and strings – then her voice is just that little clearer, the bass a bit more controlled.

Could I be imagining it? Yes, I'll concede that's possible.

Was it worth it ? well yeah, for £12, half an hour of my time and only one minor electric shock then yes, hi fi's all about minor tweaks and I'm glad I've done it.

BUT - could it also be I've also taken the trouble to untangle the mess of mains, interconnects and speaker cable that's built up behind the cabinet? Yes, that could also be true.

Still, I'm a happy chap!

Unless you're imagining that you are imagining. :~

FWIW That's what I would have expected. I've recommended doing this before on here (to only a little ridicule).

It's also worth polishing the prongs on the mains plugs with duraglit, and then cleaning the residue off with isopropyl alchol. Sounds bonkers, but if you've imagined the difference with the change in sockets, then you're more than capable of imagining the change with this.

If nothing else, it takes the mind off interviews.

 

[roger06]

If nothing else, it takes the mind off interviews.

LOL! Yes indeed... and if nothing else I've learned how to change a plug socket...

 

[Anonymous]

Why do UK sockets come with switches anyway? They don't use switches in most other countries.

 

[roger06]

Why do UK sockets come with switches anyway? They don't use switches in most other countries.

Indeed. And we're the only country that has fused plugs...

 

[jase fox]

Well, I've just competed the task and of course many will say I 'want' to hear a difference. But it is a slight improvement. Spinning Patty Larkin's "Coming up for Air" on CD – great track if you're wanting to test separation of vocals and strings – then her voice is just that little clearer, the bass a bit more controlled.

Could I be imagining it? Yes, I'll concede that's possible.

Was it worth it ? well yeah, for £12, half an hour of my time and only one minor electric shock then yes, hi fi's all about minor tweaks and I'm glad I've done it.

BUT - could it also be I've also taken the trouble to untangle the mess of mains, interconnects and speaker cable that's built up behind the cabinet? Yes, that could also be true.

Still, I'm a happy chap!

Hi Roger06

I did this experiment a few years ago and did'nt expect to much and to my surprise i came up with the same results you did.

So have we both just imagined it? hmmm?

Dont know about you but even though i switch the main power off before changing the sockets etc im still hesitant at first touching the bare wires ha