Mains cable (cheap)

[gasolin]

Next month or in the end of this week i am gonna buy something for my hifi system, i was looking at some mains cable (have for more then 6 month wanted to try som high quality mains cable) and was thinking about trying some for my Denon reciver with c7 plug like the one on denon's and marantz's mini all in one systems and schuko in the other end.Not as pricey as a good dac or selling my speakers and buy some ma bx2.

I have this High-end mains power supply cleaner http://www.valhalla-technology.dk/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=2&Itemid=26 i bought a few years ago that made a difference i noticed the first time i used it.

Looking thru whathifi i found this manis cable http://www.whathifi.com/review/merlin-tarantula-mk6 which dosn't costs a lot, on Merlins home page it costs 40 £ for 1 meter, that's an okay price the cheapes Audioquest 1.0 eu costs in denmark just over 70£ for 1.8 meter

I added a 2.0 meter to my cart an got surprised in a negative way, it said 60£ for the 2 meter version with schuko and equitment connector figure 8,

i thought it was 60£ totally, but it was aditionally 60£ a total of 100£ wth i thought 1 meter 40£ 2 meter 100£ and i guess it's without shipping.

What am i now gonna try that dosn't costs 100£? (not more then 70£)

 

[Reggie Mental]

Buy some albums or a meal out instead. Mains leads don't affect sound quality.

 

[plastic penguin]

Next month or in the end of this week i am gonna buy something for my hifi system, i was looking at some mains cable (have for more then 6 month wanted to try som high quality mains cable) and was thinking about trying some for my Denon reciver with c7 plug like the one on denon's and marantz's mini all in one systems and schuko in the other end.Not as pricey as a good dac or selling my speakers and buy some ma bx2.

I have this High-end mains power supply cleaner http://www.valhalla-technology.dk/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=2&Itemid=26 i bought a few years ago that made a difference i noticed the first time i used it.

Looking thru whathifi i found this manis cable http://www.whathifi.com/review/merlin-tarantula-mk6 which dosn't costs a lot, on Merlins home page it costs 40 £ for 1 meter, that's an okay price the cheapes Audioquest 1.0 eu costs in denmark just over 70£ for 1.8 meter

I added a 2.0 meter to my cart an got surprised in a negative way, it said 60£ for the 2 meter version with schuko and equitment connector figure 8,

i thought it was 60£ totally, but it was aditionally 60£ a total of 100£ wth i thought 1 meter 40£ 2 meter 100£ and i guess it's without shipping.

What am i now gonna try that dosn't costs 100£? (not more then 70£)

A decent kettle quality lead. I changed mine a few years ago on my old tuner and the results was quite impressive.

 

[drummerman]

I am not sure what you use as a system but if it is decent then a nice mains cable can't do no harm.

I've used this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/220331525288?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 and one of those http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/350458322164?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 on my amplifier.

Does it make a difference? No idea and if it does it is very slight but I've made some changes to the receiver and this finishes it off nicely. I have soldered it directly to the board so can't make a direct comparison.but could swear I've seen some angels blinking at me last night ...

regards

PS. Quite a few 'specialist' manufacturers use the same generic core and just apply their own sleeves. Best not to spend a fortune.

 

[CnoEvil]

I would look at the Copper-Line Alpha ranges from Clearer Audio:

http://www.cleareraudio.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1

 

[chebby]

http://www.futureshop.co.uk/mainspower-bandridge-mains-c-100_343.html#.UXgRk0p9CKI

If 1.8m is too long then cut a bit off and fit an MK ToughPlug (about £4).

It's what i'm getting to shorten the mains lead on my M-CR603. (I'll pop the original lead back in the box for when/if I sell it on.)

 

[gasolin]

I would look at the Copper-Line Alpha ranges from Clearer Audio:

http://www.cleareraudio.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1

I have looked at this mains but i costs minimum70,75£ without shipping and i also want's the super suppressor,then i think it's close to 90£ with shipping

Minimum price is because of the Schuko plug and the figure 8 end termination (why is figure 8 end termination so expensive compared to standard iec?)

 

[CnoEvil]

I would look at the Copper-Line Alpha ranges from Clearer Audio:

http://www.cleareraudio.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1

I have looked at this mains but i costs minimum70,75£ without shipping and i also want's the super suppressor,then i think it's close to 90£ with shipping

Minimum price is because of the Schuko plug and the figure 8 end termination (why is figure 8 end termination so expensive compared to standard iec?)

It "may" be because he is quoting for a Furutech one.

Is that the price for the Alpha One?

 

[chebby]

Here is one that won a prize ...

http://www.futureshop.co.uk/merlin-tarantula-mk6-mains-cable-figure-8-15m-p-6370.html#.UXgqA0p9CKI

(£55 for 1.5m with fig.8 connector)

 

[gasolin]

I would look at the Copper-Line Alpha ranges from Clearer Audio:

http://www.cleareraudio.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1

I have looked at this mains but i costs minimum70,75£ without shipping and i also want's the super suppressor,then i think it's close to 90£ with shipping

Minimum price is because of the Schuko plug and the figure 8 end termination (why is figure 8 end termination so expensive compared to standard iec?)

It "may" be because he is quoting for a Furutech one.

Is that the price for the Alpha One?

Yes i need the furutech FI-8N Figure 8 almost 30£ extra :O (don't know how much shipping costs are)

 

[gasolin]

http://www.futureshop.co.uk/mainspower-bandridge-mains-c-100_343.html#.UXgRk0p9CKI

If 1.8m is too long then cut a bit off and fit an MK ToughPlug (about £4).

It's what i'm getting to shorten the mains lead on my M-CR603. (I'll pop the original lead back in the box for when/if I sell it on.)

Dosn't make any sense replacing a standard mains with a cheap one that's like using standard speaker cable and change it with some random standard cable.

I think if i get a difference, i would get it regradless of what it costs, if i don't get at difference i don't think i would get a difference buying a more expensive one. BUT having a high end system i think if i don't notice any difference form a good but cheap mains i might get a noticeable difference buying a more exspensive one, beacuse the cheap but good mains is not better then the standard one on the high end system.

 

[gasolin]

Here is one that won a prize ...

http://www.futureshop.co.uk/merlin-tarantula-mk6-mains-cable-figure-8-15m-p-6370.html#.UXgqA0p9CKI

(£55 for 1.5m with fig.8 connector)

Not bad but i need a schuko plug because i don't like in uk, i live in denmark

 

[chebby]

http://www.futureshop.co.uk/mainspower-bandridge-mains-c-100_343.html#.UXgRk0p9CKI

Dosn't make any sense replacing a standard mains with a cheap one that's like using standard speaker cable and change it with some random standard cable

The point I was trying to make.

It doesn't actually make sense replacing it with anything other than a well made mains lead that meets all the necessary British and EU manufacturing and safety standards. (In my case so I can chop one down to a shorter length - to reduce clutter - and have the original lead intact for when I eventually sell the Marantz.)

Volex make the one supplied with my Marantz. (Maybe your Denon too.) What doesn't it do that a 'boutique' mains lead will?

 

[chebby]

Here is one that won a prize ...

http://www.futureshop.co.uk/merlin-tarantula-mk6-mains-cable-figure-8-15m-p-6370.html#.UXgqA0p9CKI

(£55 for 1.5m with fig.8 connector)

Not bad but i need a schuko plug because i don't like in uk, i live in denmark

Can't you fit one yourself?

Anyway (to save you looking), here is the same one with a Schuko plug...

http://www.futureshop.co.uk/merlin-tarantula-mk6-mains-cable-schuko-fig8-1m-p-4219.html#.UXg0Z0p9CKI

 

[gasolin]

Here is one that won a prize ...

http://www.futureshop.co.uk/merlin-tarantula-mk6-mains-cable-figure-8-15m-p-6370.html#.UXgqA0p9CKI

(£55 for 1.5m with fig.8 connector)

Not bad but i need a schuko plug because i don't like in uk, i live in denmark

Not bad but i need a schuko plug because i don't like in uk, i live in denmark.

Just dont know why, on merlins homepage 1 meter costs 40£ 2 meters costs 50£ more(90£), i mean if the plugs are 50% of the price then 1 meter costs 20£ and there for 1 meter extra shouldn't cost more then aditional 20£, but it costs 50£ (90£ for 2 meter, 2x1 meter with 4 plugs is only 80£). I dont get it

 

[CnoEvil]

Surely it must be possible to source more locally, which should be better value.

 

[gasolin]

http://www.futureshop.co.uk/mainspower-bandridge-mains-c-100_343.html#.UXgRk0p9CKI

Dosn't make any sense replacing a standard mains with a cheap one that's like using standard speaker cable and change it with some random standard cable

The point I was trying to make.

It doesn't actually make sense replacing it with anything other than a well made mains lead that meets all the necessary British and EU manufacturing and safety standards. (In my case so I can chop one down to a shorter length - to reduce clutter - and have the original lead intact for when I eventually sell the Marantz.)

Volex make the one supplied with my Marantz. (Maybe your Denon too.) What doesn't it do that a 'boutique' mains lead will?

I think if i get a difference i will notice one, even with a cheap but good replacment mains(40-70£) not just someting that cost less then 10£, whathifi is reviewing mains and there seems to be a difference in sound, don't know how they test mains,the system or if they can hear grass grow, but they say there is a difference.

I don't know if i will get (hear) a difference, but i would like to find out if i do, on whathifi theres some thread about mains and some do notice a difference, some even prefer mains over interconnects and speaker cable in turns of sound improvements,upgrading

Here is someone who actually noticed a difference http://www.whathifi.com/forum/hi-fi/got-a-mains-cable-dont-judge-me-before-you-hear-what-i-have-to-say.

 

[cheeseboy]

whathifi is reviewing mains and there seems to be a difference in sound, don't know how they test mains,the system or if they can hear grass grow, but they say there is a difference.

in fairness, what hi fi's cable reviews should all be taken with a pinch of salt.

 

[Overdose]

What am i now gonna try that dosn't costs 100£? (not more then 70£)

No mains cable is ever going to improve on what power goes to your AV equipment, so you may as well make your own cables out of whatever is used for the internal wiring in the home. Mains conditioners may have some effect, but only if you have particularly 'noisy' mains power in the first place. If you don't know if you have noisy mains or not, then you probably don't. Note that it is the job of the power supply built into the equipment to deal with any mains born 'noise'.

You also have to ask yourself, that given how cheap mains power cable is to source, particularly in bulk, why then would the manufacturer supply the equipment with a cable that did not allow the equipment to work properly?