Mains Supply and equipment mains leads

[admin_exported]

Hi Guys,

This has probably been asked a dozen and more times but I'll ask again...

When I had my house rewired about 6 years ago I had a separate ring main installed just for my HiFi and TV, the difference between using that main and the 'house' main is clear.

What I want to know is will I gain any benefits from using any thing like 'Russ Andrews' mains lead replacements on the separate items of kit? I'm not sure that I will but would appreciate any feedback or experience of the like.

 

[aliEnRIK]

Your opening a hugh 'can of worms' there mate, but my stance is yes ~ braided cables (Which Russ makes) will make quite a difference (I personally use some cheaper alternatives off ebay)

Braided cables reduce RFI from the mains unlike standard 'shielded' cables

 

[pwiles1968]

aliEnRIK:

(I personally use some cheaper alternatives off ebay)

Oh Do tell which ones, seriously please I would like to experiment, I have even thought about buying some large gauge wire and braiding them myself.

With respect to the original post Filtering is also a good idea, a Tacima 6 Way Block can be picked up for around £30, at that price it is a no brainer really.

 

[aliEnRIK]

They dont have the copper 16 core braid on at the moment, only the silver, but rest assured they do them

Jase who comes on the forum bought a 16 core silver and put it against Russ Andrews DCT treated copper one and said the copper was far better. BUT ~ time will tell as silver takes an age to 'burn in' (Though DCT treatment can make quite a difference from what ive read)

I have 16 core copper fitted to everything save my amps which are solid silver (All from TM3)

ALL have made a marked improvement. Especially to my tv and amps

EDITED BY MODS on safety grounds

 

[PJPro]

Use a drill to twist the wires together?

 

[aliEnRIK]

PJPro:Use a drill to twist the wires together?

Twisting and braiding are two ENTIRELY different things

The few times ive tried braiding I got lost with what I was doing

 

[idc]

Hi Lambechop. A few things about Russ Andrews. They are expensive and their next sale will probably be the start of next year. But they have a returns policy, so if you don't hear anything, just send it back. I have bought mains stuff, cables and equipment off them and everyting apart from their 'supersocket' worked to one extent or another.

I discovered recently that my hifi and TV are on their own spur when I changed some light fittings and a socket and had to figure out what fuse did what. Yet the Silencer mains conditioner I use still makes a difference. If I unplug it I can hear a hiss through my headphones, if I plug it in nothing.

 

[PJPro]

aliEnRIK:
PJPro:Use a drill to twist the wires together?

Twisting and braiding are two ENTIRELY different things

The few times ive tried braiding I got lost with what I was doing

Right over left, left over right...

 

[aliEnRIK]

Yup. Using 17 different pieces of wire and I got lost (I wanted a 16 core braided type). For the sake of 50 quid or so each with wattgate IECs etc I thought I might as well buy em

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all this. I mentioned 'Russ Andrews' as a suggestion, so I'm open to other suggestions..?

I think that if I'm going to go down this route I'll need to find some replacement mains leads with figure 8 ends, as that is what my TV, Blu-ray and V-Box use, my CD and Amp are standard connections, which are far easier to find.

Can any one suggest any other filters other than those built into mains extension boards, I recall seeing some that 'plug-in' to the socket???

Also are there any type on fused extension boards that do not require plugs, I mean where the lead from the kit could be wired into the board, sort of like a fused spur?

One other point... If I have an aerial amplifier in the loft for my tv aerial that isn't plugged into the separate ring main, could this technically add noise to the system (as the aerial lead does find it's way to the tv)? Apologies if that is a dumb question.

 

[clearer_audio]

Lambechop:
Hi Guys,

This has probably been asked a dozen and more times but I'll ask again...

When I had my house rewired about 6 years ago I had a separate ring main installed just for my HiFi and TV, the difference between using that main and the 'house' main is clear.

What I want to know is will I gain any benefits from using any thing like 'Russ Andrews' mains lead replacements on the separate items of kit? I'm not sure that I will but would appreciate any feedback or experience of the like.

Hello Lambechop

I cannot comment on other companies' cables but you should certainly benefit from high performance power cables. The two main benefits are: improved power transfer (i.e., lower impedance) resulting in better power supply performance; and shielding (this reduces airborne noise pick up which can be transferred to the component and also minimises interactions with other audio cables nearby). Braiding can reduce radio-frequency interference (RFI) but this is a narrowband of noise within the whole electro-magnetic (EMI) spectrum; and unlike shielding, braiding will not minimise interactions with other nearby audio cables. I am sure that forum members will post their own experiences and advice; but if you are interested then it is always worthwhile to audition yourself so you can assess the results in the context of your own system.

Hope this helps.

Best regards,

Darren