Mains Supply & Surge Protection - Where to start?

[admin_exported]

I'm a new-comer to What Hi-Fi Sound and Vision. I was quite surprised to discover the variety of Mains Products available.

I have just upgraded my Home Cinema system to a Denon AVR-1910 paired with the Q Acoustics 2000 Cinema pack. Whilst this may be a budget system to some, it is a significant investment for me, and one that I'm keen to enhance and protect.

I'd like to add some surge protection. What can you recommend that would give most benefit/least detriment to my AV equipment? I've also seen your reviews of products such as the "Chord Company SuperScreen" which sound beneficial, but I can't afford to buy for all my components at once. Which would be the best one to start with receiver, TV etc.?

Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

But this for a start for your system....

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.superfi.co.uk/images/main/Tacima-6wmc-600.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/Product_ID/4427&usg=__BnKzOYFJVX1vz-BBkB-08WFAny8=&h=257&w=435&sz=9&hl=en&start=3&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=w_qc5gwYk-3B6M:&tbnh=74&tbnw=126&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtacima%2B6%2Bway%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26tbs%3Disch:1

i paid £25 from e bay.

 

[True Blue]

1st get a tacima cs929 mains conditioner and surge protector around £25-£40.

2nd when upgrading power supply cables always start with your source ie blu ray players first, then display finally amp and subwoofer.

Enjoy

 

[clearer_audio]

Hi

Very basic surge protection will protect surges and transients that occur through the live and neutral lines. If you want more comprehensive surge protection then look for three-channel systems which protect all lines (live-neutral, live-earth, neutral-earth). Surge protection will also have varying levels of performance both in terms of clamping currents (e.g., 5,000A versus 10,000A) and transient response (e.g., 25 nano-seconds versus 70 nano-seconds). The better the performance, the higher level of protection.

Hope this helps.

Best regards,

Darren

 

[Anonymous]

True Blue..

Im thinking of these products?, whats your opinion? ( hifi only),

http://www.audioaffair.co.uk/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=3212

http://www.audioaffair.co.uk/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=3205

I can pick up mini sub locally for £450 new mind...

 

[Anonymous]

Just tried the Tacima 929, the tv immedietly benefits from deeper blacks and better motion I was really impressed for the sounds, it seems to be cleaner and more controlled, especially on the low and high end, but very clean and detailed.

 

[Anonymous]

The Tacima CS929 is a very good product for what can be regarded as beer money compared to far more expensive items that may not work as well depending on your system, the plug they also make which simply plugs into a spare socket either in the block itself or a spare wall socket is effective, both together IMHO is a very effective mains solution for little outlay, I would advise anyone who wants to experiment with conditioning/surge protection to go down that route before wasting money on expensive solutions that may not give the desired results!

Although thanks to the distance selling regulations anything purchased on-line can always be returned if not suitable.

 

[True Blue]

reggaedave:
True Blue..

Im thinking of these products?, whats your opinion? ( hifi only),

http://www.audioaffair.co.uk/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=3212

http://www.audioaffair.co.uk/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=3205

I can pick up mini sub locally for £450 new mind...

Neither. Personally I would say fitting a dedicated radial CCT, preferably with its own consumer unit, fed direct from the main incomer using 6mm shieded cable would give much better results for approx £200

 

[Anonymous]

agreed

save the extra money and spend it on stocking up on beer and wine for the world cup!

 

[Anonymous]

Im looking into a dedicated ring main, would be hell to get in tho due to house size/ the run.

Thinking of putting a spur unit off my ring main, to a socket, then out througth my russ andrews supercube....

Silver mk tough plug, silver sy cable, to two mk double sockets...

With the tacima plugged into one of the sockets for cd players power...

Have to experiment a bit

 

[True Blue]

Why ring? Radial uses 1/2 the wire?

Ideally needs to be seperate from Consumer unit. ie another consumer unit.

2nd down the list is a dedicated MCB. Dont forget also to make sure you are getting a good z reading first as this can help no end

Absolutely definately not spurred

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I'm thinking that I'll probably try the Tacima as a start and then perhaps add replacement cables as budget allows.

 

[Anonymous]

Radial.....Agree, don't forget to use 40Amp wire on it, and depending what other ring circuits are running near it shielded.

Then feed it into a decent mains transformer to smooth out its supply.

Then enjoy!

 

[Anonymous]

True Blue:reggaedave:
True Blue..

Im thinking of these products?, whats your opinion? ( hifi only),

http://www.audioaffair.co.uk/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=3212

http://www.audioaffair.co.uk/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=3205

I can pick up mini sub locally for £450 new mind...

Neither. Personally I would say fitting a dedicated radial CCT, preferably with its own consumer unit, fed direct from the main incomer using 6mm shieded cable would give much better results for approx £200

True Blue, ive got an isotek solus coming to try for my hi fi, but i am in a position to install a radial for hifi dedicated circuit.

What is the radial you have had put in, how is it fed? do you just have a few unswitched sockets on it then?

cheers dave

 

[Adnams]

The Tacima is a great start.

Then try Audioquest or Merlin mains leads in your system.

I have a mixture and they work really well in mine.