More mains musings....Eliminating hum from speakers and improvements going forward.
Been looking again at my mains setup...
Since the introduction of new 300B valves, new interconnects and a new Dac I’ve been getting a bit of buzz through my balanced mains transformer?
Not a problem in itself as the unit is in the next room, BUT its been leaking hum into the system and through the speakers.
Not good.
So tightened up all earth connections and fitted a DC blocker in circuit which mostly cured it, but not completely.
So if its not just DC on the mains, must be an earth loop somewhere?
Tidied up all the cables behind the rack but no cigar.
Took any switching supplies for routers whatever and powered them from a Belkin isolating mains block in the other room.
Still hum.
Process of elimination, aside swapping interconnects around I did this for all my main boxes
variables were:
- Powering directly from the hardwired balanced mains IEC lead
- Powering straight from the wall using a kettle lead
- Powering from balanced mains connected double socket using kettle lead.
Long story short,
Turns out the new 300Bs was causing it when I directly powered the amp from the balanced mains.
Weirdly, connecting it via a double socket I’d hooked up to it and hum was gone.
*EDIT* Less of a problem now the valves have ran in a bit, maybe initially drifting out of spec until they bedded in - still hums a bit so still an issue.
So powering amp with seperate mains cable plugged in to the double socket is the way to go.
HERES THE QUESTION PART:
As both my Dac and Valve amp will be plugged into the double socket, I want to run a half metre of *best quality* mains cable from the balanced mains to the double socket.
Using a switchless MK or Crabtree socket at the moment, and want to fit something better in there.
1) Whats the best quality mains cable I can buy (only a half metre so cost not a factor)
2) Without being too Foo about it, whats a recommended double 13a socket?
I use PS Audio mains cables for amp and Dac, everything else hardwired from balanced mains so no need to go back to the joy of trying out different mains cables thankfully.
Just a half meter of top banana mains cable and a quality double 13a socket.
The fench solid core stuff Marco got me thats hooking up my balanced mains is great and perfect for that application, just want to maximise the power supply to dac and the amp now I’ve seen that last bit of cable before the black box DOES make a difference.
Thanks much. :)