star earthed is what is meant I think Andrew
Printable View
star earthed is what is meant I think Andrew
One in which each outlet socket is wired in a radial fashion to the incoming cable, rather than 'daisy chained' as is more usual with distribution strips.
I don't think it makes the slighest difference, but it could be argued that star wiring allows each socket to see the same source impedance.
That's what this music works lite devices I borrowed was like, and it didn't offer any improvement.
https://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgu...act=mrc&uact=8
It looks like someone saw me coming with a £500 price for no difference to a normal £5.99 block from Jewson.
Hi All,
please see the link below, they are now being built, and produced by Mark Grant, they have been in use now for many years, I used to build them myself, but Mark has now taken over the production of them.
Hope this helps.
Anthony,TD...
http://tubedistinctions.co.uk/mains-filters/
Sorry, Barry, but I have to disagree, as years of experience in experimenting with these things has shown me differently. Don't get me wrong, the sonic improvement gained with star-earthing isn't huge, but it's significant enough to be heard, as indeed is every time lowering mains impedance (via any means) has been achieved.
Experience has shown me that the ideal mains distribution block (should one be needed) is:
a) Non-filtered with no neon lights.
b) Uses high-quality single un-switched sockets and a non-ferrous casing.
c) Star-earthed, using a good quality wiring loom.
d) Has a hard-wired, high-quality mains flex and plug.
Anyone who can't hear the difference between one of the above and your average mass-produced shite, from B&Q, is deaf! ;)
Marco.
I think it's all system and mains dependent as to whether you can hear a difference in one of these star earthed blocks so I don't think it's as simple as saying if you can't hear a difference you must be deaf.
I should have, in theory and considering the price, heard a difference with the music works mains lite block at £500 (using their power lead at £300 ish) but the combined £800 difference was the same to my ears as a £35 Tacima block. About £15k worth of newish speakers, amps and cables was being used, just to say so you can take a view.
But at the Bristol show as I think I might have said, I did the isotek test. Sure many others have too! Speakers were Larsen speakers like the neat iota alphas in design. Amps were an exposure intergrated and exposure CD player. In total about £6k worth I think. Using the Ikea block, then going to the isotek Polaris, then the Aquarius and up to their latest most expensive offering, the changes were very marked. The Aquarius versus the Ikea sounded like a different amp. More dynamics, detail, and speed of attack. You'd expect this in a noisy environment but when you've got sensitive hi fi at home, I suspect it still makes a very good difference.
I reckon this is where the wise money is, if you want an upgrade on using power devices. All these power blocks that are just elaborate powerbars with nothing but a bit of copper in them maybe wired in a different way, and expensive for what they are, are a bit of a con on my experience - but I always accept others have different views. But I've consistently seen people saying they get more from power conditioning and mains regeneration than elaborate non filtered power blocks. You just need the right conditioned ones and decent devices which are sometimes expensive.
I'm trying a isol-8 minisub axis next week at home from paul at hi fi lounge, and will feed back results. It's expensive but it could take my system up a notch. It has common mode and differential rejection and dc filtering. The isotek Aquarius doesn't have dc filtering I don't think.
I'd hazard a guess devices like these will do a lot for most decent systems.