wtd good quality mains distribution block

[Open Door]

Interesting. For whatever (little?) it’s worth the Tacima mains conditioner has some good reviews (https://www.whathifi.com/tacima/cs947/review) - have folk here any experience with them?

I’ve used them in the past and agree with the reviews. For the money - stonking!

[mfin]

Don't bother with anything cheap that has a filter or surge protection in it, they can affect the sound negatively. It's easy to think they are a good idea, they're not really.

The Olson ones with the led bypassed are an ok shout for something cheap, especially if you can find one with no switches. The dreaded Russ Andrews make their Powerbar S, which is pretty good if you can pick one up s/h. If you want something star-earthed, a Wireworld Matrix 2 is a good shout.

For completely star wired ones, unless you want to spend more like £500-600 you are better off building your own (if you know what you are doing!!!), using good sockets and internal wire that is the same as the feeding power cord, and good crimp or screw copper terminals inside for each of the 3 star terminals for live neutral and earth (UK I am talking here). You could also use Schuko sockets to eliminate having fuses in each cable being plugged in.

For many people, sources and low draw items can all be powered from a regenerator, leaving power amps or integrated amp to be plugged directly into the wall (don't bother plugging into a regen, it makes those items sound worse). This negates lots of the above being needed, a Power Inspired AG500 costs £275 and will power a Dac, CD Transport, Preamp and Phono Stage and be barely using much of its capacity and it's internal fan can be turned all the way down (completely inaudible). The affects of a Mains regen on the items I have listed can be heard immediately in many systems. (Oh, you're good for surge protection from spikes when running one of these and your gear gets a more pure and steady 230v)

[hard1175]

Hi Jamie
I have a True colours constrictor 5 way main block
Which I’m not using £35 + P&P if you’re interested.

Regards
Bernie

[karma67]

cheers,
this may seem like a stupid question but if you know your stuff isn't being moved or unplugged alot whats wrong with using a junction box that eliminates plugs etc?

[mad-moon]

Neither would I

I suppose you won't plug into the British mains system any of your electrical equipment, which is made in China...laptops, computers, mobile phones, television, kitchen appliances...I'm using a British Amplifier,.(allegedly)...It might have been designed in Britain...but it's built in Taiwan...a Musical Fidelity A5 integrated

[Simon_LDT]

I suppose you wont plug into the British mains system any of your electrical equipment, which is made in China...laptops, computers, mobile phones, television,

I don't think the problem is the parts and where they come from, more about the fact that UK items have to conform to electrical safety standards before it is to be sold to the public (even if people think some of these are nonsense). I would bet a lot of these cheap ''buy direct from China on ebay'' electrical items are not compliant with this and while they are most likely fine, it is still a gamble to use them (unless you have knowledge to check/test before using).

I remember not too long back there were concerns over some cheap Linear PSU from China not being correctly earthed, for example.

[postmanpat]

+1 for the Tacima mains conditioner, i think thats good value and have had one for a couple of years.

[paulf-2007]

Cone on guys, it's mains power you're talking about

[Yomanze]

Hi, try one of the many Olsen mains blocks available s/h or new on the web. There are some unswitched ones with no neon. They're heavy, and you can lift them up when holding a plug, super tight connections. Designed for industrial environments, and will drop the impedance compared with cheap blocks lacking tight connections.

[Barry]

cheers,
this may seem like a stupid question but if you know your stuff isn't being moved or unplugged alot whats wrong with using a junction box that eliminates plugs etc?

In principle nothing, provided the feed to the junction box is not hard wired to the house mains supply, otherwise your household insurance could be deemed null and void by your insurers. You need a de-matable connection between the equipment and the mains supply: either a fused 13A style connector if you have a ring main system, or a round-pin 5A or 15A connector (suitably protected with an appropriate overcurrent device in the consumer unit) if you have a radial system.