Mains treatments

[Ali Tait]

This company will do you a 230:115+115 balanced transformer-

http://www.jmsonline.co.uk/?gclid=CP...FaFi4wodQVxHqQ

[John]

You can get Industrial Balanced mains units quite cheaply mot sure how good they are
http://www.airlinktransformers.com/b...r-supplies.asp
I use MAD balanced mains transformer which is about £1300 and weighs a ton; all the weight in the transformer which is massive
Russ Andrew charge about double that price
http://www.madengland.com/catalog.power.php I use No5
I have no idea of differences if any between these 3 makes; just to say I would not get rid of mine. This makes a difference even with a seperate power supply and dedicated earth
I used 10mm cable. My room has its own consummer unit and JPS mains cable to mains socket. The mains socket is without on/off switches.
My advice around this is to talk to your electrician about what you hoping to get and follow any advice they give.
Steve dedicated Earth thread had loads of great infomation

[MartinT]

I agree with your above comments about the audible benefits to a system of putting this type of Vertex passive mains distribution in circuit although I was also very impressed with Martin T's PS Audio PPP which powers his system.

I haven't heard Steve's Vertex unit but I am a firm believer in regenerated mains. The PS Audio Powerplant Premier has five isolated (from each other) outputs and powers my entire system, including power amp. It certainly enhances dynamics and gives a very low noise floor. I paid £1499 but I believe it now costs £1799.

[electric beach]

The Taga is a 6 socket unit and I use the Jaya to seperate the Transport (socket 1) from the Dac (socket 3) and then Preamp, Power amp and finally the REL sub. I'll try putting it between the Dac and Preamp but I'd like to know more about how Anthony's unit is intended to be used and whether it's of a design that would compliment the Vertex equipment. Is this idea of seperating digital / analgue applicable to any seperate mains distribution or only in the context of this particular filter.

Thanks all, for the info and comments on balanced mains, it's not an area that I knew much about before. At this apparent price level it's something for the future for me, I've a couple of outstanding issues to sort first (namely upgraded speaker crossovers and three more Mark Grant cables to give me a coherent cable loom).

Just a follow-up and an answer to my own question; I moved the Sub's mains supply from the common Taga distribution unit, fearing that a lot of vibration would be travelling back up the mains cable to it. I also moved the Jaya filter from between the transport and dac, to seperate the dac and the preamp/poweramp. This made a great improvement to the musical connection and the definition of the soundstage. Putting it between the dac and preamp didn't seem to sit well at all (sometimes you need to go past the limit to find where that limit lies)

Having just read the post on the Scalford Hall thread about the Hugh Masekela album Hope, I played Stimela. Then the whole album - sublime. It's a work that I know well but it struck me for the first time that this actually took place in quite an intimate venue - an honesty to the acoustic and the resulting quality of the applause echo brought it to my attention.

I'm very happy to have discovered an improvement through 'housekeeping' from the comments about the TD mains filter, but I don't understand how it works or why it is suitable for some kit and not others, therefore cannot begin to consider if getting one would be a logical development for me.

Thanks again for the info and experiences.

[Ali Tait]

Steve,it's fairly cheap if you go for an industrial type unit.Ok,it's not in a fancy hardwood box with a nice granite plinth,but it will do just the same job,honest! There's no magic involved,as long as the transformer is correctly specced and will supply adequate current with a decent margin,Bob is indeed your relative!

Hint-The fancy audiophile ones have the same trannie inside.

[sondale]

I recently had fitted the Airlink 5KV balanced transformer - not too much money - BUT - it has to be fitted by a qualified electrician and a seperate Earth has to be fitted i.e. one of those that is sunk into the ground and kept wet (not hard in the UK).

I had this done when my distribution box and lots of other wiring was being done - so I cannot say how much that part of the work cost.

It certainly gets rid of all the rubbish that was on the mains - even my Sky HD box has become quiet(er).

[Ali Tait]

What's it done for the sound?