Extension leads/Blocks.

[southall-1998]

Will need to get one soon for my system.

Can some members suggest some good extension leads Or Blocks that is suitable to use with Audio.

Regards.

[Artifolk]

Try Mark Grant and Mains Cables R Us. ( both members here)

Both will have something to your liking.
Also knowing how much you'd like to spend would be helpful.

[Interconnect]

I'm quite fond of the Tacima mains conditioner.

[southall-1998]

Any good places to buy the Tacima from?

[Interconnect]

eBay.

Rrp is around £50 I think, got mine for £26 new posted.

[YNWaN]

I'm not fond of the sonic effects of any kind of conditioner, filter etc.

If you are up for a bit of DIY I would recommend you either made your own Hydra mains lead or your own distribution block. Buy some unswitched 13A sockets and surface mount boxes - wire them together with some good thick cable (not some fancy 'audiophile' rubbish) and mount them to a piece of board - job done.

[brian2957]

Any good places to buy the Tacima from?

Hi, cheapest on Ebay or Amazon .
Brian.

[Marco]

I'm not fond of the sonic effects of any kind of conditioner, filter etc.


They definitely don't work in a Naim system, Mark, as I hated them when I had mine.

However, they can be effective with other types of equipment, particularly if they're the type of filters which don't 'sit' on the sound of a system (the only type I'd use). I wouldn't be without my Tube Distinctions one, which I use purely to filter out the digital hash from my CDP and DAC:


http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/1346/marcofilter.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/824/marcofilter.jpg/)


Trust me, it is extremely effective and massively improves the sound of my digital front end (and the rest of the system, plugged into the same mains distribution block, also benefits)! :)


Unfortunately, I have no experience of the Tacima.

Marco.

[MCRU]

the tacima is £30 plus shipping, its OK but not really audiophile, it strangles dynamics in a lot of systems, my 6 gang silver plated block was reviewed in hifi world the month before last, David Price really liked it and I sold mountains as a result, I would get that or the un-plated one as no filtering, no on-off switch and no light, what more do you need?

http://www.mains-cables-r-us.co.uk/279-496-thickbox/audiophile-mains-block-silver-plated.jpg

here it is if of interest (http://www.mains-cables-r-us.co.uk/mains-extention-products/279-audiophile-mains-block-silver-plated.html)

don't forget your AOS discount code MAINS10

[Reid Malenfant]

Get yourself one of these (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Belkin-PureAV-Isolator-6-Way-Surge-Protector-F9G623UK-/160704977404?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item256ac359fc) :) Seperate filtering for different components & full surge protection... Just like a Belkin PF30 but without the fancy case & display :eyebrows:

There may be others on ebay that are cheaper, it's the first one I came accross :cool:

[YNWaN]

...,particularly if they're the type of filters which don't 'sit' on the sound of a system

That's just it, all the ones I have heard do precisely that - smooth the sound out by reducing dynamic contrast; I've never tried the effect of connecting a CD player to one though - just amplification.

[Reid Malenfant]

That's just it, all the ones I have heard do precisely that - smooth the sound out by reducing dynamic contrast; I've never tried the effect of connecting a CD player to one though - just amplification.
Never connect a power or integrated amp to any conditioner unless it's rated at stupid current as it'll increase the line impedance significantly.

The Belkin conditioners are superb for all front end kit that draws less than 50VA, I'd suggest any integrated or power amp is plugged straight into the mains unless you get a custom made filter that will handle 10KW+ so as not to introduce too much line impedance.. The more powerful the amp the more stupid you'll need to go with the filter so as not to constrict things current wise ;)

[Marco]

Oh no, I'd NEVER plug an amp into a filter - other than perhaps something like a high-current PS Audio mains regenerator. As Mark correctly says:


Never connect a power or integrated amp to any conditioner unless it's rated at stupid current as it'll increase the line impedance significantly.


What my TD one does is filter out the hash/noise generated by digital sources (they ALL do this) and stop it 'infecting' the rest of the system which is plugged into the same distribution block.

This results in greater clarity and sense of space around voices and instruments, throughout the whole system, thus allowing greater insight into all recordings. It doesn't 'sit' on the sound at all, or smooth it. Quite the opposite, in fact! :)

Marco.

[Welder]

Interesting this.

I had a very simple filter for the digital stuff in my distribution block before I got the dedicated mains sorted and every now and then I would forget which lead was which and plug the amp which only drew 75W, into the digital outlet and I used to think it sounded different.
I put it down to audio paranoia at the time but since sorting out the balanced mains with no conditioning at all I'm not so sure.

[YNWaN]

Or, you could avoid these system nasties by not connecting up the CD player, DAC, switch mode power supply in the first place - which is what I do :).

[keiths]

Get yourself one of these (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Belkin-PureAV-Isolator-6-Way-Surge-Protector-F9G623UK-/160704977404?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item256ac359fc) :) Seperate filtering for different components & full surge protection... Just like a Belkin PF30 but without the fancy case & display :eyebrows:

There may be others on ebay that are cheaper, it's the first one I came accross :cool:

I use a Belkin PF30 for my system (except for the amp which plugs straight into the wall socket). It makes a big difference pretty much eliminating the difference in sound quality between different times of the day/night.

Yesterday I ordered one of the Belkins that Mark has linked to. The PC, router, TV and FreeSat box are going into that one. Mark's link does seem to be the cheapest at the moment (Dixons had a few on eBay yesterday when I ordered that were a few quid cheaper, but they've now sold out.)

[Reid Malenfant]

They do appear to work quite well Keith :) I seem to remember linking to them in the old PF30/40 thread (maybe elsewhere to) & suggesting they were a good buy & from what I gather eveyrone has been very happy :)

They just aren't a pretty rack mount box...

[Marco]

Or, you could avoid these system nasties by not connecting up the CD player, DAC, switch mode power supply in the first place - which is what I do.

There are no switch mode power supplies anywhere near my system!! ;)

The unfortunate fact is that ALL digital kit generates hash/noise, so if you want to listen to any form of digital music media, through the necessary equipment, the noise I'm referring to is part of the package.

Therefore, if the highest playback fidelity is the aim (count me firmly in), that hash/noise must be effectively removed via the use of a filter, with the absolute minimum impact on the music signal.

Do you actually own a CDP, Mark? I can't remember if you had one or not when I was round :)

Marco.

[YNWaN]

I've got one in a cupboard, there's one in the mini-system in the dining room and one in my car - I think the DVD player in the living room will play CD's too (though I've never tried).

[southall-1998]

So many choices here. I only have 2 sockets in my wall. I don't mind plugging my poweramp straight to the wall socket.

[Reid Malenfant]

I don't mind plugging my poweramp straight to the wall socket.
Always plug your power amp into the wall socket :)

[southall-1998]

Always plug your power amp into the wall socket :)

Remembering:)

[southall-1998]

I'm not fond of the sonic effects of any kind of conditioner, filter etc.

If you are up for a bit of DIY I would recommend you either made your own Hydra mains lead or your own distribution block. Buy some unswitched 13A sockets and surface mount boxes - wire them together with some good thick cable (not some fancy 'audiophile' rubbish) and mount them to a piece of board - job done.

Mark, I'm no DIY man:lol:

Maybe you can build one for me:)

[Marco]

I've got one in a cupboard, there's one in the mini-system in the dining room and one in my car - I think the DVD player in the living room will play CD's too (though I've never tried).

Ah, so there isn't one in your main system... Thought not. None of this pish applies to you then :D

Marco.

[icehockeyboy]

They do appear to work quite well Keith :) I seem to remember linking to them in the old PF30/40 thread (maybe elsewhere to) & suggesting they were a good buy & from what I gather eveyrone has been very happy :)

They just aren't a pretty rack mount box...

I managed to get one from CurryDix at a good price, and I believe they are quite a bit superior to the Tacima which is now connecting up all my AV kit.