View Full Version : Excellent quality mains cable for less than beer money
mad-moon
21-11-2013, 01:28
Thought I'd point this cable out for sale on ebay...real quality mains cable ..inexpensive..not mine..and I've nothing to do with the seller..I've bought 4 meters of the cable and it is quality.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331039879934?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_2930wt_1551
The Grand Wazoo
21-11-2013, 09:01
Lovely, but what kind of beer do you drink if it's more than £7.99!?
mad-moon
21-11-2013, 10:18
Well most places today you barely get any change out of £8.00 for 2 pints...and most laddos have 5 or 6 pints (being conservative) on a night oot
Lovely, but what kind of beer do you drink if it's more than £7.99!?
Beobloke
21-11-2013, 10:31
Just to point out for anyone thinking of buying this cable, whilst there is a good chance it is fine, it does not meet regulations or have the correct colour coding for UK mains wiring.
mad-moon
21-11-2013, 10:57
does this cable meet regulations and have the correct colour coding?? or does it make a difference that it has Furutech written on it?... and it's made in taiwan!!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Furutech-FP-314Ag-Power-Cable-/390692452606?pt=UK_Computing_Sound_Vision_Audio_Ca bles_Adapters&hash=item5af715b8fe#ht_3498wt_1170
Just to point out for anyone thinking of buying this cable, whilst there is a good chance it is fine, it does not meet regulations or have the correct colour coding for UK mains wiring.
Beobloke
21-11-2013, 13:04
does this cable meet regulations and have the correct colour coding?? or does it make a difference that it has Furutech written on it?... and it's made in taiwan!!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Furutech-FP-314Ag-Power-Cable-/390692452606?pt=UK_Computing_Sound_Vision_Audio_Ca bles_Adapters&hash=item5af715b8fe#ht_3498wt_1170
No, that doesn't meet UK regulations either. I'm not sure what the manufacturer or manufacturing location has to do with anything.
No, that doesn't meet UK regulations either. I'm not sure what the manufacturer or manufacturing location has to do with anything.
True, this sort of thing does make me think...
"(Note: Due to current British Standards regulations, any mains cables using conductors of greater than 1.5 sq mm are NOT LEGAL as a pre-terminated cable for domestic use - hence LoRad 2.5 is NOT available with factory-fitted UK connectors - however Schuko terminated versions are available in EC)." http://www.lorad.co.uk/what/how-to-buy.html
Now, if there was an equipment failure and damage to the kit, home or both, and the insurers found out a system was using "illegal" power cables, what do you think the outcome would be?
mad-moon
21-11-2013, 16:52
2 x different cables made in china..one with furutech printed on it and one with aucharm printed on it...seems one cable is more accepted than the other...the other big hifi forum has removed the link..I'll say nothing about furutech...:whistle:
No, that doesn't meet UK regulations either. I'm not sure what the manufacturer or manufacturing location has to do with anything.
Using cables or plugs which do not conform to British standards is a personal issue however it is only fair and proper to make people aware of any potential risk concerning such equipment. If you are at all worried that using such items could invalidate your home insurance then my advice would be to steer clear. I do... ;)
What is the situation in the UK regarding insurance, if cable using the old colour-coding (red, black and green) for the conductors is used?
What is the situation in the UK regarding insurance, if cable using the old colour-coding (red, black and green) for the conductors is used?
How would it need to be wired to set fire? Answer it cannot! The fuse would blow in the plug, or the fuse in the appliance or the RCD, we have been here before people preaching about insurance and houses burning down, frankly most people pay little attention to this which can be substantiated by the amount of dodgy chinese crap on ebay that sells in the 1000's and I mean mains plugs and IEC connectors mostly, just take a look and you will see.
I suggest we move on.
How would it need to be wired to set fire? Answer it cannot! The fuse would blow in the plug, or the fuse in the appliance or the RCD, we have been here before people preaching about insurance and houses burning down, frankly most people pay little attention to this which can be substantiated by the amount of dodgy chinese crap on ebay that sells in the 1000's and I mean mains plugs and IEC connectors mostly, just take a look and you will see.
I suggest we move on.
You misunderstand my question. Clearly if mains connectors are used which do not conform to BS 1363, or other UK standards, are used, then if a fire occurred which could be traced to these connectors, the insurance company would have good cause to reject the claim.
I assume there are UK safety standards appropriate to the flexible cable used, though no cable I have seen is marked as such, although the cables may be marked as conforming to other European and US standards. If such UK standard exists, does this include the colour coding of the conductors?
I wouldn't use any Chinese-made mains connectors: if I find any, they are replaced by UK-made items.
Ali Tait
21-11-2013, 21:09
There must still be millions of miles of mains cable still in use in old houses etc that carries the old colour code.
Hi,
I like the look of this cable's construction, especially the dense copper braid and foil screen. Is there any benefit to the mixed strand size (3 x 0.6mm OFC and 28 x 0.23mm OFC) in the conductors?. Does anyone know of a cable with similar construction available for DIY purposes for sane money that complies with UK regs (insulation and colour coding?).
Thanks,
Alex
There must still be millions of miles of mains cable still in use in old houses etc that carries the old colour code.
and millions of people using copper bar for fuses too!
well not millions but a few!
and chinese made stuff in the most unlikely places in all houses
Hi,
I like the look of this cable's construction, especially the dense copper braid and foil screen. Is there any benefit to the mixed strand size (3 x 0.6mm OFC and 28 x 0.23mm OFC) in the conductors?. Does anyone know of a cable with similar construction available for DIY purposes for sane money that complies with UK regs (insulation and colour coding?).
Thanks,
Alex
I think you will find that a high percentage of audio mains cables do not comply but still get used and sold and have been for many many years
and millions of people using copper bar for fuses too!
Even more surprising is how many plugs are STILL in daily use with the foil from a fag packet wrapped around the mains fuse :eek:
Firebottle
22-11-2013, 08:42
If I recall correctly when the colours changed to Green/yellow, Brown and Blue, this was for flexible/detachable cables.
You could still use Green, Red and Black for fixed cable installations, whether this is still the case I am not sure.
:cool: Alan
Beobloke
22-11-2013, 10:20
If I recall correctly when the colours changed to Green/yellow, Brown and Blue, this was for flexible/detachable cables.
You could still use Green, Red and Black for fixed cable installations, whether this is still the case I am not sure.
:cool: Alan
This is all very well but the original eBay cable uses red, black and clear and the Furutech red white and green. The former correspeonds to no known standard and the latter is a jumble of several different ones!
Is there any benefit to the mixed strand size (3 x 0.6mm OFC and 28 x 0.23mm OFC) in the conductors?.
No.
Even more surprising is how many plugs are STILL in daily use with the foil from a fag packet wrapped around the mains fuse :eek:
Yeah, smoking is bad for you.:lol:
mad-moon
22-11-2013, 10:45
just about every electrical item used in a British household has Chinese components in it of some sort..including items made/assembled in Britain..even british amplification..the cable I put up good grief is exceptionally well made and probably made to stricter standards than uk safety measures..China is the industrial capital of the world..!
I think too much is made of the likelihood of Insurance rejecting claims because of oddly coded cable. As long as its sufficient for the given load what's the problem? Has anyone any evidence for claims rejection based on this?
I think too much is made of the likelihood of Insurance rejecting claims because of oddly coded cable. As long as its sufficient for the given load what's the problem?
Precisely - safety is ultimately all that matters! Some folk do get rather prissy about pointless trivialities :rolleyes:
As David has pointed out, there are 1000s of 'dodgy' Chinese-made electrical products out there for sale LEGALLY in every town, especially at this time of year, the construction of which warrants this type of scrutiny far more than a mains cable for a hi-fi system, which in reality is perfectly fit for purpose... Honestly, some people have an unfortunate propensity to pedantically scrutinise the buggery out of everything...! :doh:
I would suggest that folk worry more about how some of the toys are made (electrical and otherwise) they'll buying for their kids this year for Xmas, or about the wiring quality on thousands of Christmas tree lights and other cheaply made, mass-produced electrical decorations, plugged into the mains supply for hours on end, and often left unattended, whilst parties carry on regardless elsewhere..........
In short, folks, get a life and worry about things that actually matter! :exactly:
Marco.
Beobloke
22-11-2013, 12:55
..the cable I put up good grief is exceptionally well made and probably made to stricter standards than uk safety measures..China is the industrial capital of the world..!
The latter statement may be true (in terms of quantity at least), but I would be very dubious about the former. You might want to have a read of this if you'd like further insight:
Poorly Made in China (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Poorly-Made-China-Insiders-Production/dp/0470928077)
mad-moon
22-11-2013, 13:26
yes I agree there is some rubbish which comes out of China..the likes of cheap toys..However..this book is almost 3 years old...and talks about a period of over 20 years...a vast majority of which no longer goes on today..
The latter statement may be true (in terms of quantity at least), but I would be very dubious about the former. You might want to have a read of this if you'd like further insight:
Poorly Made in China (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Poorly-Made-China-Insiders-Production/dp/0470928077)
The latter statement may be true (in terms of quantity at least), but I would be very dubious about the former. You might want to have a read of this if you'd like further insight:
Poorly Made in China (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Poorly-Made-China-Insiders-Production/dp/0470928077)
And of course us Brits don't do 'shoddy' do we? Let's get real here for a moment, China is no different from any other country which manufactures goods, it has its good and bad producers. There has been some exquisite kit produced in China and what's more there are manufacturers there who really care about their reputation abroad. On the flip side, there are also some horror stories too but the same can be said of any manufacturing economy, take Amstrad or British Leyland for instance if you want home grown examples. It would seem that it is currently fashionable to bash Chinese goods. To those who do I would like to remind them that a similar situation existed in the late 1960's early 70's regarding Japanese products. Get the picture?
Ali Tait
22-11-2013, 13:58
You did on a Japanese telly. :lol:
Beobloke
22-11-2013, 14:23
And of course us Brits don't do 'shoddy' do we?
Look, I've spent the last 4 years driving around in a 20 year old Range Rover - I know all about shoddy build quality! :D
However there is a difference between the "that'll do" manufacturing attitude exhibited by the likes of British Leyland and the activities of Chinese manufacturers that present their abilities to make high precision items well at low cost (which they can indeed do!) but then deliberately let quality standards start to gently slide once a nice big order has been placed, knowing it would be uneconomical for the end purchaser to tell them to take a hike and move production to a different factory.
yes I agree there is some rubbish which comes out of China..the likes of cheap toys..However..this book is almost 3 years old...and talks about a period of over 20 years...a vast majority of which no longer goes on today..
There are plenty of high quality Chinese manufacturing operations that care about quality. But I'm afraid that to paint them all as an all-encompassing magical solution to the problem of low cost, high quality production is sadly optimistic.
I have two friends who work for large UK companies, and both are in charge of specifying, testing and sourcing various electrical and mechanical domestic items. All of these come from Chinese factories and each of them spends two or three months a year in China. Believe me when I say that most of their stories are interesting, some are amusing and some are downright disturbing. Each has a list of companies whose products they would never consider buying for personal use, having seen what goes on in the factories that make them.
Thought I'd point this cable out for sale on ebay...real quality mains cable ..inexpensive..not mine..and I've nothing to do with the seller..I've bought 4 meters of the cable and it is quality.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331039879934?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_2930wt_1551
Its a pig to work with ;) Well made though.
If your dodgy audiophile cable did cause a fire then the likelihood is that it would be totally consumed in that fire - since that is where the fire started - so short of a multi-thousand pound CSI-style investigation, which would only be approved if your claim was very high - hundreds of thousands- you would more than likely get paid. Assuming you did not die in the fire, of course ;)
mad-moon
22-11-2013, 22:46
Haway man...give us a break..I'm using 4 mains cables made up with this cable and it isn't even BURNT IN YET!...
If your dodgy audiophile cable did cause a fire then the likelihood is that it would be totally consumed in that fire - since that is where the fire started - so short of a multi-thousand pound CSI-style investigation, which would only be approved if your claim was very high - hundreds of thousands- you would more than likely get paid. Assuming you did not die in the fire, of course ;)
Haway man...give us a break..I'm using 4 mains cables made up with this cable and it isn't even BURNT IN YET!...
LOL I'm using a fancy mains cable at the moment and not only am I risking life, limb and my fortune (allegedly) it actually makes a worse sound than the no less dodgy stock cable it replaced...what can you do?
any comments on how it sounds?
Stratmangler
10-01-2014, 22:03
any comments on how it sounds?
It doesn't.
It might change the sound of the equipment hanging off it though ;)
Floyddroid
15-01-2014, 10:24
Shouldn't all mains cables be beer money? Mind you, the price of beer theses days!
Thought I'd point this cable out for sale on ebay...real quality mains cable ..inexpensive..not mine..and I've nothing to do with the seller..I've bought 4 meters of the cable and it is quality.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331039879934?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_2930wt_1551
Floyddroid
15-01-2014, 10:30
It's just a pity about the miles of stock cable used my the national grid and the geezer who built the house put behind the socket on the wall. This really negates the expensive mains lead debate to a large degree.
Thought I'd point this cable out for sale on ebay...real quality mains cable ..inexpensive..not mine..and I've nothing to do with the seller..I've bought 4 meters of the cable and it is quality.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331039879934?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_2930wt_1551
It's just a pity about the miles of stock cable used my the national grid and the geezer who built the house put behind the socket on the wall. This really negates the expensive mains lead debate to a large degree.
Not really, what you have said is really really old news and debates about mains have put that to bed years ago chief, proven by 100's of 1000's of people all over the world who have that very same house as you describe with cabling going behind the walls that is mediocre at best, why should the bit that comes from the wall socket to the hi-fi make any jot of difference whatsoever, no one can prove it on a piece of paper but those using their ears can. :)
have to say the 6m stuff is very very good.
It doesn't.
It might change the sound of the equipment hanging off it though ;)
Wha hey! :)
talisman2
15-01-2014, 20:40
i've tried £150 kimber power cords against the standard cables that come with the unit , and can't hear any improvement
Not really, what you have said is really really old news and debates about mains have put that to bed years ago chief, proven by 100's of 1000's of people all over the world who have that very same house as you describe with cabling going behind the walls that is mediocre at best, why should the bit that comes from the wall socket to the hi-fi make any jot of difference whatsoever, no one can prove it on a piece of paper but those using their ears can. :)
Sounds a stock response to a "mains cables make no difference" post from someone who is a mains cable vendor.
Whilst it may be true for you I've never seen any 100s and certainly not 1000s of people that you speak of. I gave one of your magic products much enthused about on here a go and Im still waiting to share what you and a few spoke about in glowing terms, any difference at all.
No I don't want my money back thanks I keep it as a lesson.
Sounds a stock response to a "mains cables make no difference" post from someone who is a mains cable vendor.
Whilst it may be true for you I've never seen any 100s and certainly not 1000s of people that you speak of. I gave one of your magic products much enthused about on here a go and Im still waiting to share what you and a few spoke about in glowing terms, any difference at all.
No I don't want my money back thanks I keep it as a lesson.
You seem to enjoy popping up and taking every opportunity to mention about the mains lead you bought from me making no difference at all, please put it to bed as it's becoming quite tiresome, I have 3000 customers on my database in 3 years of trading, 4500+ positive feedbacks in my ebay shop, granted not all have bought mains leads but a good percentage have, I am one small business so its 100% guaranteed that there are many 1000's of audiophiles who are not like you and buy cables because they improve the sound so please Alan we have all read your comments and know which side of the mains fence you sit, no need to keep on about it and it may seem to some as if you keep singling me out as it always appears to be MCRU you are taking a pop at.
brian2957
15-01-2014, 21:35
Don't want to get involved in this argument but I have bought several mains cables fro MCRU and every one has had a positive effect on the SQ of my system . :)
Wakefield Turntables
15-01-2014, 21:37
This cable looks like an excellent pick for a Garrard 301/401 where the cable sits directly under the motor unit. It looks flexible and well screened so whats not to like? If I can stop any nasties getting into the drive unit then its all good. ;)
Don't want to get involved in this argument but I have bought several mains cables fro MCRU and every one has had a positive effect on the SQ of my system . :)
x2
Wakefield Turntables
17-01-2014, 20:28
I just agree with the bit about not getting involved in an argument. I've come to the conclusion its not worth the hassle and if you think that a cable makes a +ve difference in your system, then great! Don't give a shit what anyone else thinks. ;)
Yes, Alan, give it a rest and change the record. Your input here is basically thread-crapping.
I've told others and you before, threads like this are for people to discuss the product the OP has highlighted, pure and simple. It is not an opportunity for cable sceptics to pour scorn over 'cable believers'.
If you want to start a separate 'sceptic-type' mains cable thread, then do so, but please don't pollute this one any further with your negative remarks. Cheers!
Marco.
brian2957
17-01-2014, 21:09
I just agree with the bit about not getting involved in an argument. I've come to the conclusion its not worth the hassle and if you think that a cable makes a +ve difference in your system, then great! Don't give a shit what anyone else thinks. ;)
You don't have to attend every argument you're invited to Andrew :) Cables make a difference in my system ( not always positive BTW ) and it's not up for debate.
losenotaminute
17-01-2014, 22:12
It's quite disingenuous to start a post with a statement about not getting involved in an argument and then stating a position in the argument at the end IMO.
Lawrence
You seem to enjoy popping up and taking every opportunity to mention about the mains lead you bought from me making no difference at all, please put it to bed as it's becoming quite tiresome, I have 3000 customers on my database in 3 years of trading, 4500+ positive feedbacks in my ebay shop, granted not all have bought mains leads but a good percentage have, I am one small business so its 100% guaranteed that there are many 1000's of audiophiles who are not like you and buy cables because they improve the sound so please Alan we have all read your comments and know which side of the mains fence you sit, no need to keep on about it and it may seem to some as if you keep singling me out as it always appears to be MCRU you are taking a pop at.
Yes, Alan, give it a rest and change the record. Your input here is basically thread-crapping.
I've told others and you before, threads like this are for people to discuss the product the OP has highlighted, pure and simple. It is not an opportunity for cable sceptics to pour scorn over 'cable believers'.
If you want to start a separate 'sceptic-type' mains cable thread, then do so, but please don't pollute this one any further with your negative remarks. Cheers!
Marco.
Well I gave myself a holiday from being logged in to AoS, like what Marco may well have done if I had said any more at the time (heat of the moment and all that). Just read the forum without the temptation to confirm your prejudices.
Congratulations MCRU on posting a convincing picture of my activity it was certainly swallowed without question by Marco and warnings issued as if it was true.
Unfortunately your 'seem' mechanism, what you say I seem to be doing is faulty (wrong). I have not mentioned you or your ineffectual cable since speaking directly to you last Sept/Oct, not once. Search my posts rather than rely on your faulted recollections please. Marco can verify I haven't sneakily deleted any posts since then I just have not mention mains cables.
So I'm trying to be patient and polite about this. As far as Marcos comments go I do not regard saying a cable made no difference as negative, it's neutral really. What would be and is negative is that I found my amp was getting quieter in one channel (it was using your cable).
Contrary to Marcos opinion of me that I am anti mains cables (not curious) I got mains cable from another supplier and replaced your cable. To my joy and amazement the faulted quieter channel sprang back to life and my good old amp was restored. Also a richer sound presentation too. The replacement cable had very good grip of IEC pins which I guess aided the improvement experienced. So I sourced cables for DAC and Phono stages to also bring subtle improvements there.
Should you feel the urge to complain about what I have said/done now on kindly use facts rather than your sense of what seems to be.
Perhaps Marco can update his mental picture of what I am about accordingly too.
I would say if members can only say goodie and positive things on thread topics it isn't going to be a very healthy environment for the forum. Rather artificial really.
You will see this as digging up a dead matter, I see it as setting the record straight rather than changing the record as Marco seemed to think necessary. MCRU you had your say and were believed without question I was not happy to disappear like a guilty miscreant.
Best of luck with your business:)
Edit: Just reminded that some think there is an argument happening. I have made a statement you challenged what I said I'm not looking for dialogue just to correct the record of what has and hasn't happened.
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