New Electrics - Better Sound?

[Ninanina]

My house has just been given an electric overhaul... new sockets everywhere and new switches as well.. all sockets and switches are now by MK rather than the cheapo ones that were removed

Should the system sound any better for it?

Well I might be imagining it but I think there is a slight improvement but it could also be the placebo effect :doh:

[struth]

Sure as hell wont hurt if done right...;) Nice clean, tight contacts are bound to help.

[Ninanina]

Ooops I am so sorry I placed this post in the wrong section, thanks to whoever moved it... :)

Well that's what I thought Grant, it won't hurt...

I was never happy with the cheapo components used in the last electric update, I am much happier with MK stuff.. the two lads that did it were fantastic and completed it so quickly, they really knew what they were doing

I did not have it done to improve the hifi though but it won't do it any harm I'm sure.. ;)

[Simon_Nottingham]

I'm about to move and I'm planning to add a new spur (if that's the right term) from the fuse box just for the hi fi. As you say, can't hurt. I think moving off the same circuit as things like the fridge and boiler that click on and off regularly has to be a good thing.

[Oldpinkman]

It might be if all the circuits weren't connected to each other at that same fuseboard. Try plugging in an eternet homeplug on your new spur, and another next to the fridge and stream data between the 2 to see how pointless (but harmless) the new spur is.
Much the same for the sockets unless the original ones were poor to the point of defective

[Oldpinkman]

A more worthwhile tip is the one given to me by Marco (no not that one - our Swiss electrician in France)
Which is to check the tightness of the screw connectors on each socket wire at least annually. They can work loose. OK, sounds like a job creation scheme for electricians, but I have noticed it before.

Another tip is try not to let the jcb rip out the earth spike when digging the retaining wall for your new swimming pool. Unfortunately he gave us that tip after we had... :doh:

[Ali Tait]

I'm about to move and I'm planning to add a new spur (if that's the right term) from the fuse box just for the hi fi. As you say, can't hurt. I think moving off the same circuit as things like the fridge and boiler that click on and off regularly has to be a good thing.

Correct term is radial. A spur is a single cable taken off a ring circuit.

[Simon_Nottingham]

It might be if all the circuits weren't connected to each other at that same fuseboard. Try plugging in an eternet homeplug on your new spur, and another next to the fridge and stream data between the 2 to see how pointless (but harmless) the new spur is.
Much the same for the sockets unless the original ones were poor to the point of defective

Right. I won't bother then!

A hi-fi dealer I used to know (sold Audio Note stuff) told me of someone who paid to have a completely separate mains supply just for the hi-fi. He had them use the grade of cable they typically use for a block of flats. I guess if you've got £60k for an Ongaku you don't worry about spending on 'accessories'.

[Simon_Nottingham]

Correct term is radial. A spur is a single cable taken off a ring circuit.

Thanks.

[Lawrence001]

Coincidentally I'm having a rewire and have asked for a radial circuit for the hifi. I picked MK unswitched sockets for the 2 outlets. I considered 2 circuits, one analogue and one digital but thought it was overkill due to they all meet at the fuse box anyway point.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Oldpinkman]

I may well have a dedicated radial installed too. But in my case this is because the French install a new radial circuit for everything. The fuseboard is like the flight control deck of a space shuttle. Good, fit for purpose sockets, with the wire screws done up tight will avoid fault conditions on that circuit.

But I am posting via an ethernet connection from a home plug on one of the circuits, connecting me to the router on another of them. There is no "isolation".

[brian2957]

The consumer unit in my house was the old '' wire fuse '' type . I had a new one fitted with RCDs a couple of years ago and definitely heard an improvement in SQ , so you're not imagining things Bev . I would install a dedicated circuit for my hifi , however it's in an extension and miles away from the consumer unit :(

[Gazjam]

The consumer unit in my house was the old '' wire fuse '' type . I had a new one fitted with RCDs a couple of years ago and definitely heard an improvement in SQ , so you're not imagining things Bev . I would install a dedicated circuit for my hifi , however it's in an extension and miles away from the consumer unit :(

The "consumer unit" is in your meter box cupboard mate.
Just take a dedicated spur from that to your hifi if you want to go down that road, fit n forget.

Knowing that the CU is behind a wee door at the back of your livingroom I woudn't bother :)

[brian2957]

Yup , but it's bliddy miles away from my hifi mate and my whole bottom floor is covered with laminate flooring which , some of which would have to come up :rolleyes:

[MikeMusic]

After we had the house refurbed I thought the sound was a bit off.

Put that down to the different room, no
Gradually it got better without me doing anything.

My guess:
The new cable bedded in

[Ninanina]

, so you're not imagining things Bev . :(

I am glad I am not imagining it Brian... I am convinced there is a difference, and for the better.... I think the outgoing cheapo sockets were doing the sound no good at all... ;)

[Barry]

After we had the house refurbed I thought the sound was a bit off.

Put that down to the different room, no
Gradually it got better without me doing anything.

My guess:
The new cable bedded in

More likely the carpet and wallpaper 'bedding in'. :D