So, what do upgraded mains cables do to your system?

[CageyH]

I am not interested in the opinion of people who state "nothing", as we have all heard and read it before.
I am interested in the opinion of people who have found a positive affect on their system, as I currently have a cable on loan, and I think I have identified a difference in a positive way, so I am interested to know if this correlates with other people's findings, or if my ears are playing tricks on me.

I appreciate that my system is different, as the cable is currently feeding the mains regenerator. I am going to have to convince the Mrs to run a blind test for me, as I really don't want this cable to make a difference.... I thought Imhad almost finished.

[walpurgis]

I am not interested in the opinion of people who state "nothing", as we have all heard and read it before.

Bit of a one sided question then.

[Barry]

Bit of a one sided question then.

I think the question Kevin is asking is "what are the positive improvements people hear when they upgrade their mains cables?"

[CageyH]

Yes, that is the question.
I just didn't want another do they/don't they cable debate.

[ReggieB]

Lower noise floor, more silence and space between instruments and singers.

Didn't notice any difference with first couple of mains leads I tried. The main change came when I brought 4 x Isotek leads and replaced the leads to my amp and sources. Then a further improvement when I added an Isotek mains filter.

I would also add that I have noisy mains. I do things like run network over mains to get computer connections at the end of the house. My belief is if you have a clean mains supply, you won't notice a difference with mains lead upgrades.

[wee tee cee]

The Scottish troops did quite a bit of experimentation with different mains cable/plugs/iec plugs and some fuses. Each element changed the sound slightly in different areas. Small improvements could be rendered through mixing and matching wire with plugs and careful cleaning with deoxit.

Reckon there may be a thread in the vaults if anyone feels like experimenting on a reasonable budget.

I plumped for Mark Grant mains cables throughout-beautiful build and no nonsense components at reasonable money. Once bought they are keepers.

[CageyH]

Thanks for the feedback.
I am surprised more people have not commented.

[Adam D]

Back when I lived in my first flat in the mid-90s the electricity was bad and I used to be able to hear the washing machine motor through my speakers!

I bought one of those Russ Andrew power cables and it cleared up all of the noise, tightened the bass and made everything more enjoyable to listen to.

Since then I have bought quite a few over the years, but I have never been able to repeat that first change in quality that I first experienced :)

[montesquieu]

Thanks for the feedback.
I am surprised more people have not commented.

I'm not.

[SquireC]

I'll second the recommendation for Mark Grant's mains leads. Make a difference for little money.

[Dynamics]

Yes I agree with the previous poster I think, from what I've heard, mains cables only come into effect in improving sq in a system if you change a whole load of them, and the system is good enough as well to get any benefits of mains cables.

From what you said about not being sure in your question, I think that's when bias might come in.

I agree the isoteks are good and the Aquarius demo I went to at the Bristol show this year with around £2k Larsen speakers and about 3-4K of exposure amps and a CD player, revealed very good improvements with the aquarius in outright speed of attack of the amps over an IKEA powerbar. But I guess it was a noisy supply with all the demos going on, but people who have used them at home I've spoken to have all said they are good.

With your regenerator I think you've probably tackled electricitity and say you spent equivalent of £300-£400 on power leads, I'd doubt that performance improvements would be huge. I'd rather spend it on other things I think. I might be wrong though.

[Audio Al]

Am I aloud to ask how old the wiring in you house is ? or is this negative

[Macca]

Am I aloud to ask how old the wiring in you house is ? or is this negative

Negative, ;) O/P has asked for people who have heard differences to comment only. You can always start a new thread if you want a more wide-ranging discussion.

[Audio Al]

Negative, ;) O/P has asked for people who have heard differences to comment only. You can always start a new thread if you want a more wide-ranging discussion.

OK I will shut up :)

[CageyH]

Am I aloud to ask how old the wiring in you house is ? or is this negative

The wiring in my house that goes to my HiFi is 12 months old. The wiring to my house is much older.

[Audio Al]

The wiring in my house that goes to my HiFi is 12 months old. The wiring to my house is much older.

In that case I would suggest a new 16 amp ( Thicker cabling ) supply directly from your house fuse box to your hifi room first , then experiment with better quality mains leads

[CageyH]

It is a 20 amp supply that I fitted last year.
The rules in France are different, but thanks for the suggestion.

[alphaGT]

So you're got your new power cable feeding your regenerator? I think you may hear more of a difference if you place the cable between the regenerator and your gear? Worthy of experiment anyway.

I made my own power cable from Furutech wire and Firstwatt plugs, to see for myself if there are any gains to be had. When I first plugged it up, I swore I did not hear any difference. But over time, maybe a few days to a week later, I was suddenly noticing some improvements in high frequencies. Or perhaps better timing? When I removed the wire for a standard wire, I noticed the difference right away, when it lost these improvements. This was placed between my power filter and preamp.


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[CageyH]

The power cable I have is one manufactured my MCRU.
It's a UP-OCC screened cable, furutech copper plugs with filters fitted in the plugs.

I had heard that people say that mains cables made a difference, but it was something I believed would make no difference, so I decided to try it for myself. I am disappointed to say that my system sounds better with it in than the standard power cable.

Everything seems more alive and there is a better soundstage. I even got the Mrs to listen and she liked the upgraded cable better.

[brian2957]

You did the right thing and listened for yourself Kevin . Buying more ? :D

[CageyH]

I have not bought one yet. ;)

[Blueflash]

I converted all my mains leads to LoRad 2.5 mm. It got rid of some top end harshness.