Mains lead for Quad 306

[fatmarley]

Following on from the thread In the diy room (The perils of modifying gear (http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?53016-The-perils-of-modifying-gear/page5)). What cheap mains lead (pre-made or diy) would you recommend for my Quad 306 power amp?
I haven't experimented with mains cables as I always thought It would be a waste of time, but I'm willing to try one If you guys think It would offer an Improvement.

[fatmarley]

Oh well, at least It's saved me some money :)

[jandl100]

I can lend you a Nordost Blue Heaven mains cable to see if you can hear any difference, Matt.

PM me your address,

[Pieoftheday]

Following on from the thread In the diy room (The perils of modifying gear (http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?53016-The-perils-of-modifying-gear/page5)). What cheap mains lead (pre-made or diy) would you recommend for my Quad 306 power amp?
I haven't experimented with mains cables as I always thought It would be a waste of time, but I'm willing to try one If you guys think It would offer an Improvement.

When I sent my 306 to Jez Arkless for a service I asked the very same question and he said don't bother, so I tried one from Russ Andrews and one from audio friendly, made bugger all difference to my lugs, having said that, many will disagree:)

[fatmarley]

I can lend you a Nordost Blue Heaven mains cable to see if you can hear any difference, Matt.

PM me your address,

Thanks Jerry :) PM on It's way...

[DSJR]

Look, if you want a HIGH-CURRENT rated cable made properly with good basic UK spec connectors and not stupid money, look no further than the Mark Grant one for fifty quid or so. Looks so much posher than an ordinary cable and you may find it a worthwhile purchase ;) Otherwise, Quad units seem to be largely immune from such luxury :lol:

[southall-1998]

Can't beat a Mark Grant purchase!

S.

[jandl100]

Thanks Jerry :) PM on It's way...

Not got it yet, Matt.

[fatmarley]

Not got it yet, Matt.

Sorry for the delay Jerry. Got told I had to go to bed :(

[jandl100]

:doh: :lol:

[walpurgis]

I have my specialised mains cables sent from Japan. These are hand selected by a Mr. Kushinumba.

This is the middle of the range 'Quetel' model and comes in at a modest £475 excluding shipping, duty and VAT.

https://s3.postimg.org/8xktacab7/mxcp_CAB14901.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

It seems a successful product range. Mr Kushinumba says "I only have to flog three of these a week for a comfy living. The punters seem happy enough"


:lolsign:

[southall-1998]

Oh, Geoff....:lol:

S.

[brian2957]

Matt , try a couple of mains cables for yourself . If Jerrys Nordost cable doesn't work for you I would certainly contact Mark Grant or David at MCRU . Both are very helpful and know their stuff .
IMO there's a strong possibility that you will get an improvement in SQ with at least one of these mains leads .

[Barry]

I have my specialised mains cables sent from Japan. These are hand selected by a Mr. Kushinumba.

This is the middle of the range 'Quetel' model and comes in at a modest £475 excluding shipping, duty and VAT.

https://s3.postimg.org/8xktacab7/mxcp_CAB14901.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

It seems a successful product range. Mr Kushinumba says "I only have to flog three of these a week for a comfy living. The punters seem happy enough"


:lolsign:

Yes - but they have been 'blessed' by a Shinto monk.

[walpurgis]

Yes - but they have been 'blessed' by a Shinto monk.

As I know the seller. I'm sure I could arrange a deal to supply these at a useful discount. :D

[Clive]

It's hard to come up with a brand less suitable for a fancy mains lead than Quad! I say this as a 306 owner. What would Peter Walker have said....

[walpurgis]

A posh mains lead is as worthy or worthless on a Quad 306 as it might be on any other amplifier.

[southall-1998]

Peter Walker will just laugh at you lot.

S.

[walpurgis]

Peter Walker will just laugh at you lot.

S.

That would be some feat. He's been dead fourteen years. ;)

[southall-1998]

That would be some feat. He's been dead fourteen years. ;)

If he was still living :)

S.

[Clive]

A posh mains lead is as worthy or worthless on a Quad 306 as it might be on any other amplifier.
My point wasn't intended as a technical one, more one of "brand alignment" or a lack of.

[Macca]

Wasn't it PW who maintained for years that capacitors all sounded the same and then had to recant when it was demonstrated to him that they didn't?

Or am I getting mixed up with someone else?

[walpurgis]

Wasn't it PW who maintained for years that capacitors all sounded the same and then had to recant when it was demonstrated to him that they didn't?

Or am I getting mixed up with someone else?

Wouldn't have been Jez would it? ;) :D

[Arkless Electronics]

It's news to me:D In the majority of circumstances capacitors do sound very similar though... It's only in certain fairly critical positions in the circuit that they can sound quite different;) Even then, once one has had a "revelatory moment" from going from electrolytics to polypropylene don't expect a further one by going to "boutique" brand capacitors. If anyone has any questions about this.... don't bother:D

[Macca]

IIRC it was something to do with 303 amplifier, people had modded it and improved it and told QUAD about it but PW was dismissive until he had a demo and realised the difference was substantial. Not sure if it was just a change of capacitors. Someone like Dave DSJR or maybe Beobloke might recall the details. But I think QUAD then amended the spec for future 303s accordingly.

[Arkless Electronics]

IIRC it was something to do with 303 amplifier, people had modded it and improved it and told QUAD about it but PW was dismissive until he had a demo and realised the difference was substantial. Not sure if it was just a change of capacitors. Someone like Dave DSJR or maybe Beobloke might recall the details. But I think QUAD then amended the spec for future 303s accordingly.

Again that's news to me... It may be right but I've never heard even a rumour of any update to the factory 303 due to them realising some sort of component change was worthwhile on SQ grounds before now...

[Macca]

I may have some or maybe all of the facts wrong. But There was definitely a thing with PW and the caps on the 303

[fatmarley]

It's hard to come up with a brand less suitable for a fancy mains lead than Quad! I say this as a 306 owner. What would Peter Walker have said....

Peter walker would be turning In his grave If he knew what I've done/am doing to his 306.

[fatmarley]

Matt , try a couple of mains cables for yourself . If Jerrys Nordost cable doesn't work for you I would certainly contact Mark Grant or David at MCRU . Both are very helpful and know their stuff .
IMO there's a strong possibility that you will get an improvement in SQ with at least one of these mains leads .

I'm not really expecting to hear a difference but It's something I've not tried before, so why not give It a go.

There have been plenty of occasions where I should not have heard a difference but have (not always for the better either), so I tend to trust my own ears now.

[Wakefield Turntables]

I have a few meteres of orange Qualcast mower power lead if your interested! Real Quad heads will understand the joke. :eek:

[Arkless Electronics]

I have a few meteres of orange Qualcast mower power lead if your interested! Real Quad heads will understand the joke. :eek:

It needs to be much more than a few metres though:D

[Barry]

I have a few meteres of orange Qualcast mower power lead if your interested! Real Quad heads will understand the joke. :eek:

I am a "Quad head" and I do, but the orange mower cable was used by Quad as speaker cable.

[Barry]

I may have some or maybe all of the facts wrong. But There was definitely a thing with PW and the caps on the 303

The only change of spec. regarding the large capacitors used in the 303 (i.e. the output caps and the power supply caps), was the fact they were later mounted with their terminals uppermost. Previously they were mounted with the terminals under the chassis, so as to be close to the circuit boards. But when the capacitors got too hot, the over-pressure seal would leak electrolyte and make an awful mess of the boards.

[Wakefield Turntables]

I am a "Quad head" and I do, but the orange mower cable was used by Quad as speaker cable.

Yep! Still copper and conducts leccy!

[Barry]

Yep! Still copper and conducts leccy!

And cuts the grass better than any other OEM cable. :D