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Thread: Separate power for audio system

  1. #1
    Join Date: Sep 2018

    Location: Estonia

    Posts: 94
    I'm Veiko.

    Default Separate power for audio system

    Hello!

    I am trying lots of ways to try and improve the sound on my system.
    Just this week I connected new speaker cables, but lets not stop there.

    There has been much recommendations not to use same power-wire in your
    house for audio system and other things. You should use one wire for your audio
    system only - in another words, you must set up a dedicated power-wire for your audio
    system from your switchboard. That is what I am about!

    Today I visited hardware store for a little peek. I need about 6-7 meters of wire.
    There are 2 types - one consists of fibers and another is uniform.
    Can you recommend one over the other?

    Will 2,5 mm2 (13 gauge) be enough for amp and dac?
    (I realize that "bigger is better" but that's what's mainly used in my house
    for everything else, and that's also of how big a hole I need to make in my wall,
    and I live in cold climate).

    What is the best way to shield this wire?
    (since it starts from the switchboard, it runs a few good meters alongside
    other wires, perhaps I should use a metal tube for this one).





    all the best and let's keep improving!
    Veiko

  2. #2
    Join Date: Oct 2018

    Location: Forest of Dean

    Posts: 643
    I'm Gary.

    Default

    2.5mm is fine, the electricity has no idea if it's going to a hifi or a fridgefreezer, it's the same electricity.

    Once it arrives at the amp it's voltage is changed and its converted from AC to DC anyway so anything done to the electricity prior to the transformer is undone anyway. Having said that lots of people believe it makes a difference to their sound quality so all you've got to lose is a few quids worth of cable and a double socket, give it a go
    Marantz CD63 KI Signature
    Project Debut II
    Pioneer A656 Reference
    Epos M5s
    Atacama Stands
    Maplin speaker cable cos I can't hear a difference
    Various interconnects as above

  3. #3
    Join Date: May 2016

    Location: Notts

    Posts: 2,741
    I'm Geoff.

    Default

    Connections to the distribution box should always be done by a qualified electrician. Your electrician will advise on the regulations pertaining to spur connections.

  4. #4
    Join Date: Oct 2018

    Location: Forest of Dean

    Posts: 643
    I'm Gary.

    Default

    Good point.

    Luckily I still have a drum of the old coloured cable so any electrical work appears to have been done pre Part P
    Marantz CD63 KI Signature
    Project Debut II
    Pioneer A656 Reference
    Epos M5s
    Atacama Stands
    Maplin speaker cable cos I can't hear a difference
    Various interconnects as above

  5. #5
    Join Date: Jan 2009

    Location: Essex

    Posts: 31,848
    I'm openingabottleofwine.

    Default

    I have had a dedicated ring-main installed to supply all the components in my audio system. The ring consists of 16 sockets: enough to supply my electrostatic speakers; monoblock power amps; phonostage; preamps; turntable(s); CD player; DACs; tuner, as well as having some sockets spare for ancillary and occasionally used items such as tape decks.

    The work was undertaken by a professional electrician, using MK sockets wired with 2.5mm2 T&E cable to a Häger 32A RCBO, directly connected to the meter via a 'Henley block'. (i.e. completely separate from the consumer unit supplying the rest of the house.)
    Barry

  6. #6
    Join Date: Sep 2018

    Location: Estonia

    Posts: 94
    I'm Veiko.

    Default

    I already have contacted the electrician.
    So You do not need to worry about me killing myself or burning down the house

    However he is no audiophile, and will not advise me from that perspective.
    Hence the questions.

    Gary you seem not to believe in the necessity of this.
    I myself started using a powerbank for my chromecast audio streamer
    and heard the differences comparing it to wall outlet.
    Now I have iFi adapter, but similar device for amp and a "real" DAC
    probably cost a lot more, than an extra wire.

    Gary, I must respect your point of view, but they do make them power conditioners
    or whatever they are for audio systems and they sell them and people like them.
    Surely the quality of the power signal must mean something even prior the amp.

    When I was a young boy, running around in the country, whenever my grandfather
    used this big electrical pump (for some reason) the air was filled with much noise and
    picture in my grandmothers TV would turn to blur.

    Thanks to all for the input, I hope people have yet more to add!

    Veiko

  7. #7
    Join Date: Oct 2018

    Location: Forest of Dean

    Posts: 643
    I'm Gary.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Sansiiro View Post
    I already have contacted the electrician.
    So You do not need to worry about me killing myself or burning down the house
    As long as you connect the coloured wires correctly what can go wrong? Lol

    I'm joking of course.
    Marantz CD63 KI Signature
    Project Debut II
    Pioneer A656 Reference
    Epos M5s
    Atacama Stands
    Maplin speaker cable cos I can't hear a difference
    Various interconnects as above

  8. #8
    Join Date: Feb 2008

    Location: Middlesex, UK

    Posts: 4,481
    I'm Alex.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Gaz View Post
    Good point.

    Luckily I still have a drum of the old coloured cable so any electrical work appears to have been done pre Part P

    Me too, bought 100m of the old 2.5 sq mm cable. Although not a qualified Electrician electrician, I reckon that I am a least competent, having been a qualified Electronic Engineer. I re-wired the whole house years prior to Part P with no problems.

    At that time ring mains (now called ring final circuit) were popular. The house is a small semi with a through lounge. I made a ring for upstairs, a ring that covered the hall and through lounge, and a separate ring for the small kitchen. The idea was that the Hi Fi in the though lounge was separate from the kitchen, where boiler, fridge, washing machine etc. would be connected.

    I believe that this was probably over the top, good Hi Fi will generally be pretty well immune to interference. Certainly, I have found that Quad stuff is.
    Spendorman

  9. #9
    Join Date: Jan 2009

    Location: Essex

    Posts: 31,848
    I'm openingabottleofwine.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by spendorman View Post
    Me too, bought 100m of the old 2.5 sq mm cable. Although not a qualified Electrician electrician, I reckon that I am a least competent, having been a qualified Electronic Engineer. I re-wired the whole house years prior to Part P with no problems.

    At that time ring mains (now called ring final circuit) were popular. The house is a small semi with a through lounge. I made a ring for upstairs, a ring that covered the hall and through lounge, and a separate ring for the small kitchen. The idea was that the Hi Fi in the though lounge was separate from the kitchen, where boiler, fridge, washing machine etc. would be connected.

    I believe that this was probably over the top, good Hi Fi will generally be pretty well immune to interference. Certainly, I have found that Quad stuff is.
    I could have done the rewiring myself, as I extensively rewired my parents house and changed a motley collection of fuse boxes for a modern consumer unit fitted with MCBs. But I was lazy, didn't have enough of the 2.5mm cable conforming to the old (and sensible) colour code, so employed a qualified electrician to do all the hard work for me (such as lifting floor boards etc.) as well as providing a certificate of the work done for insurance purposes. I did however specify the type and make of sockets to be fitted as well as that of the separate MCBO.

    As the work was being done, I took advantage of the lifted floorboards to lay down balanced line interconnects and other audio cables between the preamp and monoblock power amps located directly behind each speaker, thus avoiding unsightly cables running around the skirting boards.
    Barry

  10. #10
    Join Date: Oct 2018

    Location: Forest of Dean

    Posts: 643
    I'm Gary.

    Default

    I'm in no way belittling electricians but it's not rocket science connecting the correct coloured wires together in the proper manner (junction box or socket)
    Marantz CD63 KI Signature
    Project Debut II
    Pioneer A656 Reference
    Epos M5s
    Atacama Stands
    Maplin speaker cable cos I can't hear a difference
    Various interconnects as above

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