Because I am in the UK, I guess this post is more or less aimed at our UK members, due to the rules and regs.
Over the past 15 years I have always had a completely separate mains power supply for my system. It’s better to keep one’s music system away from the same circuit as your fridge freezer or tumble dryer.
Back in the 1970’s I remember this awful clicking sound coming from my Panasonic Hi-Fi speakers, whenever the washing machine or fridge kicked in.
when I got into serious music systems back in 2010, a had a separate Consumer Unit with a 10mm twin & earth cable to a non switched, double MK socket. In all honesty I never noticed any improvement over using a standard double socket of the house 2.5 ring main.
My idea of thinking was (Unless a conditioner or DC Blocker is used) The ‘dirty’ mains electric coming from the street is the same, whether it goes to the main house Consumer Unit, or the music system’s own separate Consumer unit.
My old Naim 300DR amp used to buzz like a bumble bee. More so in the morning when neighbours were using hairdryers etc…(My Vitus amp is silent) so having the separate 10mm supply didn’t really improve matters.
Now that we are moving (Fingers crossed) I’m wondering if it’s actually worth the hassle of running a new separate supply? Perhaps not 10mm, but just 6mm, or 4mm cable would do the job?
I am interested to know how you’re using the incoming mains supply for your system?
I have an airlink balanced power supply. Basically its a huge transformer in a box, it takes your 240 volt supply and converts it into 110 volt, but this goes down the live and neutral cables unlike the 240 that goes down the live.
This works like a balanced xlr, in that one cancels out any unwanted noise in the live and neutral cables.
In the medical, studio, and science world anything that needs a very clean power uses a balanced supply to provide it. It all happens naturally and doesn’t hurt the sound quality in dampening dynamics like most power conditioners can do.
You just need one that’s atleast twice as big as your total load. Mine is next to my separate electric consumer unit for my hifi, and feeds into my 2 power supplies i have running to my hifi.
You can find loads of details on Airlink website. Mine cost about £600 about 5 years ago.
I have the house consumer unit and the hifi consumer unit under the stairs where the main electricity comes into the house, both are connected and split to the main wires coming in, in the same large cable.
From the hifi consumer unit is 10mm to feed the balanced supply and 10mm out of fit, it then goes back into the consumer unit and from there is split into 2 separate feeds for my hifi.
I ran these feeds many years ago, and I did it 2 different ways as wanted to see which was best, so I have a single 10mm wire going to a single un switched plug, and twin 6mm wires going to 6 outlets all star wired.
I use the 10mm for my vitus sia030 and the 6 way for all the rest.
Having experienced this, one thing that @Merlot52 may need to overcome when specifying his intended hi-fi circuit to the qualified electrician that he engages is opposition to installing 10mm wire. It may be be difficult to explain the need as the standard wire for UK domestic circuits feeding wall sockets is 2.5mm.
Just a thought ( not necessarily a recommendation as I hjave not tried it) would be to investigate a cable made for the purpose of high end audio system power supply. I am thinking of something like Supra LoRad 2.5,
To be honest, I think that kind of setup is a bit more than what I am willing to do.
I guess I was looking for something that plugs into a separate supply, then the components plug directly into the box. A bit like the Audioquest Niagra range.
As you know I am loath to make recommendations. But I always hear good things about Puritan audio and am very happy with their Classic Plus power cables. I have a friend who uses one of tier distribution units ( PM156?) in his Nagra/ Egglestonworks system..It sounds like the kind of thing you want.and he is enthusiastic. I would try myself but do not have the space available.
I like the fact that their show dems feature an oscilloscpe to illustrate what it is actually doing. So minimal BS!.
Thanks. However that is new to me. Havre you a link to this? I wonder if you are thinking of simple transformers placed between power outlet and system? There were certainly subjective reports but these were mostly in the 198os,if I recall correctly. - remember the HiFi News Ben Duncan Black Box transformer Kit?
When it comes to transformers for power “hygiene”, I think he most recommended by dCS users on this forum are the large toroidal ones from Taurus ( see the archives). Another brand for David to investigate. Now available on the UK. One more item I would like to try but circumstances prevent this.
Off topic but transformers are also used in the most recommended passive preamps such as Bespoke audio as well as being the first component that incoming power meets in just about all powered units as they are needed to transform 230V ( or whatever) incoming mains to the line lower voltage that powers the unit’s circuits.
Dedicated mains supply using a Hagar Consumer Unit, Airlink Balanced Power Supply, oversized twin & earth to unswitched wall sockets. Power amplifiers go direct into the unswitched wall sockets. Two Puritan PSM156 with Ground Masters also go into the unswitched wall sockets and feed the other kit - DAC/Pre/Phono etc. Mains cables are all Puritan. I have an earthing rod which serves the house 20kW battery failover system as well as the Ground Masters. Normal switched wall sockets on the house mains supply are used for any wall warts/dirty supplies, I may pick up another Puritan PSM for them or reuse a mothballed Niagara 1200.
My sparky has done similar jobs a couple of times and is a sub contractor to my IT company so no problems doing what I wanted. All work signed off and safety certified.
Was it worth the effort/cost? I reckon it has made an improvement to the SQ and it saves me wondering.
Cheers GusGu
It appears that the Airlink Balanced Power Supply are very popular within the dCS community. So many people have them.
May I ask, what model Airlink have you got and Where is it located in the house?
I bought the BPS5120MP, runs on the 250V tap with the output at 230V. Mike from Airlink was very helpful. It’s located in the Garage. My incoming mains hovers between 247 and 252 Volts.
