DIY version of Grahams Hydra
Posted by: avhed on 30 July 2005
Can anyone, who has ever made one of these,with Naim power cords, tell me how it sounded?
Please also tell me how you joined the cables together.
Please also tell me how you joined the cables together.
Posted on: 31 July 2005 by prowla
I made a 6-way hydra (though not from Naim cables).
To join the cables I simply twisted them together and stuffed them into the standard screw-down cable block thing (looks like a strip of Lego block with holes in the side).
I housed the join inside a junction box (purchased from a DIY store), put an MK mains plug on the input wire, and Wattgates on the outputs.
It sounds better than plugging the cables into a 4-way plugboard.
To join the cables I simply twisted them together and stuffed them into the standard screw-down cable block thing (looks like a strip of Lego block with holes in the side).
I housed the join inside a junction box (purchased from a DIY store), put an MK mains plug on the input wire, and Wattgates on the outputs.
It sounds better than plugging the cables into a 4-way plugboard.
Posted on: 31 July 2005 by hungryhalibut
Avhed
I understand from a friend who has fiddled around with this sort of thing that soldered joints are superior to junction boxes soundwise. If you are seriously interested in Hydras, it would make sense that you get a Grahams - they charge very little more than Naim charge them for the mains leads.
I use one and it is very much better than a £250 Musicworks block.
Nigel
I understand from a friend who has fiddled around with this sort of thing that soldered joints are superior to junction boxes soundwise. If you are seriously interested in Hydras, it would make sense that you get a Grahams - they charge very little more than Naim charge them for the mains leads.
I use one and it is very much better than a £250 Musicworks block.
Nigel
Posted on: 31 July 2005 by Mike Allen
Hi Ahved,
I made my hydras exactly to RKRs design, but it was installed at the same time as seperate 10mm2 spurs, so cant comment specifically on the hydras performance. I can say that the mains and hydras together were a staggering improvement, easily equivalent to a box upgade.
Regards Mike.
I made my hydras exactly to RKRs design, but it was installed at the same time as seperate 10mm2 spurs, so cant comment specifically on the hydras performance. I can say that the mains and hydras together were a staggering improvement, easily equivalent to a box upgade.
Regards Mike.
Posted on: 31 July 2005 by Geoff P
Avhed
I did the same as prowla. I bought three metal connecting blocks and mounted them VERY SECURELY inside a small plastic box with a screw down lid so there was no risk of them coming loose and touching each other (which would have been DISASTEROUS). Then use one connecting block for all the live ends, another for all the neutral ends and the third one for the earths, correctly connected to the incoming power lead and plug. I did it for four power leads and it sounded noticeably better than a plug block. Considering the cost (about 6 Euros) it was a great VFM upgrade. I am not sure I would pay out what is demanded for a Grahams Hydra though.
Subsequently I migrated to two dedicated 12mm2 mains spurs which as Mike says is a far more significant upgrade.
regards
GEOFF
I did the same as prowla. I bought three metal connecting blocks and mounted them VERY SECURELY inside a small plastic box with a screw down lid so there was no risk of them coming loose and touching each other (which would have been DISASTEROUS). Then use one connecting block for all the live ends, another for all the neutral ends and the third one for the earths, correctly connected to the incoming power lead and plug. I did it for four power leads and it sounded noticeably better than a plug block. Considering the cost (about 6 Euros) it was a great VFM upgrade. I am not sure I would pay out what is demanded for a Grahams Hydra though.
Subsequently I migrated to two dedicated 12mm2 mains spurs which as Mike says is a far more significant upgrade.
regards
GEOFF
Posted on: 31 July 2005 by Guido Fawkes
Avhed
You may find this article on Hydras (or should that be Hydrae) of interest. I bought my Hdra from Grahams and its superb especially when connected to a dedicated spur.
Rotf
You may find this article on Hydras (or should that be Hydrae) of interest. I bought my Hdra from Grahams and its superb especially when connected to a dedicated spur.
Rotf
Posted on: 01 August 2005 by Rockingdoc
While the cat's away eh?
You'll be talking about fuses next.
You'll be talking about fuses next.