Music Works distribution block

Graham's Hydra - cheaper, better and neater IMHO



It is specially made for naim kit; it uses naim leads and will come with the right number of heads.

The Music Works block really lifts the midrange to enhance the "tune" and improves dynamics overall. Best used with Music Works leads, although one of these can make the bass on early CD5s sound a bit woolly.

Geoff J
Email me at stevethestinkyone@hotmaildotcom - replace the 'dot' with a .
I might be able to help
Steve
PS Hope this does not arouse the wrath of Adam..

quote:

Originally posted by ROTF:
Graham's Hydra - cheaper, better and neater IMHO



It is specially made for naim kit; it uses naim leads and will come with the right number of heads.

Could you please tell me if this product is CE marked?

quote:

Originally posted by reductionist:

quote:

Originally posted by ROTF:
Graham's Hydra - cheaper, better and neater IMHO



It is specially made for naim kit; it uses naim leads and will come with the right number of heads.

Could you please tell me if this product is CE marked?

It doesn't look like it, and I assume it's legal for use. It does give Naim systems a lift though, I've been using these for over 10 years.

quote:

Could you please tell me if this product is CE marked?

Why not ring up Grahams and ask them directly?

B

Bradley

I think that was the point of the question. Most aftermarket leads and blocks have not been put through the tests to meet the regulations. In fact, they may even wear the mark without ever having gone through the checks!

On the subject of MusicWorks, I've used the standard block which I find works very well in any system I've tried so far. On the other hand, I have had much less success with the leads. Generally I prefer to use the original manufacturer's lead over the MW leads. I find the MW leads kill the music much of the time, though there are one or two exceptions to this. With Naim equipment the MW block works very well but the leads kill it in my view.

Unfortunately I haven't tried the megablock yet, though I've heard favourable reports.

Regards,
Frank - still signatureless

thanks for the replies

I'll look into the Hydra option, also, some-else mentioned to me that MK have a distribution block, has anyone else tried this? I've not found a company that stocks them so far.

Regards

Another option is to use a Maplins multiplug for up to four items. Nt quite as good as a hydra but only £8 or so.

Nigel

I'm currently using a Black Rhodium 8 gang block and it's certainly seemed to focus the music more.

quote:

Originally posted by hungryhalibut:
Another option is to use a Maplins multiplug for up to four items. Nt quite as good as a hydra but only £8 or so.

Nigel

Agreed Nigel, the Maplins is very good alternative IMHO - especially for £8.

The Graham Hydra looks interesting but worrying . How can one wire split and feed five more of the same size? The incoming has to be larger in order to do that.

Maybe the music works might be a safer option.
Can someone please give me the email or website of Music Works? Thanks
The Mapelin looks safer than the Graham. How do i get hold of one?

Jag

quote:

Originally posted by Jagdeep:
Can someone please give me the email or website of Music Works? Thanks
The Mapelin looks safer than the Graham. How do i get hold of one?

Jag

Jag, I don't think Music Works has a web site, but Maplin does.

You may find The TNT Hydra, which uses the Maplin's Multiway plug interesting.

And of course there is this

quote:

The Graham Hydra looks interesting but worrying . How can one wire split and feed five more of the same size? The incoming has to be larger in order to do that.

Maybe the music works might be a safer option.
Can someone please give me the email or website of Music Works? Thanks
The Mapelin looks safer than the Graham. How do i get hold of one?

Jag

I really wouldn't worry about the Hydra - it works very well, is beautifully made and is quite safe. The Musicworks is, by comparison, a complete waste of money and a huge ugly thing to boot. Another alternative is the PowerIgel, for sale on Naim's website.

Nigel

quote:

Originally posted by Jagdeep:
The Graham Hydra looks interesting but worrying . How can one wire split and feed five more of the same size? The incoming has to be larger in order to do that.

Jag,

don't worry, the Grahams uses a much beefier input lead than the equipment leads (I think it's 15A, cos there's a "Max 15A" warning on the label you can see in the pic).

You're right, though, that the input lead does need to be higher rated than the individual leads.

cheers, Martin

Thanks guys. Mucho appreciated.
The Powerigel looks great but WOW , expensive!

Of the Maplin & Graham, they should sound the same I think, unless Graham is doing something special to the wires. I suppose the Graham's wires are all soldered while the Maplins are screwed
If I got a Maplin and soldered the wires to the plug in addition to screwing them , I might get the same performance as the Graham methinks.
I am tending towards the Maplin because all the wires are pulling from the mains directly and it's a 32 amp line.

Any guidance guys?
Or should I stick with a Naimee approved Graham

Jag

My 282/hicap/250/2 will be coming soon in December.

quote:

Any guidance guys?

The one big advantage I found of the Hydra is that I fitted a Crabtree plug (to replace the original MK) that fits really well in my Crabtree socket. The Maplin was always a bit wobbly.

Without sounding like a Naim sheep, I suggest you delete the line in your post about bypassing xxxxxs, otherwise this thread will be pulled by Adam.

Nigel

I found that plugging my equipment leads into a three way plug adapter sounded better than my musicworks six way block so I sold it!

Hi,
I'm interested in the Hydra too but have no luck finding a web site or distributors in Essex. Can anyone help, please?
Bob

Bob

Give Grahams a ring on 020 7226 5500, pay with your card and you'll have your hydra in a few days. They provide a brilliant service.

Nigel

how much are they, and can you exchange them if you need one with more cables in future?

I think about £70 for a four lead one. You can send them back for more to be fitted. Ask Grahams for further details. I'll ask them for commission!!

Nigel

Is there anything wrong with daisy chaining exsisting switchless double socket butted together with another, using external back boxes so you have four sockets and then using the source components on another local spur away from amps,p-supplys ect,
ive spoke to a thew eletritions on site and they say it is fine as long as its only for the hi fi. ive used this arrangement for years because i dont like any type of multi power blocks, or am i missing the point?


regards

Stephen

I am happy sticking with a single 10mm spur, with a hydra. This optimises the sound and provides the star earthing that Naim stuff benefits from in the correct way. Daisy chaining will not, to my (limited)knowledge, provide the same star earthing. The powerigel does the same thing,but at a much higher price.

Nigel

Thanks nigel, out of curiosity is your 10mm spur going from a seperate consumer unit then? from seperate ring main using one 10mm twin an earth cable straight to source.
i may have a qualified electrition come and fit one if its beneficial.

just done a search

kind regards,
steve.