A couple of spur questions

Posted by: Alex S. on 04 November 2001

1. The mains comes in miles away and winds its way to place. I have a fuse board in my place. Can I expect decent improvements if I run a spur from the board in my workshop or do I need to go all the way back to the source?

2. In the fuse box in my room there is various stuff hardly used, then one fuse for 5 double sockets and another for lights and an extractor fan. When I turn the 4 striplights on a crackle appears through the tweeters in time with the striplights firing up.

If I take a new spur from the internal box will the crackle go and does it matter anyway? I can't spot a subjective difference in sound quality between lights on and lights off.

Could such crackle even damage tweeters?

3. I'm using the Dnm mains plugs - definitely improve matters in my system (which now consists only of CDS2/CDPS Naim-wise, sorry, sorry, sorry).
Is anyone using solid core Dnm mains cable for a separate spur? I think I will unless a crescendo of voices tells me not to.

Thanks for any replies/advice.

Alex

Posted on: 04 November 2001 by Top Cat

Hi Alex,

I fitted a dedicated spur a few months back and use DNM solid core mains cables on my power amps (due to the fact that they came supplied with it; having tried regular cables I can confirm that the solid core stuff does indeed work).

What amps are you using? You should have no difficulties with the DNM cables - they are a little inflexible but otherwise great.

My preamp ought to have a solid core cable as well, but the temporary preamp I have right now was supplied without one, so I used something else in the meantime.

No reason why the solid core cable shouldn't be used throughout - if it sounds better it is better, after all...

TC '..'
"Girl, you thought he was a man, but he was a Muffin..."

Posted on: 04 November 2001 by P

Alex

Can we assume that your workshop is annexed from the main dwelling?

Is this where your system resides?

If so how does the power get there?

How old is the main fuseboard, wiring and socketry?

What type of earthing arrangement do you have?

Posted on: 04 November 2001 by Alex S.

TC,

In a week's time my system will be LP12/Ittok/Troika/Lingo/Linto or CDS2/CDPS; Dynavector L100 pre; Dynavector HX1.2 power; N805s or Briks (or even both!).

Cabling will probably be Dnm everywhere but I may keep the Linn Silver interconnect from CDP to Pre.

You use Dnm for mains poweramp cables - the Crimsons yes (mighty fine amps at the price, or even double the price, I've still got MM's loan pair and all his dem CDs poor chap and the 250 sits sulking in the corner), but did you use Dnm cable for the spur itself?

My main dwelling consists of a small house in which reside various children, a lovely wife and a Toshiba DVD; 32.5/110; AE1s + AV bits & bobs. The system outlined (further) above is in a rented workshop in which I listen to music and occasionally restore pretty old things. Its 5 miles from the main dwelling. As far as I can tell the general supply is nicely under-used but the wiring is probably crap.

I was planning on running a spur from my workshop box first. If that brings no great improvement I'll start again (or continue) from the point of entry.

As far as earthing is concerned, driving copper rods around the place could be very awkward both physically and from a credibility point of view with local tradesmen.

Alex

BTW TC What's a 'Soundrel'?

Posted on: 04 November 2001 by bam

Bypassing the electricity meter...what a clever excuse

That's the best justification I've yet heard for installing a spur!!!

Anyhow, have all you people running twin 15mm copper tubing through plastic waste pipes through your ever weakening joists thought of solving the problem in the other direction?

Why not buy a professional quality dc power supply box, one for each of your units? Then simply bypass the transformers and rectifiers in each unit and feed them with nice and clean dc instead. Problem solved.

[This message was edited by bam on MONDAY 05 November 2001 at 00:57.]

Posted on: 05 November 2001 by JRHardee

I installed a dedicated line, and I was pleased with the sonic improvement. I still get loud popping sounds when lights are turned on and off or the fridge kicks in, but only thru the moving coil stage. If I've been blasting the LP-12, I have to remember to set it back to CD so I'm not awakened by popping sounds in the middle of the night.

Posted on: 05 November 2001 by Alex S.

But I hope to get my spurs before the Stallion arrives.

Tracy.