Mains cables again, shortening from 2 to 1 metre

Nope - but interested to hear how you get on

Penguinman posted:

Hello all, my first post. CDS3/Hi cap/NAC82/NAP250DR/SBLs.

I have read all the stuff about dressing cables, and a little about shortening, but here goes............I have my equipment mounted on a Tripod rack system, directly in front of 8 mains sockets on a dedicated spur. However I try to tidy all the cables, they are a mess. Simple solution is to cut all the mains cables down to 1 metre. I know that NAIM advise that 2 metre lengths are the optimum, but I am wondering that in a real world lounge situation, whether shortening them would make any audible difference. If I find that it does impact on sound, it will cost me about £30 each to replace the original cables, so I may well end up trying it ( I am competent at removing and re-fixing the mains plugs).

Before I do, my question is, has any body out there have direct experience of shortening the cables as I have outlined? Thank you, and HNY.  

My concern would be the modification of the presumed original power chords and any subsequent re-sale value of your kit.

If you're planning to buy fresh Naim power chords (@£30 a pop ), if it  doesn't work out then by all means give it a go.

Considering the position of your rack/socket, off the top I can't think of an alternative solution.

No experience with shortening the Naim cables. Thinking of demoing tellurium q which come as 1.5m standard. Interested as to why Naim recommend 2m cables. Will keep a eye I this one. 

What's the theory Mike-B? 

No theory - or at least none I'm aware of. IIRC, 2m was arrived at on the Powerlines because Naim just listened and they sounded best at 2m.  Nothing to buy into here except trusting what you (and the ears at Naim) hear.

For all that, if you're looking to go short then rather than butcher the originals, keep them and then make up some new ones, preferably with some nice NOS Pirelli mains flex or similar.  Just so long as you know what you're doing...

I can't think of any reasons why 2m would be optimal either. Especially on the two very different mains cables produced. 

Thanks to  everybody who has replied. I will wait a week or so to see if more advice/experience is forthcoming before taking any action, and when I do, I will post my results, accepting that it will be subjective.

Ive used 4mm yy flex into wattgate evo iec connectors. They are made up by me to 1 metre each and sound amazing after a few weeks burn in time. Cost wise the plugs are £30 and the flex is about £1.50 metre.