Mains Sockets
Posted by: Bryce Curdy on 17 September 2016
I don't need any convincing about the contribution that power cables can make. I've got three Chord Sarum Tuned Arays with plans to upgrade from Tuned to Super in due course. I've also had a separate consumer unit as well as switchless sockets with star earthing. I am about to move house and wondered if the mains sockets themselves are important and if so does anyone have recommendations, ideally in a satin chrome finish (ie brushed rather than gloss).
If they're not going to be seen I'd stick with MK logic sockets. All copper busbars.
Id check to see if MK make sockets in your choice of finish.
MK unswitched Naim equipment is not fussy about the colour.
My Naim's are very happy with all the MK Logic Plus choice of colours, white, white & white
If it's brushed chrome you want, find MK 'edge' sockets. Otherwise stick with 'logic'.
Yes I saw MK Edge. They also do Aspect and Albany Plus ranges which include unstitched brushed chrome with white or black inserts.
If its SQ you want, stick with Logic Plus
Completely agree with Mike.
Search for Dedicated mains - Some pictures for more details
So are MK Logic Plus definitely 'better' than other MK ranges? Or does nobody know? And if so why?
Well, it's just logical.
Seriously please.
We have just redone our kitchen and used MK logic sockets. They are really well made, and I'm sure are all you need for the stereo. We actually use an unswitched Crabtree on the end of the spur, made in the day when they were great quality solid sockets, rather than the pathetic affairs they are today.
Furutech is another option.
Bryce Curdy posted:So are MK Logic Plus definitely 'better' than other MK ranges? Or does nobody know? And if so why?
Impossible to be definitive, what is "better" ?? They are certainly amongst the better made sockets, & IMO that includes the rare earth snake oil audio market silly money makes. If a socket makes good contact with the plug pins, with minimal resistance & is able to carry the current & the overload spec laid out in the BS or ISO certification, & it does it year after year, whats better than that. You need to look around the industry, the better spec commercial installs seem to prefer Logic Plus, probably because of reliability. I know someone who manages large high end building installs, his company offer Logic Plus as their first choice option as it gives little or no failures. & MK cover Logic Plus with a 20 year warranty.
Now if you are asking about better sound quality, sorry but I'm not going down that goat trail
I understand nobody can be definitive. Everything being equal I'd prefer the brushed chrome finish and my question was whether anybody had any information about whether there was something distinct about the Logic Plus that didn't apply to their other ranges. I'll happily live with white if need be.
Bryce Curdy posted:Everything being equal I'd prefer the brushed chrome finish .... I'll happily live with white if need be.
I can see where speaker and rack finish come into consideration - it can be seen as a furniture feature in a room. But the color of a socket? Really? The things folks get hung up on.
My Furutech GTX-D Rhodium wall socket is basic black and all other sockets in my room are flat white. No one has ever alerted me they noticed the discrepancy. Probably because they're more interested in the music.
Bryce Curdy posted:I understand nobody can be definitive. Everything being equal I'd prefer the brushed chrome finish and my question was whether anybody had any information about whether there was something distinct about the Logic Plus that didn't apply to their other ranges. I'll happily live with white if need be.
Given that they cost about ten quid, perhaps just buy a chrome one and a white one and try them out.
RA make the UltraSocket, perhaps more than you'd like to spend though
Whether they are any better that MK? I don't know as never compared
They do tick all the boxes for engineering as mentioned by MIKE_B above
The great thing about the MKLogic sockets is that they're made using single piece copper components. No rivets or brass. Not heard any Furutech sockets and I don't know how Rhodium plating would change the sound. Not sure on the RA soockets either. Can they accept 10mm cable for a dedicated supply?
I myself will be having the Logic sockets fitted. Excellent vfm.
joerand posted:Bryce Curdy posted:Everything being equal I'd prefer the brushed chrome finish .... I'll happily live with white if need be.
I can see where speaker and rack finish come into consideration - it can be seen as a furniture feature in a room. But the color of a socket? Really? The things folks get hung up on.
My Furutech GTX-D Rhodium wall socket is basic black and all other sockets in my room are flat white. No one has ever alerted me they noticed the discrepancy. Probably because they're more interested in the music.
There's no need to try and sound so superior. If you actually read what I said you would realise I'm far from hung up on it. But if nobody cared about the finish of sockets the manufacturers would not produce them in multiple finishes, 16 (I think) in the case of MK.
Thanks to everyone else for their helpful replies by the way.
Hungryhalibut posted:Bryce Curdy posted:I understand nobody can be definitive. Everything being equal I'd prefer the brushed chrome finish and my question was whether anybody had any information about whether there was something distinct about the Logic Plus that didn't apply to their other ranges. I'll happily live with white if need be.
Given that they cost about ten quid, perhaps just buy a chrome one and a white one and try them out.
Not so much the cost as the hassle of having to get a sparky to change one of them over at the end of the comparison. I would start to get 'hung up' about non-matching sockets beside each other!
But if nobody cared about the finish of sockets the manufacturers would not produce them in multiple finishes, 16 (I think) in the case of MK.
Marketing + Sales = Profit
Pcd posted:But if nobody cared about the finish of sockets the manufacturers would not produce them in multiple finishes, 16 (I think) in the case of MK.
Marketing + Sales = Profit
Plus ca change...
I have just installed 3Nr MS HD Power Unswitched double sockets to my new dedicated mains supply. Unfortunately I cannot tell you what they are like yet as I am a week or so away from setting up my system again following building works. They do Silver, Gold and Rhodium versions. I went for the Silver version at £50 each - the other two are virtually the same price at around £90 each. They will take a 14 mm2 cable connection. My electrician commented that they appear to be very well made.
Bryce Curdy posted:Hungryhalibut posted:Bryce Curdy posted:I understand nobody can be definitive. Everything being equal I'd prefer the brushed chrome finish and my question was whether anybody had any information about whether there was something distinct about the Logic Plus that didn't apply to their other ranges. I'll happily live with white if need be.
Given that they cost about ten quid, perhaps just buy a chrome one and a white one and try them out.
Not so much the cost as the hassle of having to get a sparky to change one of them over at the end of the comparison. I would start to get 'hung up' about non-matching sockets beside each other!
You don't need a sparky to change a socket. Even I can do it. Just turn the power off first....
Alan Willby posted:I have just installed 3Nr MS HD Power Unswitched double sockets to my new dedicated mains supply. Unfortunately I cannot tell you what they are like yet as I am a week or so away from setting up my system again following building works. They do Silver, Gold and Rhodium versions. I went for the Silver version at £50 each - the other two are virtually the same price at around £90 each. They will take a 14 mm2 cable connection. My electrician commented that they appear to be very well made.
At the risk of sounding 'hung up', what finishes are available?