Dedicated "spur/ring main/radial circuit(?)" questions.........

Posted by: markah on 09 October 2016

I'm in the process of moving house and luckily have managed to find a property that gives me a separate listening/music room - good news!

Not so good news, perhaps, is that the position in that room where the system will be installed is not close enough to power sockets, and certainly not the 6 outlets I will require.

I've read various threads on the subject of getting a dedicated spur/ring main/radial circuit fitted but only end up confused. As now would be the ideal time to get this done I'm looking for some simple advice on the best course of action to take and what I actually "need". Luckily I have a friend who is a qualified electrician and he will carry out the work for me, I just want to be able to explain to him simply what he needs to do. No doubt whatever I say will produce raised eyebrows, a puzzled look and the question "why"? but if I've got half an idea myself that would help!

Any (non-confusing) advice will be much appreciated.

Posted on: 10 October 2016 by audio1946

most hifi runs off mAs   even power amps do not take alot above than.  The main reason for power amps having plenty of reserve current is so the signal going to the speaker is not distorted,that could blow the tweeter ect . for years of inspection/testing ive noted lots of un-safe practices.  Fuses may  deteriate over time dut can be change every so on. but increasing the main fuse improves the sound quality is nonsense.  It is pos sible that radial circuit  fare better with rfi   2,5/4mm max

Posted on: 10 October 2016 by naim_nymph
Mr Happy posted:

Thats correct, but I actually use a separate 10mm for each piece of kit. Overkill maybe, but it did sound noticeably better.

Mr Happy,

you have two [or more?] unswitched double sockets side by side - for dedicated audio...

each with a run of 10mm cable going back to the same fuse box where they share the earth buss-rail.

Have you also connected the unswitched sockets directly together with additional earth wire?

i've been meaning to try it on my own two runs of 10mm radial , but haven got around to it yet : )

Debs

 

Posted on: 10 October 2016 by Alan Willby
Johnell posted:
Alan Willby posted:

I have just had a dedicated supply installed - on its own consumer unit with a separate tail to the meter. My amps still get transformer buzz when my wife's hairdryer is switched on!!

The hum notwithstanding, has it made any difference to the SQ?

I've yet to get my dedicated supply installed but having discussed it with my excellent but cynical old sparky, he says he doubts it will make any difference whatsoever, either to the hum or anything else, though he'll happily take my money and see if he's proved wrong.  For what it's going to cost I'll do it anyway....just in case.

Cannot say I'm afraid. I have also at the same time changed my speakers from PMC GB1i's to KEF Reference 1's and my A5 cables to Epic Reference. It's all only been back up and running for about a week following 6 months of building works. What I can tell you is that it sounds fantastic and the speakers must still have a lot of running in to do. I have noticed - SWMBO's hairdryer aside - that the XPSDR, SCDR and 250DR all seem to be generally quieter than previously. I still run with standard Naim power cables. I might try an upmarket one on one of the components - 250 probably - once my finances have recovered!

Posted on: 10 October 2016 by Mr Happy
naim_nymph posted:
Mr Happy posted:

Thats correct, but I actually use a separate 10mm for each piece of kit. Overkill maybe, but it did sound noticeably better.

Mr Happy,

you have two [or more?] unswitched double sockets side by side - for dedicated audio...

each with a run of 10mm cable going back to the same fuse box where they share the earth buss-rail.

Have you also connected the unswitched sockets directly together with additional earth wire?

i've been meaning to try it on my own two runs of 10mm radial , but haven got around to it yet : )

Debs

 

Yes, that's exactly what ive done. Cant say what difference it made though as I did it at the same time as the rest of my installation.

Posted on: 11 October 2016 by Alan Willby
Alan Willby posted:
Johnell posted:
Alan Willby posted:

I have just had a dedicated supply installed - on its own consumer unit with a separate tail to the meter. My amps still get transformer buzz when my wife's hairdryer is switched on!!

The hum notwithstanding, has it made any difference to the SQ?

I've yet to get my dedicated supply installed but having discussed it with my excellent but cynical old sparky, he says he doubts it will make any difference whatsoever, either to the hum or anything else, though he'll happily take my money and see if he's proved wrong.  For what it's going to cost I'll do it anyway....just in case.

Cannot say I'm afraid. I have also at the same time changed my speakers from PMC GB1i's to KEF Reference 1's and my A5 cables to Epic Reference. It's all only been back up and running for about a week following 6 months of building works. What I can tell you is that it sounds fantastic and the speakers must still have a lot of running in to do. I have noticed - SWMBO's hairdryer aside - that the XPSDR, SCDR and 250DR all seem to be generally quieter than previously. I still run with standard Naim power cables. I might try an upmarket one on one of the components - 250 probably - once my finances have recovered!

Interestingly no buzz at all (in fact all components were really quiet) from the hairdryer detected this morning - no idea why there has been a change as she was using the usual socket  - but hey long may it continue.