Wall socket(s)

Posted by: Niko08 on 06 January 2017

I am installing, or rather the electrician, a dedicated mains cable from the consumer unit to the point where my Naim gear will be located (new build house). Do I aim for a double un-switched socket (grateful for thoughts on which make) and then use a quality extension cable to connect my NDX, SN2, HICAP DR, NDac (may upgrade again soon - more boxes and of course PLs) or opt for a greater number of individual wall sockets and if so how many? I want to get this right before the electrician sets about installing.

Thanks.

Posted on: 06 January 2017 by S3

I recently had 2 new double wall sockets installed. I used MK switched sockets (£7 each on Amazon) and my electrician said they were as good as you can get. 

Posted on: 06 January 2017 by Finkfan

I have had 10mm cable runs installed from a dedicated consumer. 3 raidials. An unswitched double socket will go the the end of each. 

Posted on: 06 January 2017 by Richard Dane

Nik,

assuming you're UK based, I would go 8 unswitched MK sockets - so 4 double sockets in all. That way you should have enough for any future expansion (short of going active, in which case go for 10) and no need for any extension lead/mains block (best avoided if possible).  

Posted on: 06 January 2017 by tonym

Best advice there from Richard. You won't go wrong with the unswitched MKs & plenty of them whilst the work's being done.

Posted on: 06 January 2017 by hungryhalibut

Multiple sockets avoid all the hassle of mains blocks and the angst of which order to connect everything. One spur with a few double sockets on the end is the way to go. And get unswitched ones. 

Posted on: 06 January 2017 by The Strat (Fender)

Exactly as the Big Fish says.  I have 4 unswitched MK doubles.   

Posted on: 06 January 2017 by Loki

Dedicated spur here from dedicated consumer unit, then unswitched (mandatory!) double MK socket and then Russ Andrews 4 way, soon to be 6 way extension. The advantage of which is that you can let the system and mains provision grow as you need. Angst for order of connection?  Not here. Sweet as a nut and improves with each mains cable upgrade.

Posted on: 07 January 2017 by rsch
Richard Dane posted:

Nik,

assuming you're UK based, I would go 8 unswitched MK sockets - so 4 double sockets in all. That way you should have enough for any future expansion (short of going active, in which case go for 10) and no need for any extension lead/mains block (best avoided if possible).  

HI Richard,

Any advince for who's living in EU ?

I did try a Schuko rodhium plated last year but my impression was that my usual cheap Bticino was better perhaps

Regards

Roberto

Posted on: 07 January 2017 by feeling_zen

Furutec do some great wall sockets. Naim actually use Furutec plugs on US Powerlines so it should be a good match.

Not sure I would go for their fancy Rhodium contact ones though. Just the robust standard ones.

Posted on: 07 January 2017 by Richard Dane

Roberto, you would have to ask Naim or possibly a distributor like Musicline in Germany for their recommendation here. 

Posted on: 07 January 2017 by rsch

Hi Richard,

Thank you

[@mention:35920103255542881]

Mine was actually not  the complete arrangement but only the socket fitted to a rectangular plate, the original one is square and doesn't fit flush into the wall.

Regards

Roberto

Posted on: 08 January 2017 by Ravenswood10

I installed some Furutech Gold unswitched double sockets a year or so back and am very pleased with them.

Posted on: 08 January 2017 by Finkfan

Hi [@mention:43803620640512181]. What sockets did the furutech replace? What were the gains? 

Posted on: 08 January 2017 by Ravenswood10

Some very old Crabtree switched sockets. I wouldn't claim a night and day difference but these sockets do make excellent contact with the plugs and with a dedicated mains circuit and Powerlines it made sense to me not to have the sockets as the weak link. I've also used MKs in previous houses to good effect but didn't much like the cable connectors on the Logik versions. In contrast the Furutech sockets are very well engineered in this respect.