Optimal power distribution

Hi, I would not spend the money for an additional outlet. Take a look at AV Options SuperWiremold power strip so you will be able to connect 9 components with a star earth common ground.

Or go for a good quality hydra cable...

From reading these posts for what about 8 years now, I definitely get the impression that power issues are much rarer here in the States than in the UK or Europe generally.

jsaudio posted:

I currently have a dedicated mains from a circuit breaker to a single dual Hubbell outlet allowing for 2 components both using Powerlines. I will soon need additional outlets and can have an electrician wire a second Hubbell outlet in series to the first and hence have 4 or purchase a power distribution unit such as an Audience aR6 Adept Response PDC for Naim or some other brand such as IsoTek which I believe is also a "power conditioner". I don't understand the pros and cons of each.

Having an electrician come to add the other outlet while simple, will still cost a good amount although not as much as the other options. Is it better not to have any power distribution units at all?

You do not need to add additional outlets. If you are using Naim equipment you should probably avoid power conditioners and use distribution blocks that are star-connected. Depending on where you are located, there are a number of options. In Germany, check music-line (Naim distributor for Germany) for the Netzleiste or the Powerigel. In the UK Custom HiFi Cables make star-connected power distribution blocks and hydra cables.

nbpf posted

You do not need to add additional outlets. If you are using Naim equipment you should probably avoid power conditioners and use distribution blocks that are star-connected. Depending on where you are located, there are a number of options. In Germany, check music-line (Naim distributor for Germany) for the Netzleiste or the Powerigel. In the UK Custom HiFi Cables make star-connected power distribution blocks and hydra cables.

I have recently bought a CHC 4 way hydra and very good it is too. Graham's in London have been making them for a long while too and they're popular as the price point isn't too steep. This 9 way block already mentioned sounds very good but it isn't cheap. However, if you have a lot of stuff to connect up as well, such as TV, NAS and TT then it could be ideal as the block has both filtered and unfiltered sockets.

Thanks for the replies. Im in the states and for now will only need 3 outlets, possibly more in the future. Do you think that having no power distribution unit (direct to wall socket) is better SQ wise than any unit irrespective of quality .

jsaudio posted:

Thanks for the replies. Im in the states and for now will only need 3 outlets, possibly more in the future. Do you think that having no power distribution unit (direct to wall socket) is better SQ wise than any unit irrespective of quality .

No, I do not think so. My understanding is that it makes sense to have two wall outlets only if these are the endpoints of two separated mains spurs. Then you can hope to achieve a better sound quality by having the amplifier connected to  one spur and the rest to the other. Otherwise, if you only have one mains spur, one outlet is enough and an hydra cable or a distribution block with star connection and without filtering the preferred ways of powering Naim gear. I might be wrong, of course.

Another vote for AV Options super wiremold ,works very well in my active system.

Im sorry, I don't know what a star connection or a star earth common ground is and which products have it.

Thanks

Star earthing I believe is where each socket in a power strip for instance is earth wired to the same point so imagine each point of a five point star is a plug socket and the is an earthing point at the centre each point of the star will then by earth wired to that central point.

nbpf posted:

jsaudio posted:

I currently have a dedicated mains from a circuit breaker to a single dual Hubbell outlet allowing for 2 components both using Powerlines. I will soon need additional outlets and can have an electrician wire a second Hubbell outlet in series to the first and hence have 4 or purchase a power distribution unit such as an Audience aR6 Adept Response PDC for Naim or some other brand such as IsoTek which I believe is also a "power conditioner". I don't understand the pros and cons of each.

Having an electrician come to add the other outlet while simple, will still cost a good amount although not as much as the other options. Is it better not to have any power distribution units at all?

You do not need to add additional outlets. If you are using Naim equipment you should probably avoid power conditioners and use distribution blocks that are star-connected. Depending on where you are located, there are a number of options. In Germany, check music-line (Naim distributor for Germany) for the Netzleiste or the Powerigel. In the UK Custom HiFi Cables make star-connected power distribution blocks and hydra cables.

I have Naim 272 with 555ps and nap 300dr, cd player, radio, cassette deck, vinyl player and vinyl pre. And I'm thinking to add power conditioner like Opera consonance d15 or GigaWatt PC-4 EVO. Is it not good for my Naims.

airjordan posted:

nbpf posted:

jsaudio posted:

I currently have a dedicated mains from a circuit breaker to a single dual Hubbell outlet allowing for 2 components both using Powerlines. I will soon need additional outlets and can have an electrician wire a second Hubbell outlet in series to the first and hence have 4 or purchase a power distribution unit such as an Audience aR6 Adept Response PDC for Naim or some other brand such as IsoTek which I believe is also a "power conditioner". I don't understand the pros and cons of each.

Having an electrician come to add the other outlet while simple, will still cost a good amount although not as much as the other options. Is it better not to have any power distribution units at all?

You do not need to add additional outlets. If you are using Naim equipment you should probably avoid power conditioners and use distribution blocks that are star-connected. Depending on where you are located, there are a number of options. In Germany, check music-line (Naim distributor for Germany) for the Netzleiste or the Powerigel. In the UK Custom HiFi Cables make star-connected power distribution blocks and hydra cables.

I have Naim 272 with 555ps and nap 300dr, cd player, radio, cassette deck, vinyl player and vinyl pre. And I'm thinking to add power conditioner like Opera consonance d15 or GigaWatt PC-4 EVO. Is it not good for my Naims.

Quite possibly not! I would only buy one if you can get a home demo, and return it if you don’t like it. 

Quite a while ago now I heard a mains filter in my system and I found it killed the dynamics and made the sound lifeless. I can’t remember the make but I do remember that it was quite expensive.

As far as adding mains sockets directly against using distribution blocks or hydras, Ive tried this too and found adding sockets directly to sound better (in the UK).

jsaudio posted:

Im sorry, I don't know what a star connection or a star earth common ground is and which products have it.

Thanks

I use a Nordost Qbase 8 Mark 11,which is star earthed.To me it sounds every bit as good,maybe even better than plugging directly into the wall.I have a Nordost Heimdall 11 power cord going from the QB8 to the wall outlet (Synergistic Research),and my powerlines are plugged into the Base...works really well.

Does anyone have any information or first hand experience with the relatively new AV Options Ultra HBL power strip?

Yes, I recently bought an Ultra HBL power strip and did an A:B test vs. their Super Wiremold.  The SW is no slouch, but the Ultra HBL is superb.  I am using it with a CDX/XPS/72/hicap/140/Allaes and Rega P6.  The amps have all been rebuilt by AV Options so they are performing at their maximum capability.  Also using their mains cables and Twisted 56 speaker cables.  The system sounds incredible.  

So what's the difference between the two power strips?  The most concrete thing I can say is the Ultra HBL has the "it" factor - more prat, more music, gets me closer to the Omega Point.  Reminds me of the time I did an A:B test of a CD5 with a Hicap vs. a Supercap.  It was hard to explain exactly what the difference was - I just kept going back to the Supercap.  It was more of the feeling I wanted from the music.  Same thing with the Ultra HBL.

I would think in a system at the level of yours it's probably a no-brainer.  I know of a couple guys with very high end active systems that have raved about it and bought a second or third one.  You would have to judge it for yourself of course.  

One thing I would point out is the mains quality in our house doesn't seem very good.  Lots of septic systems and water wells in the neighborhood, along with agricultural equipment.  The power seems "noisy" throughout most of the day.  I was skeptical a power strip could work any magic given the circumstances but the Ultra HBL has made a difference for me in spite of those challenges.  

+1 on the AVOptions Ultra-HBL. Significant upgrade from the SW, and betters the Audience ar6 PDC. Using 3 in an active system: one for power amps and supplies, and one for digital.

The third strip is dedicated to the Akurate Radikal. Using a Powerline with the Akurate Radikal did not sound as good as the stock power cord to me,  but I thought the stock cord into the Ultra-HBL was a worthwhile improvement.

Thanks for the replies. Will look into the Ultra HBL strip